From our Czech /European point of view is the South African wine from country below the equator which means african winter is czech summer and vice versa. There is a brief intro into the South African wine year month by month. Vines are deciduous plants and therefore their growth will closely follow the seasons.

SPRING - September /October/November

After the winter rains and cold there is a distinct feeling of renewal and growth in the air with the famous Cape Floral Kingdom showing its face with thousands of spring flowers. In the pruned vineyards the sap starts rising and the nodes on the shoots begin to swell and bud. Shoots with leaves, eyes, runners and tiny flower clusters start to develop and by the end of October the vineyard will bloom and pollination takes place. Excess shoots are removed and shoots growing out of the rootstocks will be broken off just below the surface. After the devastating vineyard pest, phylloxera destroyed vines across the grape growing world in the late 1800's all vines in the Cape are grafted onto American rootstocks to with stand the onslaught. The soil is plowed and fertilized and watered in the hotter areas. Young vines are checked for fungal desease and insects and treated accordingly. Cellars are prepared for harvest.

SUMMER - December, January, February.

As the weather warms up the grapes ripen. Veriason the colouring of the bunches- takes place around and some vignerons will thin out the crop to achieve the desired quality. Topping and the control of excess growth will be applied. Where needed some irrigation and pest control will take place. Close to harvest, which normally starts in January for the early varieties, a close eye is kept on sugar levels and phenolic ripeness by tasting and scientific analysis. Picking at the correct time is essential wine quality.

AUTUMN - March, April, May

The last of the late varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon are harvested. Once harvest is finished the vines starts gathering nutrients and the wood grows hard to enable the vine to withstand winter cold. The leaves colour and fall and growth ends. Fertilization and pest/disease control is done. As soon as the leaves have fallen all shoots are removed by clean pruning.

WINTER - June, July, August

This is the resting period if the vine. The Western Cape has a Mediterranean climate (winter rainfall) and after the first good rains have fallen the vines will be pruned back heavily and the soil will be fertilized by ploughing cover crops and natural weeds into it.

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