Clones

Clonal material are constantly evolving. Comparing these clones in different regions on different rootstocks are essential for future wine production.

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Trellis

Utilising the vine canopy to its maximum capacity is essential in producing quality wine grapes. These systems impact on water consumption, respiration, yields and mechanisation etc.

Cover Crops

Shifting rain patterns impacts heavily on the timing of planting cover crops. This in turn impacts nitrogen fixation, accumulated dry matter and weed suppression. Testing new and old cultivars to cope with shorter growing seasons and drier winters will ensure sustainable soil health management and integrated weed management in the different wine regions according to the different soils.

New Cultivars

Rediscovering old cultivars and testing new cultivars to test adaptability to climate change, drought and different soil types in the dynamic regions of the Western Cape.

Root Stocks

Rootstocks are essential in coping with drought, saline soils, nematodes and other soil borne factors. With the vast differences in soil types in South Africa, testing these rootstocks in all the various regions will ensure the security of wine grape production for years to come.

Project Background

The need to connect new research findings and/or – technologies via technology transfer to practical, outcome based projects where the base on which the Gen Z project was established in 2016. The demo sites, across the winelands of South Africa, play host to a variety of trials. These include experimental varieties, new clones, rootstock trials aimed at coping with climate change and drought conditions, trellis systems to either increase yields or quality, with a big focus on labour intensity, different pruning systems to measure the effect on quality and production and to measure the occurrence and sensitivity towards wood rotting fungus, and finally cover crop trials to find new methods and cultivars to adjust to the ever changing rainfall patterns and climate change.

The results/findings of these trials will be updated continuously on the Gen Z website and through roadshows and farmer field days throughout all our wine regions.We want the S A Wine producer to be well informed of the latest technology and information to take the best decisions for longterm  sustainability.