2008 Harvest Report
Read all about harvest 2008 in this comprehensive report compiled by Angela Lloyd for Wines of South Africa.

2008 Harvest Report (continues)


Patience pays off for Cape Winemakers Guild in 2008 harvest
"Patience, patience and more patience," is how Philip Costandius, Chairman of the Cape Winemakers Guild, describes the 2008 grape harvest, which seemed to take forever but brought welcome rewards of lower alcohol, more elegant reds and some above average whites.

the company of wine people - Harvest Report 2008
The 2008 growing season was conducive to growing excellent quality fruit, and started later than usual due to the cool summer conditions. Due to unseasonable rains, the harvest also ended slightly later than normal, with lower yields and grapes being physiologically ripe at lower sugar levels.


Bon Cap harvest report 2008
As preparations were made and duties enlisted for a follow-up in the early new year harvest trend, Mother Nature proved once again that the final decision would remain hers.

Breedekloof expects quality over quantity
Breedekloof winemakers are expecting a top quality 2008 vintage due to the cooler than normal conditions over the past year resulting in slower ripening vines. A thunderstorm, which disrupted the harvest of certain varietals, including Chenin Blanc, has not dampened their enthusiasm.

Wedderwill is starting to harvest
Finally! We are very excited to start with our harvest.

Ken Forrester Harvest 2008
Is there ever a simple, easy, uneventful harvest? I think not! This year started out with wonderful 'old fashioned' wet Cape winter - lekkerrr!

Early Harvest Report 2008
The South African 2008 harvest is underway, with the first grapes being picked in January.

Backsberg's Blog - The first sugar sample of 2008
I had to document the start of my first sugar sample of the 2008 vintage (7am this morning, 22 January 2008, to be exact). The vineyard in the background is a Chardonnay block on Sonop, a satellite farm we have a few kms down the road from Backsberg.


Do You Have The Energy For Harvest 2008?
With power cuts from national electricity firm Eskom a reality, Kim Maxwell considers the financial implications of an energy-strapped harvest period.


Graham Beck Wines among the earliest in Robertson to Harvest - and certainly the most colourful...
"Harvest 2008... the grapes will be great!"... was this year's Graham Beck Wines' Robertson staff mantra at their annual colourful harvest parade, as the first load of Chardonnay grapes were brought into the cellar. This year's kaleidoscopic pageant boasted minstrels in all their musical glory, as Goema music permeated the airwaves, infusing the atmosphere with festivity and celebration.

It is 2008 and as Predicted, Moves are Afoot
As harvest 2008 slips into gear, Kim Maxwell does a headcount of recent cellar hops.


2008 Wine Grape Crop Same Size as in 2007
The 2008 wine grape crop will likely amount to 1 357 169 tons.