Get The Basics Right For Table Grape Success

The winner of this year’s table grape competition in the Olifants River region, Morné Paxton, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about shade nets and choosing the right grape varieties for export.

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The farm Uitkyk has been one of the top three producers in the Olifant River’s annual Table Grape Block Competition every year for the past seven years. Moreover, it has taken first place twice, this year with a block of Red Globe planted in 2003.

Farm manager Morné Paxton says there is no secret to their success. “We don’t do anything fancy. We try to get the basics right, from the planting until the harvesting of the vineyard, and we pay attention to detail, carrying out the right practice at the right time.”

Production practices are also guided by what is happening in terms of market and climatic conditions. “Instead of just carrying on as usual, we’re adapting our practices in case the climatic conditions associated with the past three years’ drought and water shortages become the new norm,” he says.

The farm, near Klawer in the Vredendal district in the Western Cape, belongs to Frikkie and Arend Adriaanse, and has 50ha under wine grapes, 20ha under potatoes, 10ha under tomatoes and 42ha under table grapes, of which 10ha are under nets.

SHADE NETTING

Flat-roofed shade nets have been used since 2012 to protect table grape vineyards against the strong easterly wind that rages in the area from August to December each year. Wind damage during these months results in uneven flowering and fruit set, which in turn lead to uneven ripening and berry sizes. Additional pruning and thinning of bunches are used to overcome this problem, but this has become too expensive due to rising labour costs, according to Paxton.