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grapegrowing Once the plateau phase of berry sugar loading has been reached, the evolution of ripening will depend on other factors such as cultivar, bunch microclimate, leaf/fruit balance, vine water status and the climate mainly during berry ripening (maximum temperature, night-time coolness, sea breeze, wind speed, lateseason rains and various factors that are quantifiable).2,6 It should be noted that the plateau phase in sugar loading may be reached at different sugar concentrations (Brix), depending on cultivar and environmental conditions. A red cultivar with a very high sugar concentration (Brix) when the maturity plateau is reached will not always be desirable for production of certain types and/or wine styles.8 Monitoring ripening with various indicators, coupled with appropriate analytical data measurements such as berry fresh mass or volume, Brix, sugar loading, evolution of titratable acidity, malic acid, tartaric acid, pH, color evolution, anthocyanins, tannins, berry tasting, etc., enable decision-makers to determine the optimum harvest date, a major consideration in determining grape quality. Such monitoring provides a greater understanding of vine morphological and physiological parameters during ripening, and therefore vineyard practices can be adapted to production objectives. There are, in most vineyards, several potential optimal harvest dates and optimal ripening levels according to the desired wine style. The wine is therefore created in the vineyard! As the world becomes more technologically advanced, more advanced technology is being developed to monitor berry ripening. This technology is rapidly being adopted by large estates and cooperatives to enhance their marketing edge. PWV This text was edited from its original publication in the January 2011 Wineland magazine. Many thanks to Vivelys and Nicolas Bernard (Montpellier, France) for providing the data on berry sugar loading, WINETECH (South Africa) for funding and Distell for participating in the development of the method in South Africa. Bibliography 1.Ageorges, A., L. Fillon, C. Romieu, S. Delrot. 1995 "Molecular identification of cDNA clones from grape berries with close homology to the hexose carrier." Abstract 10th International Workshop Plant Membrane Biology, Regensburg, 6 – 11 August. 2.Bonnardot, V., O. Planchon, S. Cautenet., 2005 "Sea-breeze development under an offshore synoptic wind in the South-Western Cape and implications for the Stellenbosch wine-producing area." Theo. Appl. Clim. Vol. 81, No. 3 – 4, 203 – 218. 3.Brenon, E., N. Bernard, O. Zebic, A. Deloire. 2005 "Grape maturity: Proposal for a method using the berry volume as indicator." Revue des oenologues 117, 1 – 3. 4.Carbonneau, A., F. Champagnol, A. Deloire, F. Sevila. 1998 "Harvest and grape quality." In: C. Flanzy. OEnologie. Fondements scientifiques et technologiques, pp. 647 – 668. 5.Carbonneau, A., A. Deloire. 2001 "Plant organization based on source sink relationship: new finding on developmental, biochemical and molecular responses to environment." In: Molecular Biology & Biotechnology of the Grapevine. Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 263 – 280. 6.Carey, V.A. 2001 "Spatial characterization of natural terroir units for viticulture in the Bottelaryberg-Simonsberg-Helderberg winegrowing area." M.Sc. Thesis, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa. 7.Deloire, A., A. Carbonneau, Z.P. Wang, H. Ojeda. 2004 "Vine and water: a short review." J. Int. Sci. Vigne et Vin. 38, 1, 1 – 13. 8.Deloire, A., M. Kelly, N. Bernard. 2008 "Managing harvest potential: Navigating between terroir and the market." 31st conference of the South African Society for Enology & Viticulture. Somerset West, 11 – 14 November. SometimeS money doeS grow on treeS. American AgCredit is paying record cash dividends. Again. It's all in the numbers: $45 million paid for 2012 and more than $180 million since 2006. Join us now and be part of next year's dividend success story. Call 800.800.4865 today or visit AgLoan.com A part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender. pr actica l win ery & vineya rd M AY 20 13 61