OVERVIEW OF THE OLD VINE PRUNING COURSE
Approximately 4% of South Africa’s vineyards qualify for Certified Heritage Vineyards status. Older vineyards tend to bear less fruit, thus the financial viability per hectare is a key challenge for growers. The secret to enhanced yields lies in the skill and knowledge of the viticulturist, and the workforce who care for and prune the vineyards. The foundation of a great wine always starts in the vineyard. The talent, skill, knowledge, and attitude of pruners can determine the longevity of the vineyard, as well as influence the yield.
FELCO Africa, Imvini Wethu and the OVP designed a specialised pruning training course to motivate, empower and share knowledge on how to treat and prune old vines with care and respect. Pruners are trained in enhanced pruning skills so that they can appreciate the importance and context of their role in the winemaking process. Their contribution has a direct and significant impact on the overall quality of the final product. Knowledge, ideas and experiences are shared between groups of pruners, providing an information base that continues to grow. The pruning courses take place annually and are open to members of the Old Vine Project.
Rosa is a vineyard manager for different cellars around the country by day, and a Certified Heritage Vineyards champion by night! A vineyard manager with 20 years’ experience, who travels far and often to learn from some of the most interesting vineyards in the world about what, exactly, needs to happen in the vineyard in order to make a good wine!
Sheldon has worked with some of South Africa’s top producers to manage vineyards, including Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines, L’Ormarins, Twee Jonge Gezellen, Boekenhoutskloof, Brookdale, Rupert and Rothschild, Chamonix and Rickety Bridge. He specialises in planting and training new vineyards, and is an expert pruner. Sheldon was recognised as the Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2022 Viticulturist of the Year for his contribution to the industry.
Abraham was born in 1971 on Bellingham farm in Franschhoek, and it was in 1993 that he first held a pruning shear; the FELCO 4. At Dagbreek farm he learnt how to prune a bush vine older than himself, and Abraham is now a vineyard supervisor and Sheldon’s right-hand man. Abraham is patient and has a passion for teaching old vine pruning techniques.
A well-known name in the industry, Gys is the managing director of FELCO Africa, a full subsidiary of FELCO SA (Switzerland), which he brought to being in 2008. Gys feels very strongly that workers at grassroots level are often not acknowledged for their vital role, and aims to change this through promoting skill recognition and pruning knowledge, saying: ‘Acknowledging workers motivates and inspires them to do their best.’
Rosa is a vineyard manager for different cellars around the country by day, and a Certified Heritage Vineyards champion by night! A vineyard manager with 20 years’ experience, who travels far and often to learn from some of the most interesting vineyards in the world about what, exactly, needs to happen in the vineyard in order to make a good wine!
Sheldon has worked with some of South Africa’s top producers to manage vineyards, including Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines, L’Ormarins, Twee Jonge Gezellen, Boekenhoutskloof, Brookdale, Rupert and Rothschild, Chamonix and Rickety Bridge. He specialises in planting and training new vineyards, and is an expert pruner. Sheldon was recognised as the Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report 2022 Viticulturist of the Year for his contribution to the industry.
Abraham was born in 1971 on Bellingham farm in Franschhoek, and it was in 1993 that he first held a pruning shear; the FELCO 4. At Dagbreek farm he learnt how to prune a bush vine older than himself, and Abraham is now a vineyard supervisor and Sheldon’s right-hand man. Abraham is patient and has a passion for teaching old vine pruning techniques.
A well-known name in the industry, Gys is the managing director of FELCO Africa, a full subsidiary of FELCO SA (Switzerland), which he brought to being in 2008. Gys feels very strongly that workers at grassroots level are often not acknowledged for their vital role, and aims to change this through promoting skill recognition and pruning knowledge, saying: ‘Acknowledging workers motivates and inspires them to do their best.’
Interested in our Old Vine Pruning Course? Kindly complete the form below to get notified when to enroll.
