South Africa Wine has said that it has “renewed confidence” as the country enters its 2026 harvest season. 

According to the national body, 2026 is expected to be a stable and promising year, following 2025, in which producers experienced no major weather disruptions. 

The initial forecasts suggest that 2026 will have a slightly larger harvest than the previous year, despite ongoing shrinkage due to the ageing of the national vineyard surface area. 

On the upcoming year, Dr Etienne Terblanche, Vinpro Consultation Services manager, predicted a favourable outlook based on stable weather patterns. He said vines are expected to maintain their phenological rhythm. 

Terblanche said: “The vineyards benefited from moderate temperatures during the crucial bunch initiation period in 2025, followed by minimal disease pressure and healthy and active canopy conditions after harvest.  

“Winter rainfall was close to long-term averages, and chill accumulation improved significantly, especially in regions where cold units are often limiting. Together, these conditions created a solid foundation for the uniform budding and good fertility we are seeing this season.” 

South Africa Wine continued that warm, dry weather has supported healthy vegetative growth and facilitated flowering and fertilisation over the harvest season. 

“Viticulturists expect improved bunch numbers in cultivars such as Chenin Blanc. At the same time, some late-ripening red varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Ruby Cabernet, may experience looser set due to windy, warm conditions during their critical periods,” the body said.  

The only major constraint in the harvest has been water availability, continued the body, most evident in dryland regions like the Swartland and Cape Town. Producers have responded by utilising irrigation schemes and dams. 

Rico Basson, CEO of South Africa Wine, said that there were good-quality crops across all 10 wine regions, which strengthens long-term competitiveness. 

He said: “With the national wine stock-to-sales ratio in equilibrium, the sector is better positioned to respond to market opportunities. Continued focused reinvestment in both vineyards and wineries is crucial for securing future supply and sustaining the positive momentum gained through consecutive stable seasons.”