Vititec
Associations in Paarl

The objective of Vititec, is to supply the best available viticulturally and oenologically selected clonal material, who's activities started as far back as 1963, free from known harmful viruses and virus-like diseases. In terms of the Plant Improvement Law, the Vine Improvement Association (VIA) is the delegated authority which co-ordinates vine improvement in South Africa and administers the "SA Certification Scheme for Wine Grapes". Vititec brand-specific plant material is in great demand internationally and the plant improvement section has evolved into a profitable commercial business. In this respect Vititec's laboratories and greenhouses at Picardi in Paarl offer state-of-the art facilities to enable their scientists and researchers in collabaration with leading international institutions to stay abreast of new developments within the field. As a member of the VIA, the clones developed by Vititec are registered at the VIA and the plant material thereof are issued as "SA Certified" from approved sources.

To be a world leader in the management of a technologically advanced programme for the improvement of vine plant material. The development, production and marketing of vine plant material to satisfy customers and shareholders’ expectations. Vititec is a trusted producer of high quality clonal plant material in the Western Cape wine industry. The company’s daily operations include the development, production, marketing and supply of viticultural and oenological selected plant material in the form of grafted vines and vine plant material suitable for grafting. Clones selected in old local vineyards, as well as clones imported from abroad, are carefully evaluated. Clients can receive technical support from Vinpro’s viticultural consultants in nine wine regions. During the first phase of multiplication a nucleus vine from each candidate and/or registered clone is kept in a VIA approved insect free nucleus block greenhouse at Picardi, from where all future multiplication and evaluation is done. During the second phase of multiplication, rootstock and grafted vines are established in foundation blocks in insect free facilities and open field isolated areas, from where further viti- and vinicultural evaluations are done. Scion and rootstock material from this source are grafted and callused at Picardi and cultivated in foundation nurseries in remote isolated areas for the establishment of mother blocks. Rootstock mother blocks are only established on selected virgin soil of which about 400 hectares are maintained. Approximately 1000 hectares of vinifera mother blocks are also maintained. Outdated material is annually discarded while new sources from improved clonal material are established for marketing. The markets’ demand for scion and rootstock cuttings of each cultivar and clone is estimated regularly in conjunction with consultants, nurserymen and producers. The certification of grafted material from these nurseries is undertaken by a private organisation on behalf of the VIA. Vititec’s main focus is on clonal selection, virus elimination, grafting, establishing and maintaining clean mother blocks, and supplying grafting material to the local nursery industry. A panel of prominent viticulturists and winemakers participated in a tasting and discussion of cultivars and clones that hold the potential for further propagation. The dry conditions that have prevailed since August 2014 caused the levels of the large storage dams, as well as farm dams, to be very low since the end of September.