For South African wine regions, a cold start to the 2009 vintage year delayed budburst and flowering in many areas, while heavy rain was also a problem in the spring.

The cool weather continued well into the summer but the crucial final 3 months before harvest were hot and dry, leading to what is being hailed as an outstanding vintage.

The only blot on the landscape is the risk of smoke taint from fires which raged through some vineyard areas a few weeks before harvest, but serious producers are eliminating from their blends any grapes which have even the slightest hint of smoke.