Next-level technology

Next-level technology

‘We try to fuse cutting edge technology with mastery and the handcrafted nature of the great vineyards of the world,’ Mike explains. ‘Spirituality can be fused with modernity.’

In some ways, much of what Vilafonté do is remarkably simple. Hand harvesting, hand sorting. Until last vintage everything was fermented with wild yeast, all in a minimal intervention way. The staff have all been there from the beginning; each of them spends most of their time out in the vineyard, knowing the vines and the soil inside out – a true hands-on approach.

But the way the vineyard is managed is almost space-age in its modernity. (Literally – some of their technology is also deployed by NASA!) They’ve been industry leaders in South Africa – and in some cases, the world – for decades. From underground direct root irrigation to reduce water wasteage by 70% whilst ensuring the vines have precisely what they need – a measure which also saves Vilafonté at times of extreme drought, to FBI technology formerly used to spy on the Russian wheat crop that allows them multispectral, hyperspectral overhead aerial imaging of every vine, Vilafonté is almost unbelievably meticulous in mapping their vineyard, their terroir.

EM38 Ground-penetrating radar allows them to map up to twelve feet below the substrate for a complete, three-dimensional picture – soil densities, soil types and water flows. Tools that measure the physical stress of the vines. The list goes on.

And of course, all this tech is married to huge viticultural experience. With four PhDs and three Masters degrees across the seven members of senior management, and a wealth of learning across numerous world-leading wineries, there’s a formidable knowledge base at Mike’s disposal. This lets the winery stay ahead of the curve in so many respects, and the simplicity of their vision keeps them hyper-focussed.

For a long time, for instance, they planted more densely than any other South African winery, dramatically steepening their ripening curve and allowing them to harvest perfectly ripe grapes up to three weeks earlier than competitors. This has the huge advantage of putting them ahead of the regular summer storms – such as in 2023 and 2026 – that can devastate harvests before they’ve begun.

Exceptional technology alongside the deepest hands-on knowledge. It’s the hardest approach, but the results speak for themselves.