Wine Grape - Malbec

Vitis vinifera 'Malbec'

R375.00

Ships in: 2-4 days from Gauteng

Very Good for Warmer Climates!

  • Argentina's flagship red — produces deeply coloured, spicy, full-bodied red wines.

The Malbec is the signature red grape variety of Argentina, originating in Cahors, France, as a cross between the ancient varieties Prunelard Noir and Magdelaine Noire des Charentes. Medium-sized, round, black berries.

Self-fertile — one vine produces fruit without a pollinating partner. Prune hard every winter for best results.

Bag Size
1

Malbec Wine Grape Vine for Sale

Malbec is the signature red grape variety of Argentina, originating in Cahors, France, as a cross between the ancient varieties Prunelard Noir and Magdelaine Noire des Charentes. Medium-sized, round, black berries. The skin is thin but tough. The flesh is juicy and sweet with a spicy, fruity flavour. Seeded.

Ripens from end February, depending on weather conditions.

Climbing vine. Performs very well in warmer growing areas of South Africa. Produces deeply coloured, full-bodied red wines with characteristic plum and spice notes.

Like all wine grape varieties, Malbec rewards consistent pruning. An annual hard winter prune is the single most important step in keeping the vine productive, managing vigour, and improving fruit quality year on year. Without it, the vine will become increasingly unmanageable and fruit quality will decline.

Grapevines are long-lived, drought-tolerant once established, and surprisingly low-maintenance in the right position. Plant in full sun, in well-drained soil, with a solid trellis or support structure in place — and a well-sited vine will reward you for decades.

Wine Grape - Malbec

Appearance

Medium-sized, round, black berries. The skin is thin but tough. The flesh is juicy and sweet with a spicy, fruity flavour. Seeded.

Harvest Time

Ripens from end February, depending on weather conditions.

Year to Bear

Grafted vines can produce a small crop in the second year after planting. Full productive cropping typically begins from year 3 onwards. Vines improve in quality and yield as they mature.

Growth Rate

Climbing vine. Performs very well in warmer growing areas of South Africa. Produces deeply coloured, full-bodied red wines with characteristic plum and spice notes. Height and spread is mainly dependent on pruning practices. Typically trained to approximately 2m high × 3m wide on a trellis.

Container Friendly?

Grapevines can be grown in large containers but require a sturdy trellis or support and regular hard pruning to remain manageable. Feed regularly as container nutrients deplete quickly.

Sunlight

Full sun is essential — grapes need at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily to ripen fruit properly. Heat accumulation is critical for sugar development in wine varieties.

Watering

Water consistently during the growing season. Reduce irrigation as berries ripen to concentrate sugars. Drought-tolerant once well-established.

Temperature

Deciduous and frost-hardy once established. Grape vines require cold winters for proper dormancy. They are suited to most South African growing regions with the exception of very humid subtropical zones.

Chilling

Moderate chilling requirement. Grapevines are deciduous and require cold winters to break dormancy properly and produce a good crop the following season.

Pollination Info

Grapevines are self-fertile. A single vine will produce full bunches without needing a pollinating partner.

Planting & Care Guide

Plant in very well-drained soil in full sun. Grapes do not tolerate waterlogged conditions and will decline rapidly in wet, poorly drained soil. Sandy to sandy-loam soils with good structure are ideal.

Install a sturdy trellis, wire support or pergola before planting. Grapes are vigorous climbers and need solid support from the beginning.

Feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring as new growth emerges. A second application after berry set improves bunch development. Do not over-fertilise with nitrogen as this promotes excessive foliage at the expense of fruit.

Water consistently during the growing season, reducing as the fruit ripens to concentrate flavour and prevent berry splitting. Winter irrigation can be stopped almost entirely once the vine is dormant.

Prune hard in winter (July–August) every year. Hard winter pruning is the single most important maintenance task for grapes — it controls vigour, improves fruit quality and keeps the vine productive for decades.


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