16/10/2026
GRAPE NEWS | WEEK 42 | 2026/27 TABLE GRAPE SEASON
The 2026/27 table grape season is approaching, with encouraging early indications from production regions across Namibia and South Africa. Crop development is progressing ahead of last season in several growing areas, pointing towards an earlier start to the harvest.
Here's an overview of developments across the regions:
📍 NAMIBIA | Namibia Grape Company
* Early varieties, including ARRA Passion Star™ (ARRATHIRTEEN), Early Sweet™, RUBY RUSH™ (Sugrafiftythree) and Flame, are developing approximately 10–14 days ahead of last season.
* Mid-season varieties are also progressing around seven days earlier.
* Following the unusual rainfall experienced between Weeks 37 and 39, fruit remains healthy, with good colour development and predominantly large to extra-large berry sizes.
📍 ORANGE RIVER
* Early varieties such as RUBY RUSH™ (Sugrafiftythree) and Early Sweet™ are currently five to seven days ahead of last season.
* Prime is expected to begin softening in the earlier production areas during Week 43, with harvesting anticipated from late Week 45 or Week 46.
* Black varieties, including Midnight Beauty™ and Sable Seedless®, are progressing according to their usual seasonal timing, with harvesting expected around Weeks 50–51.
* Timpson™ is showing particularly early development, approximately 14 days ahead of last season.
📍 WESTERN CAPE
The Western Cape's production regions are also showing encouraging progress, with varying degrees of advancement across the growing areas.
* Olifants River – Currently the earliest region in the Western Cape, with some varieties developing up to three weeks ahead of last season.
* Early Berg River – Development is approximately 10 days ahead on average, with early varieties such as Early Sweet™ and RUBY RUSH™ (Sugrafiftythree) showing an advancement of around 14 days.
* Hex River Valley – Early varieties are progressing approximately 14–20 days ahead of last season, with harvesting potentially commencing from Week 51.
🍇 Overall, the season is showing an earlier progression in crop development across most production regions, with the first packing activities expected to begin in Namibia in the coming weeks.
Follow our Grape News updates as we share developments from Capespan's table grape production regions throughout the 2026/27 season.