About ADVICO
What We Do
The platform centres on key themes that matter most to long-term vineyard sustainability: climate adaptation, efficient resource use, smart viticulture and suitability of cultivars, clones and rootstocks. Through collaborative learning and continuous field testing, ADVICO helps the industry compare approaches, evaluate new possibilities and refine existing practices. ADVICO’s work is driven through four main pillars:
Research partnerships that address real viticulture challenges and develop practical, science-based solutions.
A national series of field demos that compare cultivars, clones and rootstocks to better understand their performance and suitability to different growing conditions.
Collaboration with universities and schools to support learning and grow the next generation of viticulture experts.
Practical learning through workshops, demo days, vineyard walks, digital resources and grower-focused communication—making research accessible, relevant and easy to apply.
Explore our Demos
An essential tool in managing drought conditions, variability, soil salinity and nematodes. Access to data from a wide range of rootstocks on different soils helps growers make the best possible selection for their site.
Evaluating cover crop species and mixes under diverse conditions for optimal weed suppression soil health management.
“Knowledge increases by sharing, but not by saving.”
— Kamari aka Lyrikal
Meet the ADVICO Team
Elzanne Bosman
ADVICO Vineyard Viticulturist
Elzanne joined the ADVICO team in 2024, motivated by a passion for research and innovation in viticulture. With five years of winemaking experience at Groot Constantia and a postgraduate qualification in Viticulture and Oenology, she offers valuable expertise to the team. Elzanne contributes to the development of new demonstrations, data collection and reporting on research findings.
Emma Carkeek
VINPRO Manager: Knowledge & Tech Transfer
With a background in research and winemaking and a strong interest in holistic vineyard systems, Emma Carkeek joined Vinpro and ADVICO in 2019 to help expand its demo network and grower support initiatives. Today, she serves as manager of the ADVICO Platform, overseeing demonstration sites, applied research activities, and industry knowledge-sharing. Emma plays a key role in coordinating grower engagement and ensuring that research is translated into practical solutions for vineyards across South Africa.
Logan Jooste
ADVICO Vineyard Viticulturist
Logan is passionate about working with nature and has developed a deep enthusiasm for viticulture. He joined the ADVICO team in 2022, bringing over seven years of experience in the industry, backed by his studies in Viticulture and Oenology. In his role, Logan contributes to demonstration monitoring, expansion efforts, and data collection, while taking on various other responsibilities to support the team.
News
Latest Events
Latest Events
April, 2026
This was ADVICO’s most active season yet, with 32 demos harvested across 10 districts and the team covering more than 4,200 km in the process. The work included 15 clone demos, 9 rootstock demos, and 8 cultivar demos, with a total of 1,145 grape samples processed. The season started two weeks earlier than usual, kicking off with the Chardonnay clone demo at Graham Beck on 6 January 2026.
Articles
Articles
July, 2026
Cane mass provides a practical and repeatable indicator of vegetative growth, offering a window into rootstock performance, vine balance, and seasonal response. Through multi-year measurements at the Otterkuil rootstock demo, these differences are helping to reveal how rootstock–clone combinations respond under dryland conditions.
Gallery
Gallery
Videos
Videos
