Harvest Report 2018

The harvest kicked off on the 1st of February this year, a good two weeks later than last year due to the late winter and a cool spring. A first for Grande Provence and also the first grapes to be brought into the cellar was Verdelho, a Portuguese variety that has high natural acidity and complex aromatics.

Harvest Report 2
This was followed shortly by Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. The harvest yields are down by about 30%, which is mainly due to the drought conditions causing smaller berries on the bunches, but the quality of the fruit so far has been very good with great concentration and flavours. Our old vine Chenin Blanc, a 35 year old block grown under dryland conditions, managed to show off her true colours by digging deep into her reserves to deliver a beautiful harvest of pristine grapes destined for the Amphora and The Grande Provence White.

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At about halfway through the harvest our prospects look very promising. The reds are ripening well with some Merlot from Franschhoek and the Helderberg coming into the cellar. Soon our days will be filled with pump-overs and punch-downs, extracting all the goodness that the tiny berries have to offer.

New to the cellar for 2018, our high tech German de-stalkers and sorters are going through their paces and making a significant contribution to improved quality wine.

Hagen Viljoen, our new winemaker is totally driven with passion and energy to make distinctive top quality wines.

We are certain that the 2018 Grande Provence harvest signals a new direction for quality and focus in the cellar and with the winemaking.

Ivan Oertle
Cape Wine Master