Reflecting on 2024: A Remarkable Year at De Grendel Wines

Reflecting on 2024: A Remarkable Year at De Grendel Wines

As we celebrate the 18th anniversary of our cellar, we’re reminded of the incredible journey we’ve shared since our doors first opened on October 28, 2006. Over nearly two decades, De Grendel has grown into a name synonymous with passion, quality, and innovation. This year has been extraordinary, filled with achievements, adventures, and milestones that we’re thrilled to share with you.

Earth Day 2024: Giving Back to Nature

In alignment with our commitment to sustainability, our Earth Day campaign raised R23,000 for the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS). This was achieved through online sales contributions, where R3 from every bottle sold between April 22 and May 22 went towards the initiative, and a fire-inspired dinner at De Grendel Restaurant for our Wine Club members.

To further amplify awareness, De Villiers Graaff interviewed Claire, CEO of VWS, in a captivating video series on Instagram, highlighting their vital work. A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who participated and helped us make a difference.

De Grendel Around the Globe

This year, the De Grendel team embarked on a series of international journeys to share our wines with the world:

  • Morgan: Dubai, Canada, USA, Lesotho
  • Charles: Iceland
  • De Villiers: UK (Waitrose Drinks Festival), Japan, Canada, Paris, USA, Singapore
  • Righard: Paris (Wine Paris), Japan (Vinos Yamazaki), Netherlands, Germany, Namibia

Locally, Charles and De Villiers hosted an exclusive Rubaiyat event at the Fairlawns Boutique Hotel in Gauteng, introducing the wine’s elegant new packaging.

 

Exceptional Wines and Accolades

This year saw the release of our Gaedry Blanc de Blanc, an exclusive offering for Loyalty Club members, and the unveiling of Rubaiyat’s sophisticated new box. De Grendel wines garnered remarkable recognition:

New Experiences at the Tasting Room

We introduced a Chocolate and Wine Tasting experience at our Tasting Room, offering guests a delightful pairing of De Grendel wines with hand-selected artisanal chocolates. This offering has been very popular amogst guests and we hope you can visit to try it for yourself. Additionally, Rio Largo’s award-winning Olive Oil, featured in our Rubaiyat packaging design, is now available for purchase at the Tasting Room.

Adding to the adventure, the launch of the Durbanville Wine Safari provided visitors with the opportunity to explore the stunning Durbanville Wine Valley. Guests journey through picturesque vineyards, stopping at select wineries to experience curated tastings in a truly immersive setting.

Culinary Collaborations and Recipes

Our culinary partnerships and recipes brought De Grendel wines into kitchens around the world. Highlights include:

Explore these and more on our website and try them out this festive season.

Exciting Events and Partnerships

From the cellar to the Kalahari, De Grendel wines have taken center stage:

The year started with a visit from Jan Hendrik where he visited Charles and Morgan in the cellar during harvest time. De Grendel Op Die Berg Syrah is listed and enjoyed by guests at Klein Jan restaurant in the Kalahari.

At the 2024 Inter Hotel Challenge, we were one of the proud wine sponsors. In the Best Food & Wine Pairing category Chef Rethabile Maseola and Wine Steward Simphiwe Duma (54 on Bath) won for their Grilled Sea Bass paired with De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2023 in the mains category. For dessert, Pastry Chef Ncebakazi Mketsu and Wine Steward Siphelo Matuntuta (Mount Nelson Hotel) impressed with their cheesecake paired with De Grendel Rubaiyat 2019.

In the Netherlands, Chef Thando (@thando_eats) presented a cooking class in partnership with Smeg Nederland. Click here to watch the video. 

Giveaway and Website Enhancements

One of our standout moments was the giveaway of a fully stocked Smeg bar fridge worth R40,000, a celebration for our loyal customers. Thank you to everyone for all the keen interest in the giveaway, and once again congratulations to our winner, Rudolf Johannes, from Paulpietersburg.

We also unveiled a refreshed website this year, designed to enhance your online experience. Part of the upgrades to the website is a long awaited feature for our Loyalty Club members – Loyalty Club discounts are now shown at checkout and on the cart page, so you can see how much you are saving.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Your unwavering support inspires every achievement we celebrate. As we reflect on 2024, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and warm wishes for the festive season. We eagerly look forward to welcoming you to De Grendel in 2025 and sharing even more unforgettable moments together.

With warm regards,

De Villiers

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