De Grendel's 2025 Harvest: A Vintage to Remember

De Grendel’s 2025 harvest season has been nothing short of exceptional, marked by ideal weather conditions and a healthy yield. While the harvest started slightly later than in 2024, the previous year’s season was unusually early. This year, grapes were harvested at optimal sugar levels, with beautifully balanced fruit acids—a hallmark of a great vintage.

Cellar Master Charles Hopkins, now in his 38th vintage in South Africa, describes 2025 as one of the best harvests he has ever experienced. “The moderate weather played a key role in producing high-quality fruit. We had no extreme heat waves or unexpected rain, ensuring a healthy and even ripening process. The result is wines with remarkable depth, structure, and balance.”

The red wines from this vintage show brilliant colour intensity and well-integrated tannins. Cooler nights allowed for slow, even ripening, enhancing both flavour concentration and colour development while maintaining lower sugar levels—translating into wines with naturally lower alcohol content.

Winemaker Morgan Steyn is particularly excited about this year’s Sauvignon Blanc, both from De Grendel’s home vineyards and the Darling region, which supplies grapes for the Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc. “We are seeing incredible vibrancy and complexity in the Sauvignon Blanc this year, with a bright, crisp acidity that promises excellent ageing potential,” he says.

Another standout this season is Merlot, showing outstanding colour and flavour development, with a well-balanced composition that hints at an exceptional vintage. Meanwhile, grapes from the Ceres Plateau for the Op Die Berg range look particularly promising, with the Op Die Berg Chardonnay and Op Die Berg Pinot Noir set to showcase their signature cool-climate elegance.

With a tonnage above average and all signs pointing to a remarkable vintage, De Grendel’s 2025 wines are shaping up to be truly extraordinary.