Asked to describe the 2026 harvest in one word, Cederberg Wines’ viticulturist, Dirk de Bruyn, replied: “Challenging – as it was a whole week earlier than usual! “We had cool weather but lovely summer days from November. The climatic conditions were almost perfect, with cold nights, warm days and very consistent temperatures, making it a great year for the vineyards.”
There was a below-average rainfall with a much colder, dry winter. “It was almost a Karoo-type cold with temperatures of zero degrees and below-average. This aorded the vineyards good resting time as they need certain cold reserves. “Even though it was a dryer year than usual, I may have stressed but the vineyards didn’t! We started picking on 28 January. First up was the Chardonnay for the Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique, then the Sauvignon Blanc. We aim to finish by the end of March if all goes according to plan.
“The stars aligned and we did not have to compromise on quality at all, with physiological ripeness and good sugars. Berries were slightly bigger than usual because of the constant warmth, but ours are naturally smaller anyway due to our climate and fruit set. The Shiraz is something exceptional!” Dirk concludes.