While the greatest forces of nature have given us diamonds, it takes the hands of man to make light dance through a stone. It is the final cutting and polishing that reveal its true beauty, through precisely cut facets and perfectly polished surfaces a rough diamond is transformed – a process that Graff has truly perfected. The harvest at Delaire Graff Estate tells of a similar story.
A quest for perfection
After many months of hard work and dedication in the vineyards, winemaker Morné Vrey and viticulturist Kallie Fernhout must practice the art of patience – as they wait for Mother Nature to play her part and for each grape to achieve perfection.
A process that cannot be rushed, it is vital that sugar, acidity and pH levels are in complete harmony before the harvest can commence, with each grape variety handpicked at the optimum time. While some measurements are made scientifically, Morné and Kallie ultimately use their knowledge, experience and instincts, honed over many years to make the final judgement call.
Once the harvest commences it takes approximately three months to complete, and as with the process of revealing the hidden depths of a rough diamond, it is a closely orchestrated process completed by a highly skilled team.
"The harvest is a wonderful moment when we come together to pick and to press – and then taste, as we refine and craft each vintage to ensure absolute excellence. No year is ever the same, because despite all of our planning, preparation and hard work we are beholden to Mother Nature, however, we continue to create something truly beautiful, time and time again." - Morne Vrey
Laurence Graff Reserve
Many of the vintages crafted at Delaire Graff Estate are rare, incorporating just one row of vines from within the vineyard. An example of this is the Laurence Graff Reserve. A truly iconic claret, classically elegant yet with a gravitas to tribute to its namesake, it stands as the pinnacle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in 80% new French oak barrels for 20 months, it is a timeless reflection of the Estate’s most esteemed of the noble varietals.