As the harvest season at Warwick Wine Estate comes to its final stretch, we take a moment to catch our breath and to show gratitude to all who’ve had a very busy last month spent among the vines. With the grapes showing great potential, our winemaking team is quietly smiling, knowing that another vintage of exceptional wines are on their way.
Meet our man with the plan: JD Pretorius
Ever wondered what it takes to create the perfect vintage? Join Warwick’s cellarmaster, JD Pretorius, as he spills the beans on everything ‘2023’! From vine to wine; the highs, the lows, the meticulous planning and everything in between.
Created for the true wine lovers, we get below the surface with our talented winemaker, who shares his account of our harvest story.
The 2023 harvest got off to a flying start with grapes coming in earlier than expected, how have these conditions differed from a more traditional harvest period?
"We had a rather strange lead up to the 2023 harvest season. A wet November/December season mean that disease pressure was high and rain during crucial stages of development, such as berry set, sped up the ripening from early stages. The weather in January was cool, but February made up for it with a bang and is always one of our hottest months in the Cape. This year was no exception, with recorded temperatures of around 35 degrees for 7 consecutive days and with minimal temperature drops in the evening, causing sun damage and raisin-ed berries. This in itself is not a huge issue, but coupled with the rain in February and March, caused some challenging pick calls."
How would you define a successful harvest?
"A successful harvest is made up of a healthy crop size, all of good quality, and being able to harvest the grapes at an optimal time ensuring that they are processed in the cellar as quickly as possible. We are lucky in South Africa that even in unfavourable vintages, we are still able to produce stellar wines. Vintages like 2023 make it slightly more challenging to do so, but we have a super dedicated vineyard team that picked exactly when we needed to and capacity in the cellar was prioritised in order to process quickly. So even though 2023 has not been an easy one, I would still call it a very successful harvest."
What are the biggest challenges winemakers / viticulturists face during any harvest?
"As mentioned above, our biggest challenge is always centered on harvesting the grapes at the optimum time. This year we had a very small window to pick, due to multiple rainy days. We had far less days of processing, but higher volumes done per day. Even though we had a small window, I am confident we took the grapes off at the best time and we able to process them without any compromises"
Warwick has a rich history of producing excellent, award-winning red wines - what makes our little corner of Stellenbosch so unique?
"Warwick is on the Northern side of Stellenbosch and therefore the hotter side. Characterised by deep red soils with a high clay sub-base and hot days needed to fully ripen grapes, but with enough water holding potential in the soil to sustain the vines through the ripening period. This results in full and rich wines with lots of power, but still with an element of restraint and freshness. These elements make for great wines that reward patient cellaring; wine which evolve beautifully over time."
From vine to wine
It’s no secret that harvest season is both the busiest and most crucial time of year for winemakers, setting the foundation for the quality of the wines to follow. Ever wondered how it all comes together though?
To ensure a successful harvest, extensive planning is required; from deciding when to begin picking, constant grape tracking, having systems in place to getting the sugar balance perfect.
"Think… the conductor’s orchestral wave of a baton and a fevered 6 weeks to follow (laughs). In all honesty though, there are no rules, and there is no set formula. We’re custodians of our fertile soils and the artistry begins right there - the rest we attest to teamwork and a shared passion for creating outstanding wines we can all enjoy." - JD Pretorius, Warwick winemaker
Need any more reason to celebrate the immense efforts that go into every bottle?! The end result awaits, perfectly crafted, packaged and soon to be delivered to your door. Shop your Warwick favourites now.
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