The Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc 2024 has just hit the market, one of the first Sauvignon Blancs from this year's Cape vintage to be found on shelf.
According to Thys Louw, Diemersdal's owner-winemaker, the early release is largely driven by the market. "As owners of an established brand, Diemersdal is in a fortunate position to have customers clamouring for our Sauvignon Blanc from the new vintage each year," he says. "This, as well as the quality of this year's grapes being conducive to a quick ferment and a short stay to settle in the tank, has allowed us to come out with one of the Cape's first Sauvignon Blancs from the 2024 vintage."
Juandré Bruwer, who works alongside Thys in the Diemersdal cellar, says the 2024 vintage delivered exceptional quality Sauvignon Blanc despite warm to hot conditions experienced in December and January ahead of the Diemersdal harvest.
"We had a magnificent growing season due to the cool, mild conditions during the spring and early summer of 2023," he says. "And then a splash of rain fell in December to freshen the vines and build-up water reserves. Once harvest got underway, temperatures remained mild to warm, the heat coming at just the right time for sugar-levels to hit optimal ripeness."
Diemersdal's 2024 crop showed magnificent even-ripening. "I think it has a lot to do with our vines being unirrigated, dryland plants that have adapted to the vagaries of climate and unfailingly give us even, well-ripened grapes," says Juandré.
Diemersdal's Sauvignon Blanc harvesters hit the vineyards on 22 January, and the early grapes showed brisk acidity and assertive varietal character, with the balanced chemistry allowing for wine that was ready for bottling last week. The first wines exude zest and freshness along with delectable tropical notes of gooseberry and passion-fruit, with bracing, fresh acidity.
"As a Sauvignon Blanc producer, harvest time puts you in a vice where you are pushed from both sides," says Thys. "On the one hand, the grapes need picking, crushing, and vinifying. On the other hand, our customers are crying out for 2024 Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa's most popular white wine varietal. This is an extremely satisfying situation for a wine maker to be in, as at the end of the day it is the demand for your product that drives you to do what you do."
The Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc 2024 is available at a recommended retail price of R90.00