The essence of harvest 2024
Experience the essence of Harvest 2024 in the Cape Winelands: an early season marked by vibrant vineyard growth and diverse conditions.
From hand-picking grapes earlier than usual to the promise of superb quality in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, explore the beginnings of a remarkable vintage at Paul Clüver Family Wines. As the wines ferment and mature, anticipate a culmination of flavors that reflect the essence of this exceptional year.
A feature of harvest 2024 in the Cape Winelands was an early season, resulting in vibrant, eager vineyard growth during spring and some warm conditions in December and January. And while our harvest teams were already hand-picking grapes from our younger Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vines on 7 February – some ten days earlier than usual – the more mature vineyards ripened as per our regular schedule. It has been a harvest of diverse conditions: warm at times, cool and crisp during others, and with a smattering of light drizzle thrown in to freshen things up.
While yields are slightly down, Andries Burger and his team see the prospect of superb quality in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the current vintage in the cellar. These are early days, yet as the wines ferment slowly – we use only spontaneous fermentation – in the various vessels of foudre, barrel and concrete eggs. But there is a discernible structure and definite refined nuances, laying the foundations for beautiful varietal expression, with crunchy cherry and violet character in the Pinot Noir and layers of citrus and white flower in the Chardonnay.
Harvest will continue into the week of 11 March, and then the process of laying down all the wines begins. This enables Paul Clüver to assess the state of Vintage 2024, which at this stage looks exceptional.
Paul Clüver at ProWein 2024
While the cellar and vineyard teams were completing the harvest, managing director Paul Clüver made his way to Düsseldorf in Germany for the annual Prowein show, the world's largest wine exhibition. Over 60,000 people from around the globe attended this year's event, where every winemaking nation known to humankind showcased their wines to attendees from the international wine trade.
Prowein took place from 10 to 12 March, during which time we showcased our wines on the Feinschmecker Stand. Of course, anybody in the vicinity was more than welcome to stop by and taste our range of cool-climate Elgin wines.
Paul Clüver attending ProWein with Margaret Hobbs and Ryan Gilchrist, our agents from Ontario, Canada.
'Building Bridges', a book by Dr Paul Clüver
Dr Paul Clüver published his book Building Bridges last year, a magnificent volume in which he tells the complete history of De Rust, recalls childhood memories of the farm and details his parents' commitment to growing De Rust into a viable agricultural entity before he left his career as a neurologist to continue the family legacy. It is the story of the family and their commitment to farming fruit and wine in this special place on earth. It contains numerous anecdotes on De Rust's fascinating history and the colourful people who have become friends of the Clüver family. All are written warmly and personable, with photographs and illustrations adding to a remarkable work.
On Wednesday, 17 April, Dr Clüver will discuss the book in further detail at a breakfast event. Members of the public are welcome to attend. The event starts at 09h00 and includes breakfast and coffee at a price of R120.
Dr Paul Clüver signing one of his first prints of Building Bridges.
Paul Clüver Noble Late Harvest Riesling, ideal for celebrations
On International Riesling Day earlier this week, we're celebrated with our Paul Clüver Noble Late Harvest Riesling, a testament to balance and finesse — each sip unfolds with the allure of dried fruits and whispers of frangipani. Here's to a wine that leaves you refreshed and wanting more!
Click HERE to discover the Riesling.