The air is thick with the scent of fermenting grapes, barrels creak under the weight of a promising vintage, and every corner of the cellar hums with quiet anticipation. This is 2025 at Quoin Rock, a harvest that’s already shaping up to be one for the books. While the vineyards are where the magic starts, it’s in the cellar where the stories take shape, and this year’s chapter is packed with breakthroughs, bold ideas, and the kind of craftsmanship that defines who we are.
A vintage in numbers
By the time the last bins rolled in, we’d received a total of 438 tons of grapes, an impressive haul made up of both stalwarts and exciting newcomers. Below shows the tonnage harvested for our top white and red cultivars
- Cabernet Sauvignon – 92 tons
- Chardonnay – 55 tons
And when it comes to location, we’re proudly drawing from the best of three distinct terroirs:
- 80% Stellenbosch
- 15% Cape Agulhas
- 5% Elgin
This combination of site and soil gives us a dynamic palette to work with, and 2025 is offering us some of the most balanced fruit we’ve seen in years.
More time on the vine, more character in the glass
This season, the grapes spent about ten extra days on the vine – something only possible thanks to ideal weather conditions and careful vineyard management. The result? Phenolic ripeness without the spike in sugar. That’s winemaker gold. It means better balance, better aging potential, and a smoother, more elegant wine across the board.
The amphora arrives
In our ongoing pursuit of nuance and texture, 2025 also saw the arrival of a new amphora - an ancient clay vessel now home to one of our most exciting cellar projects: a skin-fermented Chenin Blanc. With a history of high scores and international awards, our Chenin is no stranger to praise. But we never stop experimenting, pushing the envelope to coax out even more complexity and expression.
And, speaking of new arrivals – Marselan, a red grape known for its bold colour and structured tannins, made its debut in the cellar. It's already proving to be a fascinating addition to our red blending repertoire.
Sustainability that tells a story
Sustainability isn’t a box we tick. It’s part of everything we do. This year, we partnered with Vinolog to repurpose our spent grape skins into eco-friendly fire logs. From vine to flame, we’re finding new ways to extend the life and the story of every harvest.
Rosé like you’ve never tasted
Following the acclaim of our 2024 vintage - awarded best Rosé in South Africa last year - we doubled down. Using stabulation (a method involving prolonged juice contact with the must and dry ice), we’ve elevated our rosé’s flavour, depth, and texture to even greater heights. The result? A wine as layered as it is luminous, crafted to stay ahead of the pack.
Winemakers' picks
We asked our winemaking duo, Cellar Master Schalk Opperman and Head Winemaker Pieter Coetzee, what they’re most excited about this year.
Schalk’s favourites
- White: Rooikat Block Chardonnay – structured, poised, and full of potential.
- Red: Cabernet Franc Clones 214 & 623 – the building blocks for a lower-alcohol Bordeaux blend that doesn’t compromise on complexity.
Pieter’s picks
- White: Amphora-aged Chenin Blanc – pure, tactile, and full of texture.
- Red: Simonsberg Red Blend – already showing polish and elegance straight from the barrel.
Together, Schalk and Pieter continue to steer Quoin Rock’s cellar with steady hands and sharp intuition, blending modern technique with timeless craftsmanship.
Looking ahead
With fermentation nearly complete and the vintage settling into the tank and barrel, there’s a quiet confidence running through the team. The groundwork has been laid. The fruit has spoken. Now, the rest is patience, precision, and the joy of watching something truly special come to life.
This is 2025 at Quoin Rock, where the story is still being written, one barrel at a time. Stay with us. You’ll want to see how it ends.