The hum of summer feels like an invitation to slow down, sip something delicious and enjoy the company of the people who make the season sparkle at Diemersfontein Wine Estate.
Though there was a soft launch last December, 2025 opened with the joyful 'proper' arrival of SMUL Restaurant; its gorgeous dishes and generous spirit set the tone for the mouths that followed. Guests embraced SMUL with relish, and its tables have been filled with laughter ever since.
A short stroll away, Die Werf become home to Heroes Live at Diemersfontein, bringing live performances to the heart of the estate. There's a constant stream of top-class talent gracing the stage, with the lineup over the course of this month includes Rocco De Villiers, Kurt Darren, and in January, Steve Hofmeyr. For more information and to get your concert tickets, keep an eye on our website's Upcoming Events page.
Energy on the farm kept building when our Tasting Room stepped forward in a refreshed look; new finishes, comfortable spaces and a welcoming atmosphere now make every visit feel like a small celebration.
By midyear the farm again played home to the final leg of the Freedom Challenge. Cyclists arrived with dusty smiles and unstoppable courage, as friends and family cheered them home with pride.
Thereafter October delivered a familiar rhythm when Pinotage on Tap returned in full swing and drew a spirited crowd ready to raise their glasses. We've already set the date for next year's POT, so we are looking forward to welcome you to our farm on the 10th of October. Remember that we did a Price Freeze on the tickets until the end of January – this means that you can buy your tickets to POT 2026 at the same price as they were this year.
Click HERE to get your tickets.
Ending off the year on a high note, December carries its own set of treats...
International Cabernet Franc Day arrives on 4 December, and offers a luxurious excuse to pour a glass and enjoy the elegant character of this charming variety. Even more so, seeing that we're bringing you the chance to save on your order of Thokozani Cabernet Franc throughout December.
Later in the month, our Vibes in the Vines concert series will fill the farm with music from 12h30 on performance days. Entry to the concerts are FREE, so you can bring the entire family for a perfect sunny day in the winelands – have a look below for the performance days and artist lineup.
International Sangria Day on 20 December brings a playful breeze to the season and a fabulous new way to enjoy our The Prodigy Pinotage.
On 25 December, it's time to sit down to a fabulous festive feast for Christmas Lunch at SMUL Restaurant. Chef put together a menu that promises to be generous and joyful, and with no washing up. With only a handful of places still available, contact SMUL to secure your seat.
Diemersfontein feels especially vibey at this time of year. Excitement from the vineyards blend seamlessly with the chatter from tree-shaded tables and every moment seems to carry a reminder that the best experiences are shared.
May your festive season be full of good wine, good company and the simple pleasures that make memories linger.
We look forward to welcoming you and your family to the farm throughout December – the gates are open, the wine is ready, and the celebrations are waiting.
Shop now: Diemersfontein's fabulous festive savings
Diemersfontein Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Save 10% – Now only R540 per case
Thokozani Cabernet Franc 2022
Save 10% – Now only R891 per case
Click HERE to shop now.
Upcoming events at Diemersfontein
Vibes in the Vines
Get ready to soak up the summer sunshine and good vibes at VIBES IN THE VINES, our relaxed concert series set against the beautiful backdrop of Diemersfontein Wine Estate!
Enjoy an afternoon of LIVE MUSIC, great food from SMUL Restaurant, and your favourite Diemersfontein wines.
Upcoming dates:
- 14 December - Wesley Clark
- 16 December - Renier Greeff
- 20 December - Marius Swanepoel
- 21 December - Burger Le Roux
- 27 December - Henco Du Toit
- 28 December - Dewald Dippenaar
Times: From 12h30 onwards
Venue: Diemersfontein, Wellington
Cost: FREE ENTRY!!
Bookings: info@smulrestaurant.co.za or 069 687 5904
With a dedicated kiddies play area, it’s the perfect outing for the whole family, so gather your crowd and let’s make some unforgettable vineyard memories together!
Christmas lunch at SMUL Restaurant
Join us at SMUL Restaurant on our farm in Wellington for a festive lunch filled with delicious food, good company, Christmas spirit, and true Boland hospitality.
Enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly upon your arrival. Lunch starts at 12h30, with mains served at 13h00 – perfect timing to still accommodate a cheeky afternoon nap...
This amazing festive feast is offered at R750 pp for adults and R380 pp for kids under 12. We have special kids’ menu is available; including a cookie decorating kit and more!
Christmas lunch menu
On arrival
Charcuterie and a variety of cheese
Salads
Caramelised pear and blue cheese salad
Broccoli caesar salad
Main course
Lamb from the spit
Sticky cherry-glazed fammon
West Coast mussel pot in creamy garlic and white wine sauce
Chicken marbella
Orzo pilaf rice
Rosemary and duck fat roast potatoes
Creamed spinach gratin
Butternut, mushroom and bacon bake
Dessert
Chocolate fondant with espresso and raspberry ice cream
or
Sticky toffee pudding with Amarula and ginger snap ice cream
Each table will be beautifully decorated and include a traditional luxury Christmas cracker, ensuring the festive spirit shines bright.
With breathtaking views, world-class wines, and mouthwatering cuisine, this is a Christmas celebration you won’t want to miss!
Book now to secure your table: 069 687 5904 / info@smulrestaurant.co.za
A view of the vineyards: Pre-harvest overview from Francois Roode
It’s the start of December and everyone’s getting into the holiday vibe ahead of Christmas and spending time with family and friends. With regards to the weather, it’s been a very dry season for the first bit of summer this year. The last proper rain we had was back in September, with none predicted in the long-term forecast for the remainder of the ripening season.
Luckily our water management system here on the farm is such that we channel as much water as possible into our various dams during the wet winter months, building reserves for times like these. With the availability of water being a great asset, we can proactively use drip-irrigation in our vineyards to mitigate heat stress even before it manifests.
So far, due to the dryer weather, we luckily haven’t had any issues with downy mildew, but the season of powdery mildew is now on the horizon. We’re staying vigilant to react promptly in the event that we encounter issues, but it seems like this year will have a very low disease pressure overall.
Following very even budburst, the dry conditions we’ve experienced now sees the development of smaller bunches with smaller berries. This will ultimately deliver more concentrated fruit for us to then vinify once it reaches the cellar.
Our olive trees are doing well, the fruit currently being roughly the size of a pinky-fingernail, so once the grape harvest has been completed, these will probably be ripened to perfection and ready to be harvested and pressed into our Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
In terms of the operations on the farm; over the past year we’ve established an additional 250 olive trees, with further expansion of our olive planting in the planning. We’ve also uprooted about 10 hectares of vineyard, with roughly another 5 hectares yet to be done. Once this has been completed, we’ll be undertaking soil preparation before replanting the open land over the next two years with a combination of Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Grenache, Malbec, and perhaps some other exciting varietals.
For now, we’re planning on taking a little breather over the festive season, spending some time with friends and family, before they become “winemaker widows” due to our absence at the start of the new year.
We’ll then be back on the farm for some final preparations before the long days and hard work kick off to shepherd the grapes of harvest 2026 into the cellar – which, my intuition tells me, might be a little earlier than normal. We'll bring you another harvest update in January.
