We’re entering the second month of autumn at Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate with a renewed focus on the spaces we inhabit by looking closely at how our surroundings shape our experiences.
While our vineyard and cellar teams have been working hard over the past couple of months, transforming the grape harvest into another vintage of Diemersfontein wine, while elsewhere on the estate a transformation of our hospitality environment was slowly underway. Our guest rooms are currently undergoing a complete renovation to ensure your future stays are defined by comfort and elegance. We are refining these spaces to provide a more sophisticated retreat for every visitor.
The spirit of the season also highlights the importance of the family environment, by adjusting our calendar to accommodate the Easter weekend festivities, and hosting our next Diemersfontein Country Market one week later on Sunday, 12 April. This shift allows everyone to enjoy the holiday with those who enrich your environment, before gathering for a day of local crafts and community joy. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring the whole family together in the fresh autumn air.
Our natural environment has again delivered a significant milestone this month as harvest 2026 is now officially done. The hectic energy of the vineyards has moved into the quiet calmness of the cellar. Our winemaking team is pleased with the concentrated flavours and the overall health of this year’s yield.
This annual success and immense quality of the fruit is reliant on our commitment to responsibly maintain a sustainable and eco-conscious environment. In celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, we are proud to highlight the many new indigenous trees recently planted across the estate. These impressive mature trees act as guardians of our soil; ensuring that our farm remains a thriving ecosystem for generations to come.
The sensory environment of the estate is particularly vibrant as we approach World Malbec Day on 17 April. We believe a great wine deserves a proper spotlight; we are offering a 10% discount on case purchases of our Carpe Diem Malbec Reserve 2023 throughout the entire month. This wine captures the bold, dark fruit profile that our terroir provides so generously. Our commitment to excellence also travels beyond the farm this month.
We conclude the month by reflecting on an environment of freedom. On the 27 April, we will be honouring national Freedom Day with a special gesture for those who visit the estate! We are offering freedom tastings for the duration of the day; this is our way of celebrating the liberty to enjoy good company and exceptional wine in a beautiful setting.
We look forward to welcoming you into our ever-evolving environment this April.
Shop our April savings
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Malbec Reserve 2023: Save 10% – now only R1 675 per case
Click HERE to shop.
Post-harvest report: An overview of harvest 2026 by Francois Roode
The 2026 harvest didn't linger, driven by a persistent dry spell across spring and summer that accelerated the growth cycle and led to a significantly earlier start than the historical average.
While other regions like Robertson dealt with untimely thundershowers, we dodged the rain entirely, resulting in zero rot and very low disease pressure. This allowed us to stay on schedule without extra spraying, bringing healthy grapes (particularly our main variety, Pinotage) into the cellar.
The harvest time also came with a "big bang"; a full week of constant 40ºC to 45°C heat around the end of February! Fortunately, the bulk of the fruit was already safely off the vines, avoiding the frantic sugar spikes that usually accompany such a ten-day scorcher.
With the grapes in and the numbers crunched, tonnages are up and quality is looking solid, though the cellar work is far from over. While the white wines have finished fermentation and are undergoing battonage (the stirring up of the spent yeast, lees) to build mouthfeel and richness, the reds are tackling a bit of a "curveball"…
Unusually high malic acid levels is resulting in the malolactic fermentation taking its time, proving that even in a fast harvest, science can't be rushed. Despite the slow-fizzing chemistry, the bottling schedule is already stacking up; we are currently prepping the Malbec for Woolworths and getting the Pinotage stock ready to deliver on the demand. The first of the new vintage wines, our Sauvignon Blanc 2026, is slated for release in approximately eight weeks.
Turning to our delicious EVOO; the same heatwave that hurried the grapes along also turned the olives from green to black almost overnight. We are anticipating an "on-year" for production, with picking set to begin in a week or two once the fruit is fully ripened.
In the meantime, our vineyard team is undertaking a fertilising regimen to give the vines sufficient nourishing to put in reserves, ahead of the new season’s budding in springtime. We’re still busy clearing some of the under-producing vineyards that we uprooted and, once the first 20-30mm of rain softens the soil, we can do soil preparation before planting the new vines over the coming winter.
We want to thank our industry colleagues and loyal supporters for their visits, encouragement and camaraderie during harvest 2026. Through long tiring days, your support and motivation kept us going right to the end!
Upcoming events with Diemersfontein
Diemersfontein Country Market
The Diemersfontein Country Market is a day of local crafts and community joy. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring the whole family together in the fresh autumn air.
Venue: Diemersfontein Estate, Wellington
Date: Sunday, 12 April 2026
Time: 10h00 to 14h00
Cost: Free entry
Four Countries, Four Voices: An evening of European song, food and wine
A creative evening of wonderful dinner, music and wine in the beautiful setting of The Forum Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
Four remarkable young South African singers will enchant the dinner guests with songs/arias from four countries in Europe – paired with the cuisine of those countries, prepared by the excellent chefs of The Forum. Diemersfontein Wines will contribute the accompanying wines for the evening.
The event is hosted by the Excellence out of Africa Trust (a passion project of David and Susan Sonnenberg, founders of Diemersfontein). All proceeds raised go to the trust, which allocates the funds toward supporting our nation's brightest vocal talents – funding master classes, travel bursaries for international auditions, and study subsidies.
By joining us, you aren't just attending a dinner; you’re contributing to the launching of a career!
Venue: The Forum, Hyde Park, Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 18 April 2026
Time: 18h00 for 18h30
Cost: R850 pp (Dinner, wine and performance included)
Click HERE to book.
Run The Vines Trail Run
Join us on Saturday, 16 May 2026 at Diemersfontein Wine and Country Estate for the fifth event of the 2026 Run The Vines Series presented by First Ascent.
Venue: Diemersfontein Estate, Wellington
Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
Cost: From R120 pp
Click HERE to book.