With the international Wine Paris show having become a fixed item on the global wine calendar, the De Wetshof team now finds itself entering the new year with international travels in February. With over 5 400 exhibitors from around the wine world, and thousands of visitors daily, Wine Paris has become the place to be for anyone or body in the serious wine business.
Wine Paris this year was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment the doors opened, the energy was palpable, a true celebration of the global wine community under one roof. Walking the halls, you could hear a dozen languages in a single minute, all united by a shared passion for wine. For us at De Wetshof, it was a wonderful opportunity to pour our wines for people from across the world, to see their reactions firsthand, and to share the story of our limestone-rich soils and our commitment to Chardonnay excellence. There is something deeply rewarding about watching someone taste your wine for the first time and seeing their face light up.
Beyond the tastings, Wine Paris remains one of the most valuable platforms for connection. It is where friendships are renewed, new partnerships are sparked, and ideas are exchanged freely across borders. In a world that moves so quickly, these face-to-face moments matter more than ever. We returned home inspired, energised, and proud to represent De Wetshof on such a prestigious international stage.
Harvest 2026: A season of calm precision
While Johann de Wet and Bennie Stipp tended to Wine Paris, the De Wetshof vineyards and cellar were in the midst of harvest 2026. There is a particular rhythm to life on De Wetshof that becomes most apparent during harvest. It is a season of early mornings, quiet concentration and shared purpose, a time when the months of preparation in the vineyards finally begin to show their reward. This year, that rhythm carried us through what promises to be a beautifully classical vintage.
The 2026 harvest will be remembered here as a season where preparation met favourable conditions, allowing our vineyards to perform with poise and balance. A properly cold winter laid the foundation, the kind of winter that allows vines to rest deeply and awaken evenly when spring arrives.
Spring followed with even bud break and steady growth across the vineyards. Flowering passed without disruption, fruit set was generous, and from early in the season the vineyards showed remarkable health.
The growing season itself was notably dry and clean. Warm, windy conditions reduced disease pressure and allowed the team to focus on precision canopy work and carefully managed irrigation. Water, always precious in our region, was monitored closely to maintain vine balance without encouraging excessive vigour.
Harvest began roughly a week earlier than average, with Cap Classique Chardonnay blocks among the first to be picked in early January. As tradition dictates, picking started at 02h00 with headlamps flickering quietly among the rows while the rest of the valley slept.
Midway through harvest, a welcome yet challenging spell of rain arrived. The team responded calmly, bringing in vulnerable blocks ahead of the weather and then pausing picking for several days to allow soils to drain and fruit chemistry to stabilise. It was a reminder that patience - one of the most valuable tools in winemaking - often determines the outcome of a season.
One encouraging feature of 2026 is a natural increase in yields following several smaller vintages. Importantly, this increase has not come at the expense of quality. Early fermentations show wines with clarity, citrus brightness and a chalky mineral line - hallmarks of De Wetshof Chardonnay.
Limestone Hill Chardonnay shines on the world stage
Amid the bustle of harvest, there was another moment of celebration that reminded us how far our wines travel beyond the Robertson Valley.
Our Limestone Hill Chardonnay, a wine that has long been part of many South African tables, was recently awarded a gold medal at the prestigious Chardonnay du Monde competition in Burgundy, France. To see a wine so deeply rooted in our limestone soils recognised on the international stage is both humbling and immensely rewarding.
What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that Limestone Hill has always been a wine of accessibility and honesty. It is unwooded, expressive and faithful to the fruit - a style that reflects the purity of Chardonnay grown on our soils. A deserved Gold medal, said in all modesty!