We picked their last batch of grapes at Muratie Wine Estate this week. It is amazing to see what vineyards planted in 1977 (48 years old) can still give you! After all, the new mantra is "65 is the new 45"! The impressive yield of this port block planted by Oom Ben Prins underscores the resilience of old vines and their ability to adapt to their environment to keep delivering a balanced crop.
Stories like this of our living harvest history have me becoming more sentimental every summer. My wife Kim tells me my songs of choice are increasingly melancholic, but I always return to the feel-good purity of the oldies. My song for this month is the classic "Down to Joy" by Van Morrison. Good music in the cellar during harvest has also become a tradition at Muratie. Hattingh and his team did a brilliant job this year. I approved of their work ethic, dedication, and above all – the choice of music they played all day and night long.
I did my annual trip to Europe during the harvest, travelling by plane, train, and automobile. Staying in a new city every night, I felt like Taylor Swift must have felt during her Eras Tour. Pity I cannot say that my visit grossed more than 2 billion dollars!
My conversations there always seem to be about the usual issues like crime, violence, the carbon footprint and other challenges, but I can positively say that we are blessed to live in South Africa, and it is still the best place to be. I was also happy to share with certain ill-informed sommeliers that our carbon emissions as a New World producer per bottle shipping from Cape Town to Rotterdam and then to say Switzerland, are less than trucking a container of wine from the south of Spain or Italy for example. While industries like fast fashion in Europe are contributing greatly to global emissions, local wineries are going the extra mile to reduce bottle weight, use recycled closures and move away from chemicals to more sustainable methods.
Anyway, nature has spoilt us with a stunning, healthy crop for which we are eternally grateful. From next week we will be doing the rain dance, asking Queen Modjadji to bless us with some good showers. In the meantime, our team is diligently applying post-harvest fertilisation and irrigation to replenish the vines' reserves – because what we take out, we must always put back.
Upcoming events at Muratie
Gerald Clark live at Muratie
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon with Gerald Clark as he brings his signature blues and soulful tunes to the scenic Muratie Terrace. Set against the backdrop of our historic estate, this promises to be a laid-back yet electrifying performance.
When: 12 April 2025
Cost: R250 pp
Click HERE to book.
Albert Frost Trio live at Muratie
Join us on 31 May 2025 for an unforgettable afternoon with the Albert Frost Trio. Renowned for his dynamic stage presence and masterful guitar skills, Albert Frost has earned the title of the “South African Hendrix” and was hailed by Rolling Stone as the "Dark Prince of South African Blues". A SAMA-winning artist, Frost seamlessly fuses blues, rock, and Afro rhythms, delivering a sound that is both powerful and deeply expressive.
The trio’s seamless synergy brings each performance to life, with crisp rhythms, vibrant basslines, and layered harmonies that elevate Frost’s signature sound. Their diverse instrumentation and technical precision promise a show that is as emotionally stirring as it is musically captivating.
Book now for an afternoon of world-class music in the heart of Stellenbosch!
When: 31 May 2025
Cost: 250 per person (only 80 tickets left)
Click HERE to book.
Wishing you a blessed Easter holiday in the company of your loved ones, and our fine wine of course!
Till next time,
Rijk