Halfway through the harvest season
Klawer CEO, Mr. Andries Blake, shares some exciting news about this year’s harvest. At this stage, Klawer Wine Cellars has already received more than half of its total tonnage as compared to last season. The grapes are looking exceptionally good, particularly cultivars such as Chenin Blanc – of which the final loads are arriving – and Pinotage. Other varieties, including Colombar, Hanepoot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon, are also beginning to come in.
Having tasted some of the young wines, the Klawer Chenin Blanc from Trawal Cellars shows great promise, as does the Villa Esposto Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from the Skurfberg area. To date, the cellar has received 27,000 tons of grapes, with a record-breaking single-day intake of 1,656 tons – the highest in Klawer Wine Cellars’ history. Favourable weather has blessed us with smooth conditions, free from major challenges like heavy rainfall, as in other areas of the country. We are thankful and excited for what the remainder of the season will bring.
What’s new this month
With the arrival of new tanks, the pressing cellar is now in full swing. Operations have settled in quickly, and so far, everything is running smoothly, setting the stage for a promising season ahead.
Behind the scenes
Our winemaker, Roelof Van Schalkwyk, has been refining his craft for years, earning recognition along the way. The 2023 Straw Wine proudly received a Platinum Award at the 2025 Michelangelo Awards. While the process may not look glamorous, the result is nothing short of liquid gold.
Behind the scenes, the team works tirelessly – moving dried grapes from racks into the crusher, a crucial step in creating this unique wine. And here’s an interesting fact: straw wine gets its name from the traditional method of drying grapes on straw mats, concentrating their sugars and flavours before pressing.
Wines of the month
Think pink! This month, we’re raising a glass to pink perfection. Choosing was no easy task between a fruity Pinotage Rosé, a refreshingly sweet Rosé, and the delightfully bubbly Michelle sparkling wine. As the saying goes, good things come in three – and this trio proves it beautifully.
Wine tip
Dessert wines, such as our popular African Vermouth, should be served well chilled between 6 and 10 degrees Celsius.
Community spotlight: Ebenhaeser Farmers
This month, we highlight the subsistence farmers of Ebenhaeser, a small town with deep fishing and farming traditions. Established in 1831 as a Rhenish mission station near the mouth of the Olifants River, Ebenhaeser has long been rooted in agriculture. Today, Klawer Wine Cellars supports these farmers by offering valuable guidance to improve their practices and by purchasing their grapes. Through this partnership, Klawer helps strengthen local agricultural initiatives and fosters sustainable growth in the community.