Despite a highly variable growing season, viticulturist Vlok Hanekom and winemaker Elunda Basson point to a harvest marked by strong yields, healthy fruit, and reliable quality across key varietals.
Steenberg Wine Estate, established in 1682 as the Cape's first registered farm, lies in the Constantia Valley, the oldest New World wine-producing region. Its vineyards, rooted in ancient decomposed granite soils and influenced by cool Atlantic breezes from nearby False Bay, continue to produce wines defined by freshness, structure, and longevity.
The 2026 growing season began with an average winter, delivering sufficient cold units and a healthy dormancy period. This was followed by an unusually warm, dry, and windy spring and summer, conditions that accelerated ripening and required intensive vineyard management.
"We saw one of the windiest springs on record, well above our 10-year average," says Hanekom. "That meant a lot of hands-on work in the vineyards: shoot positioning, trellising and careful canopy management, to protect the vines and maintain balance."
Harvest started earlier than usual, with Chardonnay picked on 8 January, around 10 days ahead of the five-year average, followed closely by early Sauvignon Blanc blocks.
"The warm, windy conditions pushed ripening forward faster than expected," Hanekom explains. "But what stood out was the size and health of the bunches; we saw big, well-formed clusters across many blocks, which translated into strong yields."
As the season progressed, conditions became more complex, with periods of rain followed by extreme heat toward the end of harvest.
"It was a challenging finish," says Hanekom. "The combination of rain and heat creates pressure; you're managing ripeness, acidity and disease risk all at once. But fortunately, because we are one of the earlier farms in the valley, most of our fruit was already off before those extremes could impact quality."
To maintain consistency, the team implemented a series of targeted interventions throughout the season.
"We irrigated more on the younger vines to prevent stress during the hotter periods," Hanekom notes. "At the same time, we did extensive green harvesting, particularly in the Merlot, where we had very high yields. We thinned bunches multiple times to remove green characteristics and ensure even ripening."
These efforts paid off, with several varietals standing out in the 2026 vintage.
"The early Sauvignon Blanc is showing exactly what we want to see, consistency in flavour profile and quality," says Hanekom. "That comes down to our terroir and where those blocks are planted. Year after year, we're able to maintain that signature style."
Cabernet Sauvignon has also emerged as a strong performer. "The Cabernet is looking particularly good this year, balanced, structured, and very promising in terms of overall quality," he adds.
Basson highlights that, despite the seasonal variability, the wines are tracking closely with previous vintages in style.
"What's encouraging is the consistency," she says. "The Sauvignon Blanc is showing the same purity and profile we've seen in recent years, which speaks to the strength of our site and our approach."
She also points to the estate's younger plantings as an exciting development. "The Sauvignon Blanc vines planted in 2022 are now approaching four years and are starting to show real potential. They're beginning to contribute meaningfully to the overall quality and complexity of the wines."
The harvest concluded on 9 March, broadly in line with previous years, despite the earlier start to the season.
For Basson, the defining characteristic of the 2026 vintage is clear: "It's a consistent harvest in terms of quality and yields, and that consistency over the past five years is incredibly positive for the performance of our portfolio."
Hanekom agrees, emphasising that this outcome is the result of sustained vineyard focus rather than seasonal luck.
"Every season brings its challenges," he says. "But if your vineyards are healthy and your practices are sound, you can adapt. That's what this harvest shows, consistency, even under pressure."
With the fruit now in the cellar, the focus turns to vinification, where the final expression of the 2026 vintage will take shape, continuing Steenberg's legacy of producing refined, terroir-driven wines from the Constantia Valley.
About Steenberg Vineyards
Founded in 1682 and nestled in the Constantia Valley just 30 minutes from Cape Town, Steenberg is South Africa's first registered wine estate and a benchmark for cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc and elegant red blends. Under the direction of Cellarmaster Elunda Basson, Chair of Sauvignon Blanc SA and Vice Chair of the Cap Classique Producers Association, the estate continues to deliver age-worthy wines of depth, minerality, and refinement. The estate also offers a full luxury experience, including a boutique hotel, spa, fine dining, and a world-class tasting room.