The first buds are appearing on the vines, new leaves are emerging, and even the hydrangeas that are so prevalent across the Rust en Vrede Wine Estate are beginning to put out their leaves, hinting at an earlier display of colour this year. Across the vineyards and gardens, the landscape is beginning to shift into its next season.
For the vineyard team, these changes are more than just a shift in scenery. The first signs of growth mark the beginning of another season in the vineyard, with the months ahead bringing their own rhythm of growth and, eventually, the arrival of another harvest.
For visitors, spring brings a simpler pleasure. Longer afternoons make room for lunches that stretch beyond their original plans, tables begin to move outdoors, and there is something particularly enjoyable about opening a bottle when the sun is still warming the garden. It is a season that lends itself to lingering at the Estate, whether over a tasting and lunch in the afternoon or dinner in the restaurant as evening sets in.
The transition from winter to spring happens gradually, but this year it seems to be arriving a little sooner on the Estate. A few weeks ago, the vineyards were bare and the hydrangeas dormant. Now, almost everywhere you look, signs show the land waking up again.