With the 2026 vintage, we wanted to explore a Sauvignon Blanc with a little more texture, depth and complexity, while retaining the freshness and varietal character that have become hallmarks of the Friesland style. The grapes came from some of our cooler vineyard sites, situated at approximately 280 metres above sea level. Here, the cooler growing conditions help to preserve natural acidity and freshness while allowing flavours to develop gradually in the vineyard.
In the cellar, we changed our approach slightly for 2026. The grapes were destemmed and allowed approximately three hours of skin contact before pressing. Skin contact at this early stage allows greater extraction of flavour and aromatic compounds from the grape skins, but the relatively short period was chosen to add complexity without compromising the freshness of the wine. Only the free-run juice was used – the juice that drains naturally from the grapes without the additional pressure of pressing. This gave us a particularly clean and delicate base from which to build the wine.
Fermentation took place in stainless steel at between 14°C and 17°C. After fermentation, however, the wine's journey was far from finished. The 2026 Sauvignon Blanc remained on its fine lees for six months, with weekly lees stirring, or bâtonnage. This extended contact with the fine lees was an important part of the style we wanted to achieve. Rather than relying only on Sauvignon Blanc's naturally expressive fruit character, the lees contribute additional texture, weight and complexity to the palate while helping to bring the different elements of the wine together. The result is a slightly different expression of Friesland Sauvignon Blanc.
Our 2025 vintage is very much about freshness and vibrant varietal character, with aromas of passion fruit, gooseberry and green fig followed by tropical fruit, white flowers and cut grass on the palate. Its refreshing acidity and structure give the wine a particularly lively, crisp character. Consumers can expect the 2026 to continue that Friesland line of freshness, but with a somewhat broader and more textural palate.
For us, it is not a move away from the style of the 2025, but rather an evolution of it. The 2026 Friesland Sauvignon Blanc will spend some time settling in bottle before its release in the coming months, and we look forward to sharing the finished wine.
In the meantime, the Friesland Sauvignon Blanc 2025 remains available through our online shop (https://frieslandwines.com/shop/). It is drinking beautifully now and offers a chance to experience the current Friesland style before we introduce its slightly more textured 2026 successor.
Two vintages, the same Stellenbosch vineyards – and a fascinating example of how a few considered decisions in the vineyard and cellar can shape a very different expression of Sauvignon Blanc.