As the harvest season at Warwick Wine Estate comes to its final stretch, we take a moment to catch our breath.
As the harvest season at Warwick Wine Estate comes to its final stretch, we take a moment to catch our breath and to show gratitude to all who’ve had a very busy last month spent among the vines. With the grapes showing great potential, our winemaking team is quietly smiling, knowing that another vintage of exceptional wines are on their way.
Meet our man with the plan: JD Pretorius
Ever wondered what it takes to create the perfect vintage? Join Warwick’s cellarmaster, JD Pretorius, as he spills the beans on everything ‘2023’! From vine to wine; the highs, the lows, the meticulous planning and everything in between.
Created for the true wine lovers, we get below the surface with our talented winemaker, who shares his account of our harvest story.
The 2023 harvest got off to a flying start with grapes coming in earlier than expected, how have these conditions differed from a more traditional harvest period?
"We had a rather strange lead up to the 2023 harvest season. A wet November/December season mean that disease pressure was high and rain during crucial stages of development, such as berry set, sped up the ripening from early stages. The weather in January was cool, but February made up for it with a bang and is always one of our hottest months in the Cape. This year was no exception, with recorded temperatures of around 35 degrees for 7 consecutive days and with minimal temperature drops in the evening, causing sun damage and raisin-ed berries. This in itself is not a huge issue, but coupled with the rain in February and March, caused some challenging pick calls."