A Frenzied and Fantastic Start to 2025: Harvest Reflections from Elgin Vintners
t o 2 0 2 5 : H a r v e s t R e f l e c t i o n s f r o m E l g i n V i n t n e r s
As the dust begins to settle on what has been one of the most intense harvest seasons in recent memory, it’s time to reflect on the incredible past three months at Elgin Vintners.
A Quick Look Back
It’s hard to believe three months have flown by since I last sat down to write. The last time I paused to reflect, I was standing barefoot in the sand on the East Coast, soaking in the sun and the serenity of the Indian Ocean. Fast-forward to today, and the festive season now feels like a distant memory.
Back in mid-January, we successfully bottled our Elgin Vintners Pinot Noir 2024, now safely tucked away in the maturation cellar, biding its time before making its grand debut.
A Cool and Quirky Growing Season
Elgin Valley, with its cool climate and elevated terrain, typically enjoys a longer growing season than most other South African wine regions. Early in the season, we were blessed with mild conditions—cool days and consistent rainfall with no extreme temperatures.
That changed during the last week of January, when a heatwave struck, pushing temperatures well into the mid-30s (°C) for three consecutive days. Despite our expectations of a late-February harvest, the vines had other plans.
Valentine’s Day Kickoff: The 2025 Harvest Begins
On February 14th—St. Valentine’s Day, we picked our first Pinot Noir grapes. The timing felt symbolic, starting with the “heartbreak grape” on a day of love.
But what followed was anything but romantic—more like a race against the sun. A walk through the vineyards that weekend revealed accelerated ripening across all blocks. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc—usually staggered in maturity—all ripened simultaneously.
By February 24th, we had brought in 80% of our total crop—a whirlwind ten days.
Long Days, Small Press, Big Effort
With our modest-sized press, processing the white varieties took nearly eight full days, often starting early and ending late. Fueled by adrenaline (and a healthy dose of winemaker grit), we powered through what was undeniably one of the most intense weeks in our cellar’s history.
Despite the chaos, it was exhilarating—a vintage to remember.
Wrapping It Up: Final Batches and Barrel Work
By early March, we had a brief reprieve before our Syrah was harvested on March 7th. Meanwhile, Pinot Noir was already being pressed and moved into barrels, and Chardonnay fermentations—many started in barrel and foudre—were still ticking along.
As I write this, Syrah is completing its fermentation and will be barreled within five days. That will officially mark the end of Harvest 2025. Phew!
A Record-Breaking Vintage
In 25 years of winemaking, this was the shortest harvest I’ve experienced—just 22 days compared to the usual 5–8 weeks. It was also the hottest sustained harvest in memory, even in our cooler microclimate.
Thankfully, Elgin’s diurnal temperature swing—a daily drop of 10–15°C—helped us retain natural acidity and balance. This climatic advantage lets us avoid acid additions, unlike warmer regions.
The cherry on top? 95% of our fermentations were natural, without any added yeast—a personal best that speaks to the health of our grapes and the precision of our picking.
A Toast of Thanks
None of this would have been possible without the incredible team around me. Thank you to our vineyard crews, tractor drivers, and winemaking staff for their commitment during long, hot, and hectic days.
To the Guest House and Tasting Room teams, thank you for holding down the fort and feeding a very tired winemaker.
I can’t wait to share the 2025 vintage with all of you soon. For now, let’s take a moment to breathe, recover, and maybe even enjoy a quieter few weeks—before we do it all over again next year!
Cheers,
Gus
Business Manager and Winemaker
Elgin Vintners
Katerina Monroe
@katerinam • More Posts by Katerina
Congratulations on the award, it's well deserved! You guys definitely know what you're doing. Looking forward to my next visit to the winery!
