Raising a Glass to Resilience: A Festive Season Message from Elgin Vintners
A F e s t i v e S e a s o n M e s s a g e f r o m E l g i n V i n t n e r s
The Festive Season is fast approaching, and there seems to be a genuine air of excitement throughout the Western Cape as everyone prepares to wind up the year and head to the beach for some much-needed rest and recuperation. What a year it has been! From wildfires running rampant pre-harvest time to record amounts of winter rainfall in the valley leading into spring. Load-shedding appears to be a distant memory (not wishing to jinx the situation), and a huge sigh of relief was felt by most with the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU).
Challenges in the Wine Industry
However, the wine industry as a whole has faced a very challenging year, with both global and national wine sales in decline. The cost-of-living constraints experienced by many members of the public have really squeezed their budgets, and we are feeling their pain. Global wine-drinking trends are changing, and I’m delighted to say that Elgin Vintners has been ahead of this curve since I joined the company back in September 2022.
Exciting New Wine Releases
We will be releasing four new wines exclusively from our tasting room on Friday, 13th December, from 12h00 to 16h00, hosted by me! The new releases include:
Elgin Vintners Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Elgin Vintners Chardonnay 2024
Belle Amie Syrah 2024
Elgin Vintners 2023
Several of these wines have performed exceptionally well during tastings and have received some of the best ratings in our history from notable figures such as Tim Atkin and the Platter Guide. This reinforces my commitment to delivering exceptional wine quality at very reasonable prices—as demonstrated by the recognition for our Pinot Noir from the Platter Guide, for example.
Commitment to Sustainability
Since the 2023 vintage, we have made a conscious decision to re-evaluate our entire offering at Elgin Vintners. Our wines are now crafted using:
Wild yeasts (indigenous to the vineyards)
Lower alcohol content
More focused flavour profiles
Refined textures and natural freshness derived from the cool-climate acidity we enjoy so much in the Elgin Valley
To improve our carbon footprint:
We’ve transitioned to lighter-weight bottles
Standardized much of our dry goods (boxes, labels, corks, capsules, etc.)
Now source from local suppliers using recyclable products and sustainable practices
Cellar improvements have included:
Holistic and natural winemaking techniques
Reduced water usage
Improved gray-water treatment facilities
Replacement of chemical cleaning materials with a high-pressure steaming machine
Two years down the track, and our world is looking and feeling like a healthier and more sustainable place to thrive.
Looking Forward
There is an old saying: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and after several difficult years in the industry, I certainly end this year on an upbeat note. I look forward to building on the green shoots of success we’ve enjoyed over the past six months. If the Open Gardens weekends back in late October and early November are anything to go by, our Tasting Room and Guest House will be buzzing over the foreseeable future.
To this effect, we are pulling out all the stops and will be open throughout the holidays, except for the following days: 25th & 26th December and 1st January. For the team at the cellar, we will be closing for annual leave from 13th December to 9th January to recharge our batteries in time for the onslaught of the new harvest season.
A Heartfelt Thank You
All that remains is to extend an enormous thank you to all our clients and suppliers for your much-appreciated support. We wish you all a peaceful, healthy, happy, and replenishing Festive Season. We look forward to welcoming you to our premises and/or being represented in your wine glasses wherever you may find yourself.
I raise a glass to your good health… cheers!
Warm regards,
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!
