The 2022 harvest is done and dusted! No two vintages are ever the same and every harvest has its own stories to tell. This year was no different.
The season was characterised by cooler weather conditions from Winter until mid-December, which resulted in later-than-usual budding, flowering, veraison and ripening. Warm spells in December and January then accelerated the ripening process somewhat. Despite this, the harvesting of most cultivars was still delayed by up to two weeks.
Last to be harvested this year was our Shiraz, which languished on the vines until the 14th of April, with the leaves already flaunting their autumn colours before we picked.
Whilst there was a delay, the yield improved, with the majority of farms announcing a record year. We too had a nice increase and this year we harvested a total of 28 712kg, up by 11% compared to 2021.
With primary fermentation done and the wine safely tucked away in tanks and barrels, the waiting game starts. We are very optimistic about what this year’s yield has in store for us, and we are looking forward to sharing the magic with you when the wines are ready.
We have started preparing the vineyards for autumn with the planting of winter cover crops, a mixture of Koorog (also known as Triticale, which is a cross between Wheat and Rye) and bitter lupins. The purpose of these crops is to restore the nutrients and nitrogen in the soil, and they also help to control the weeds that thrive on the winter rainfall.
It is a beautiful time to be in the vineyards when everything is full of light and colour, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale. The days are milder but still warm enough to appreciate time outdoors.
Since our first open day in May 2008, we have only ever skipped one open weekend and that was due to Covid. This winter is going to be our second.
The Roeloffzes are taking a trip to celebrate the 21st birthday of their youngest daughter, Samantha.
When we return at the beginning of June, we will check the weather forecasts and hold our open weekend at the first possible opportunity. We will send out a message with the dates. We will also send another newsletter to confirm, but please keep an eye on our social media platforms as well.
Thank you sincerely for your loyal and long standing support! We cannot wait to share the 2022 wines with you.
