2024 Waterford Estate Harvest report
“Focused, defined, concentrated and balanced, the reds of the 2024 vintage summed up in four words” - Mark le Roux, cellarmaster at Waterford Estate
The unique weather conditions experienced throughout the year have set the stage for what promises to be a standout vintage, with a smaller harvest and more concentration the wines crafted from the 2024 vintage showcase the resilience of the vines and the artistry of winemaking.
The Helderberg Mountain started the season with a wetter-than-usual winter, receiving 950 mm of rainfall compared to the typical 650 mm, with September seeing the brunt of this downpour. This extreme precipitation was a promising start, offering a cold and rejuvenating dormancy phase for the vines. The extended and wetter rest period allowed the vines to recover and store energy, laying the foundation for a strong growing season. Having ample energy stores is essential to a healthy harvest, as the stronger the vine's shoots are the more nutrients will be transported to the grapes.
Keermonts Winemaker, Alex Starey, summed up the vintage “The wetter start lead to great growth on the vines with the dry, heat starting around December onwards but what was on show was the health and resilience of the vines as they grew strong and green”.
The spring or growing season that followed was characterised by moderate growth, the dry conditions and constant winds saw a more narrow canopy form with strong healthy leaves to grab the available sunlight. A narrow canopy requires a careful hand from David van Schalkwyk and his viticultural team but this narrower shape is preferred throughout the industry. A commonly used technique in vineyard preparation is called green harvesting, the act of removing excess plant material to allow the vine to focus energy on the larger, more healthy shoots, but this narrower canopy has less material and care must be taken before removing too much of the plant's energy-producing areas. David reiterated that the narrow canopy allows for greater light penetration thus ripening the grapes more effectively than that of a more leafy one.
