Harvest 2026
Stellenbosch Vineyards Reflects on a Promising 2026 Harvest
Harvest 2026 officially got underway on 14 January 2026, marking the beginning of one of the earliest and most promising vintages in recent years for Stellenbosch Vineyards. Commencing a full 13 days earlier than the 2025 season, the harvest season brought with it early mornings, long hours in the cellar, and a shared sense of excitement across the vineyards and winemaking teams.
Favourable weather conditions throughout the growing season contributed to larger yields and exceptional grape quality, with clean, healthy fruit and minimal disease pressure recorded across the vineyards. Early analyses revealed encouragingly low pH levels and naturally higher total acidity, laying the foundation for wines that show remarkable freshness, vibrancy and balance.
According to Senior Winemaker Bernard Claassen, the 2026 vintage is shaping up to be both abundant and exciting.
“Harvest 2026 commenced on 14 January, significantly earlier than the previous season, and from the outset we saw excellent fruit quality coming into the cellar. Despite the pressure that larger volumes placed on cellar capacity and tank space, operations remained steady and well managed. By 26 February at the Welmoed cellar, we had already surpassed last year’s total intake, reaching 6,002 tons compared to 5,964 tons in 2025, with approximately 1,500 tons still expected. Early indications suggest a vibrant vintage with exceptional potential.”
Much of the remaining intake consisted of later-ripening red varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, with quality assessments continuing as fermentations concluded and final cellar evaluations were completed.
General Manager & Winemaker, Abraham de Villiers also highlighted the outstanding quality seen in the white varietals, particularly Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.
“I am pleased to share that the 2026 vintage yielded exceptional quality Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, despite the warmer conditions experienced from November to January. The growing season was magnificent, thanks to the consistent warm conditions during spring and early summer. While we initially had concerns around the hot, windy and dry conditions, the grapes ripened beautifully, resulting in above-average yields per hectare. The first grapes arrived at the cellar on 14 January, showing brisk acidity and assertive varietal character.”
He added that the first wines already displayed vibrant tropical notes of gooseberry and passion fruit, beautifully complemented by fresh natural acidity.
With yields projected to be between 25% and 35% higher than the 2025 harvest, the 2026 vintage not only delivered volume, but also quality and consistency across varietals. As wines continue their journey through the cellar, the team at Stellenbosch Vineyards remains optimistic about what is to come from this standout vintage year.
