Harvest time is here! After a dramatic weekend in the Franschhoek Valley, fighting veld fires, an earlier than usual start to the annual wine grape harvest brings a positive energy. The excitement is tangible at La Motte Wine Estate yesterday morning with the first 2026 Sauvignon Blanc being harvested.
“We’ve known since October that the harvest was going to be early”, says Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche. “We are about two weeks earlier than usual, but the initial analyses are positive and I’m excited about the quality.”
The grapes reaching optimum ripeness earlier can also be attributed to the dry summer and high temperatures. According to Farm Manager, Jaco Visser, some of the Merlot in Paarl are already at 22.7 Degrees Balling and he expects the harvest to be quite a cascade into the cellar!
The La Motte Winemaking team is grateful for the blessing of another harvest and wishes their South African winemaking colleagues a successful 2026 season.
Get new press articles by email
Public relations, social media management, communication: food, wine, agriculture, awards functions & events.
Latest from
- Leopard's Leap Hosts June Chenin Blanc Tasting Featuring Classic Culinaria and Natural Sweet Styles
- Winter Recipes that Sizzle by Jenny Morris and Leopard's Leap Wine
- Entries open for 20th FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10
- The enchantment of the slow swirl of La Motte Chardonnay
- Introducing a new La Motte Collector’s Club
- Institute of Cape Wine Masters Celebrates Excellence
- A sensory experience on the horizon!
- Introducing a new vintage of La Motte’s inner-circle La Famille Sauvignon Blanc
- A Sensory Experience on the Horizon
- Leopard’s Leap Sip & Slide - Celebrate Hamburger Day with Burgers and Wine
- Puglia Burrata named SA Dairy Product of the Year
- More entries, more gold at Sauvignon Selection by CMB
- 2026 Sauvignon Blanc Day - Explore 72 Flavours of South Africa's Sauvignon Blanc
- Records and resilience define the SA Dairy Championships
- Nuy introduces its first drink in a can - a mimosa for any time of day
The Pulse Latest Articles
- Rethinking Performance: Part 4 Of 5 Why Judgement Matters In Performance Evaluation (June 15, 2026)
- How Should Water Feel? Inside The Innovation Shaping Modern Showering (June 15, 2026)
- Hisense Launches Soweto Football Pitch Project (June 12, 2026)
- Magic: The Gathering Assembles The Marvel Super Heroes (June 12, 2026)
- Star Wars And He-man Drive Surge In ‘kidult’ Toy Spending (June 12, 2026)