{"id":3003,"date":"2025-01-22T11:36:22","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T10:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/book.vergenoegd.co.za\/?p=3003"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:43:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:43:28","slug":"waiting-with-bated-breatha-later-harvest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/newsroom\/waiting-with-bated-breatha-later-harvest\/","title":{"rendered":"Waiting with bated breath:A later harvest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Winemaker and viticulturist, Vusi Dalicuba<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winemaker and viticulturist Vusi Dalicuba, who joined Vergenoegd L\u00f6w close to Stellenbosch after the 2021 harvest, is preparing for his fourth harvest here. Picking will be slightly later than in previous years, and that\u2019s something he\u2019s thrilled about. The cooler-than-usual climatic conditions leading up to the 2025 harvest have been ideal for the slow and even ripening of the grapes, promising an excellent vintage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vusi explains: \u201cWe have had a relatively cool lead-up to the harvest, allowing grapes to ripen in beautiful balance. That\u2019s apart from the major benefit of being so close to the sea which plays a crucial role in keeping temperatures down, decelerating ripening and concentrating flavours. You might have not heard it yet, but we\/the locals call this part of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch-by-the-Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOther good news is that we\u2019ve had a dry summer so that has kept disease at bay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this week, he was out in the vineyards. \u201cThe fruit is healthy with great acid levels and fabulous depth of flavour. We also have the advantage of lime-rich soils that lend freshness and vibrancy to the grapes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vusi is also looking forward to a potentially larger crop this vintage. Our ongoing vineyard replanting programme, which began in 2017, is bearing fruit, quite literally. \u201cThe young, trellised vines, particularly Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, are really coming into their own, producing small bunches of exceptional quality grapes, and more of them than before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead, Vusi and his team are finalising their canopy management practices, including green bunch and shoot removal, as well as vigour control. They aim to complete these tasks by the end of January. By early February, it will be time to hand-pick South Africa\u2019s flagship grape, Chenin Blanc,<\/a> for Vergenoegd L\u00f6w Cap Classique,<\/a> a variety that holds a special place in the estate\u2019s rich heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Celebrate moments with friends and a glass of Vergenoegd L\u00f6w Cap Classique \u2013 where every sip is pure elegance.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By mid-February, Chardonnay,<\/a> our signature white grape will be next in line for an early morning harvest, contributing to our popular estate Chardonnay and prestige \u0645\u062c\u0645\u0648\u0639\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u062a\u0631\u0627\u062b \u0644\u064a\u0641\u064a\u0627 \u0643\u0627\u0628 \u0643\u0644\u0627\u0633\u064a\u0643<\/a> offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chardonnay also has a unique place in our history. It\u2019s been grown here for years, and performs so well in our calcareous soils, bringing out the cultivar\u2019s best in this slow-ageing, statement wine. \u201cThe current 2023 vintage of Vergenoegd L\u00f6w Chardonnay<\/a> is restrained and contained but definitely not shy,\u201d Vusi indicates. \u201cWine drinkers love its butterscotch and citrus marmalade tang.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, when it comes to our 100% Stellenbosch Chardonnay Heritage Collection Livia Cap Classique,<\/a> you\u2019ll find a refined sparking wine with a vibrant acidity and elegant bubble. It\u2019s poised and fresh with delicious notes of white flowers, zesty citrus and toasty, yeasty apple notes that lend depth and complexity. \u201cWe call this bubbly the first and last word in finesse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stellenbosch Pinotage with an exceptional concentration of flavour, will be the first of the red cultivars from young vines to be picked, also around mid-February. \u201cWe\u2019re chuffed with the quality of the Pinotage \u2013 we didn\u2019t pick any last year, so can hardly wait to start crafting a beautiful wine from these top grapes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous to South Africa, Pinotage<\/a> was originally created in 1925, by crossing Pinot Noir with Cinsault (Hermitage), achieved by Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at Stellenbosch University.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the vineyard, it is a good performer, a substantial bearer of intensely coloured grapes, that ripen with good acidity levels. It is a very versatile variety, capable of producing wines that are rich, complex and enduring with great colour, flavour and depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re planning a focused but gentle approach in vinifying this cultivar, to show it to best effect. For example, in the cellar, we\u2019ll make use of cold maceration and keep fermentation temperatures low to preserve the more subtle aromatics and flavours. We\u2019ll also remove the must from the skins before the completion of fermentation to further avoid the extraction of harsh tannins. We\u2019ll mature the wine for around 18 months in a combination of French oak barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI foresee a graceful and well-structured wine that\u2019s soft and smooth-textured with delicious dark fruit flavours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also look out for the upcoming release of our limited-edition Heritage Collection Pinotage 2023, showcasing best-of-best Stellenbosch Pinotage fruit from two vintages ago. You\u2019re in for a treat! The wine has outstanding maturation potential and should hold its own for at least two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But let\u2019s get back to the current harvest season. Pinotage will be followed by Cabernet Sauvignon from bush vines. \u201cThe Cabernet is showing a delightful chalkiness, a characteristic of the soils in which these vines grow,\u201d Vusi explains. \u201cThe chalkiness is likened by some to a chocolatey mouthfeel. It\u2019s this quality and a hint of salinity that mark this Cabernet as uniquely ours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2022 vintage of Vergenoegd L\u00f6w Lara Cabernet Sauvignon is a great example. This wine has won some impressive accolades over the past year, including a gold medal at the prestigious 2024 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards.<\/a> The wine also earned Vusi the second highest score of 95 points at the inaugural 2024 Next Generation Awards, convened by Winemag.co.za,<\/a>Winemag.co.za, where he was judged runner-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our farm\u2019s reputation for outstanding Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon was established by fifth generation owner Jac Faure, who went on to win the General Smuts Trophy many times, beginning in 1972. We continue building on the Faure tradition of award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are our focus cultivars for now. But nature is always in charge, and we remain on our toes. Things can change in an instant!\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winemaker and viticulturist Vusi Dalicuba, who joined Vergenoegd L\u00f6w close to Stellenbosch after the 2021 harvest, is preparing for his fourth harvest here. Picking will be slightly later than in previous years, and that\u2019s something he\u2019s thrilled about. The cooler-than-usual climatic conditions leading up to the 2025 harvest have been ideal for the slow and<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3004,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_titles_title":"Vusi Dalicuba Prepares for 2025 Harvest at Vergenoegd L\u00f6w","_seopress_titles_desc":"Winemaker Vusi Dalicuba previews an exceptional 2025 vintage at Vergenoegd L\u00f6w, with cool conditions promising superb Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay & more.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":0,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"_angie_page":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3003","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3004"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vergenoegd.co.za\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}