The 2023 rising season in South Africa was a story of two vintages. For producers within the Swartland and northern wine-producing areas, and for these with early-ripening varieties, 2023 provided incredible ripening circumstances – it was comparatively cool through the 12 months, with out warmth spikes. However as I drove via the Western Cape final month throughout my weeklong keep in South Africa, it was exhausting to disregard the large scars on the mountains towering over the nation’s winegrowing valleys.

These had been a reminder of the catastrophic floods and landslides in September 2023 – the end result of months of heavy rainfall that started within the final week of February of that 12 months. The continual rains had been a catastrophe for varieties like cabernet sauvignon in later-ripening areas.

“It was the primary 12 months as a winemaker that I noticed botrytis in cabernet [sauvignon] in South Africa,” stated Boekenhoutskloof winemaker Gottfried Mocke, who described 2023 as “two vintages in two months.”

A later-ripening portion of cabernet grapes at Boekenhoutskloof was picked after 300 millimeters of rain fell in a single weekend. To keep away from dilution within the ultimate wine, they took off 30 % of juice from the tanks earlier than fermentation – a way referred to as saignee, which is used to pay attention flavors, shade or tannin within the ultimate pink wine, or to attract off light-colored juice from pink grapes to make rosé. Most 2023 cabernet sauvignon-led reds haven’t been launched but, so we’ll have to attend for subsequent 12 months’s tastings to seek out out if the standard is there, doubtless at decrease portions.