Just slightly more than a month after commencing its 2023 harvest, the renowned Diemersdal Estate located in Durbanville proudly unveils its inaugural bottling of Sauvignon Blanc, the estate’s quintessential grape variety. The Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc 2023 has just entered the market, making it among the first Sauvignon Blanc offerings from this year’s Cape vintage to grace the shelves.
Thys Louw, the owner-winemaker of Diemersdal, attributes the early release primarily to market dynamics. “Benefitting from our well-established brand, Diemersdal is fortunate to witness a yearly demand surge for our Sauvignon Blanc from the new vintage,” he affirms. “This, coupled with the remarkable grape quality of this year, facilitating a swift fermentation and brief settling period in tanks, has empowered us to present one of the Cape’s inaugural Sauvignon Blancs from the 2023 vintage.”
Working in tandem with Thys in the Diemersdal cellar, Juandré Bruwer reflects that the 2023 vintage is set to be remembered as a cooler and more moderate season for Sauvignon Blanc at Diemersdal. “The growing season was splendid due to the cool, mild conditions experienced during the spring and early summer of 2022. Subsequently, December brought much-needed rainfall, rejuvenating the vines and replenishing water reservoirs. Throughout the harvest period, temperatures remained temperate – with only a few warm days emerging at precisely the right moment for optimal sugar-level ripening.”
The 2023 yield from Diemersdal showcased an impressive uniform ripening. “I believe the unirrigated, dryland vines’ ability to adapt to varying climates plays a significant role in producing consistent, well-ripened grapes,” shares Juandré.
Diemersdal’s Sauvignon Blanc harvest commenced on January 20th, with the initial grapes displaying brisk acidity and a distinctive varietal character. Well-balanced chemistry facilitated wines ready for bottling just last week. These debut wines emanate vivacity and vitality, featuring tantalizing tropical hints of gooseberry and passion fruit, underscored by invigorating, robust acidity.
“As a Sauvignon Blanc producer, harvest time places us in a delightful quandary,” Thys explains. “On one hand, the grapes demand harvesting, crushing, and vinification. On the other, our patrons are eagerly seeking the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc – South Africa’s beloved white wine varietal. This is a gratifying scenario for a winemaker, as it’s the demand for one’s creation that propels the passion behind the craft.”
Regenerate
