Why De Grendel cellar master Charles Hopkins is excited about this year’s wines.

“It’s an exceptional vintage,” is the verdict of De Grendel’s cellar master Charles Hopkins. The 2017 vintage was produced on the back of one of the driest summers the Western Cape has experienced in decades, but two factors contributed to a successful crop this year, compared to last, he says. “We had about 10 millimeters of rain in December and we had cool nights, which led to a good crop. Last year when we had heat wave conditions we also had very hot nights,” recalls Charles.

On the size, Charles reports the Sauvignon Blanc in particular produced about 15% more fruit, which he accounted to an absence of wind “in the critical days when the vines are flowering”. All in all, Charles is impressed with the acidity of the harvest in general.