[imagesource: Rupert Wines]

We can bless the rains down in South Africa, for it has yielded a stunning 2021 harvest.

The rainfall, along with moderate weather throughout the season, has resulted in a later harvest that allowed the grapes to develop a particularly delicious colour and flavour.

For these reasons, the Vinpro South African Wine Harvest Report declared the country’s 2021 harvest to be of ‘exceptional quality’, reports The Drinks Business.

Naturally, our wine industry is ecstatic about this, especially after the past year’s hardships of drought and export bans.

Thankfully, water sources were replenished and pressure was eased on producers still holding onto the stock as a result of the 2020 restrictions on local and international sales.

This year’s grape crop was a bounteous 1 461 599 tonnes, which is 8,9% larger than last year, according to the latest figures from the South African Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS).

As per Beverage Daily, Conrad Schutte, consultation service manager at Vinpro, said that wine lovers can really look forward to remarkable wines from the 2021 crop:

“The cooler weather enabled producers to harvest their grapes at exactly the right time, and viticulturists and winemakers are especially excited about good colour extraction, low pH levels and high natural acidity in cases where vinyards were managed effectively, which all point to exceptional quality wine.”

Given the favourable conditions, we are salivating at the thought of what our favourite winery, Anthonij Rupert Wyne, will produce.

The wine estate encompasses six properties around the Western Cape, including Franschhoek and Swartland, each of which produces a very distinct wine range, with a backstory to boot.

With such wide-area coverage, we can expect that their harvest will reap all the benefits from the various regions of the province.

SAWIS reckons that the Stellenbosch region produced “outstanding quality grapes, resulting in great wines with good ageing potential”.

The Swartland area also had an “exceptional” crop, following moderate weather conditions and slow ripening.

Wines from the new harvest are not yet available for purchase but as has been proven above, good things come to those who wait.

In the meantime, you can have a look at the full range of Anthonij Rupert Wyne via their online shop, and keep an eye out for the 2021 range coming soon.

You can also head straight to the source to soak up some goodness with high tea or wine tasting at the Anthonij Rupert Tasting Room.

Wine farms are still able to sell alcohol on weekends, as per the latest lockdown restrictions, so you’re sorted on that front.

[sources:thedrinksbusiness&beveragedaily]