April, 2025

This year was ADVICO’s most active season yet, with 29 demos harvested across 10 districts and a record 668 samples collected and processed. Harvest kicked off in late January at Graham Beck and peaked in February and March, with Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and red cultivar demos ripening in quick succession. At each site, detailed measurements such as bunch and berry weights, berry volume, yield estimates, and juice analyses were recorded to build a stronger dataset. Three sites have now been selected for the 2025 microvinification program: Sauvignon Blanc at De Grendel (Durbanville), Chenin Blanc at Olyvenhout (Wellington), and a red cultivar demo at Knolfontein (Swartland), with tastings by an expert panel to follow in July/August 2025.