Autumn Reflections from Olsen Private Vineyards

May 8, 2025

Only now, as we settle into the heart of autumn, do we find a moment to reflect on the start of 2025 and everything the year has brought so far.

Harvest began 10 days later than last year, kicking off on the 30th of January with our beloved “old lady” Chenin Blanc—a 38-year-old vineyard that continues to yield grapes of exceptional quality. The remainder of the harvest progressed smoothly, and we carefully selected the best from our 11 hectares to craft small batches of our single vineyard wines: Chenin, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

What follows is always a whirlwind in the cellar: monitoring fermentations, performing punch-downs day and night, and pressing. The arrival of new French oak barrels is a highlight of the season. Once all the wines are safely transferred into barrels for maturation, our winemaker can finally take a well-earned, if brief, sigh of relief. And now—we wait.

This year also brought special milestones worth celebrating. Owner Greg Olsen turned 80 in April, made even more memorable by the timely arrival of his first great-grandson, Ashyr, just two weeks earlier. Our winemaker, Armand, also celebrated a milestone birthday—turning 50 in January. Congratulations all around!

We resumed our monthly Open Days in April and look forward to welcoming you again on the 24th of May. These events are a wonderful opportunity to visit the farm, meet the team, and experience firsthand the magic of Olsen Private Vineyards.

Meanwhile, we’re bottling and labelling our new vintages, soon to be released. We can’t wait to share them with you—and hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Cheers,
The Olsen Private Vineyards Team