15/04/2026
Kara-Tara Wines ∙ Harvest Report 2026 🧑🏼🌾
The 2026 vintage reflects a dry and dynamic growing season across the Cape’s cool-climate regions, with below-average winter rainfall and very little precipitation through most of the cycle. Soil moisture levels remained adequate, supporting good vine vigour and strong canopy development across our vineyard sites.
Spring was dry and windy, but flowering had largely concluded before the strongest winds, resulting in good and even fruit set.
Summer conditions were mild to warm, with dry weather persisting into early harvest. A late-season heavy rain event in February, particularly concentrated in Elgin and the Overberg, required careful monitoring due to the risk of rot. Fortunately, most fruit had already been harvested, with the remaining parcels selectively picked to ensure quality.
Harvest began earlier than usual, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay coming in over a relatively compressed period. Ripening was fast yet even, with slightly larger bunches and good berry development contributing to good yields compared to the very low 2025. At this stage, the white wines show good balance with fresh acidity and pure fruit expression. The reds are vibrant and structured, with bright fruit and good colour. Pinot Noir from the Overberg stands out in particular, showing excellent varietal character and unusually deep colour and structure.
Overall, 2026 is a vintage with good quality across the board, where site selection and careful timing were key to capturing freshness and purity across a diverse range of growing areas.
– José Conde, cellarmaster
