The beginning of February not only marks the start of a new month, but in the sweltering summer of the Western Cape, South Africa, it also marks the commencement of the harvest season on many wine farms. Harvest season is always a stressful time for farmers, particularly our wine farmers who had to contend with the most miserable winter, which saw near-record levels of rainfall descend in mass, causing havoc with infrastructure and in some cases decimating entire crop yields through flooding and gale force winds.
-
Now that winter is behind us, farmers in the Western Cape are dealing with intense summer heat, which poses a very real fire threat as well ensures that when harvesting, the workers begin early in the morning (around 5 am, in some cases) and end around lunchtime. It is too dangerous for people to work longer hours in such heat.
-
-
We at Harry Hartman, do not have a physical vineyard, but that does not mean that we are not grateful for all the farm workers, farmers and winemakers, who work seamlessly and tirelessly to ensure that our wine is the best it can be, and that includes the journey of how it got into the bottle.
-
We encourage those who are reading, to spare a thought for the farm workers, farmers and winemakers, who are often unrecognised during this time, as they are integral in ensuring that all wine consumers can celebrate a new vintage, every year, despite challenging climatic and every changing socio-economic conditions.
-
Join us in acknowledging these unsung heroes behind each bottle's journey. Shop our wine range to find out more about the stories behind our wines and their unique characteristics here.
-
