The wines of the new vintage are taking beautiful shape in the cellar, and the bare, sparse vineyards outside are a sure sign that winter is here. With the changing seasons comes a more relaxed pace of living at Baleia – a time to reflect on the harvest and do some introspection. Like the dormant vines, it is time to replenish the reserves of inspiration and map new plans to build on what has been a coming-of-age year for our brand.  

The reaction to our new packaging has been overwhelmingly positive. The evocative imagery and storytelling on our new labels have made enjoying a bottle of Baleia wine an even more immersive experience than ever before. Visit our website (https://www.baleiawines.com/)  to learn more about the unique stories behind our wines, and order without delay to secure your allocation as current stock is selling out fast. 

Back to the 2022 vintage, it has been a memorable one for winemaker Gunter Schultz and there are a number of wines emerging with the potential of a stand-out year. Very good spring rains and a healthy flowering period got the season off to the ideal start, after an icy winter with above average cold units. The consistent cool weather made for slow, even ripening across the board and this resulted in grapes with good chemical balance and bright, intense flavours. 

Gunter is especially excited about the Tempranillo, which like many of the 2022 reds is showing lower tannins and more pronounced fruit. This lesser-known variety has been a revelation at Baleia, with the 2019 vintage named National Winner at the Novare SA Terroir Awards 2021, a coveted industry award. The thick-skinned grapes are handled very gently in the cellar to create a velvety, expressive wine with an enticing mix of sweet and savoury layers, while retaining the maritime mineral mouthfeel that is so distinctive of all Baleia’s wines. 

Owner Jan-Hendrik Joubert, meanwhile, is earmarking the 2022 Chardonnay for greatness, after witnessing the most even bud break for these grapes he can recall in the farm’s history. The ferocious sea winds our vines are heavily exposed to have also been kind this year, resulting in a good crop. The bounty and quality of the season are stirring an air of anticipation for the release of the first 2022 wines due later this year. Watch this space, it should prove to be one of our finest vintages to date! 

As we wind down to winter, we invite you to take a moment with your favourite wine and recharge the batteries. Life at Baleia is all about balance, living close to the land that sustains us and listening to our environment. This holds true not only for farming, but all aspects of life– we are always striving for that happy equilibrium so elusive in the clutter of modern existence. And when it comes to the simple creature comforts that provide real warmth on chilly days, like excellent wine, coffee and extra-virgin olive oil for those hearty winter feasts, Baleia has you covered. 

What is it that fills your glass? Get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you. 

Till next time, 

The Baleia Team