The journey from grape to glass is one of patience, precision, and care. At Mel Wines, we’re excited to share the story of our 2025 vintage, which has been carefully crafted by our talented winemaker, Alexandra McFarlane, and the team at Klein Champagne Estate. This year’s harvest has been exceptional, with perfect growing conditions, and we’re thrilled to announce that our first four wines of the 2025 vintage are now bottled and ready for you to enjoy.
However, the journey is far from over—our red wines are still ageing in barrels, developing their depth and character. These wines will be ready soon, but for now, let’s dive into the wines that have already made it to the bottle.
2025: A Year of Perfect Conditions
The 2025 growing season in Franschhoek delivered exceptional conditions for the vines—moderate temperatures, minimal rain, and plenty of sunshine. These ideal conditions allowed the grapes at Klein Champagne Estate to ripen perfectly, resulting in wines that are fresh, vibrant, and full of character. This vintage marks a milestone for us, with grapes that were meticulously cared for from vine to bottle.
The First Wines Bottled
As we eagerly await the red wines to mature further, we are thrilled to share that four of our 2025 wines have already been bottled, each reflecting the care and precision of the harvest and winemaking process:
Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (Old Vine Certified)
This wine captures the essence of its old vine roots, with the vines first planted in 1985. The Sauvignon Blanc 2025 opens with an expressive nose of dried nettle, white blossom, and Cape gooseberry, leading into a bright, crisp palate with flavours of passionfruit and lemon. A subtle creamy texture from barrel fermentation adds depth and balance to the fresh, focused finish.
Chardonnay 2025
Our Chardonnay 2025 offers a refined and layered experience. The nose brings lemon curd, lime cordial, and buttery brioche, while the palate is balanced between citrus notes, rich texture, and a touch of bitterness. Full malolactic fermentation adds depth, resulting in a wine that is vibrant yet complex, with an elegant, lingering finish.
Sangiovese Rosé 2025
Delicate and complex, the Sangiovese Rosé 2025 has a nose of green strawberry, rose petal, and a hint of white pepper, followed by a palate of sour cherry and pomegranate. The wine is vibrant, textured, and food-friendly, with a long, savoury finish that keeps you coming back for more.
Pinotage Rosé 2025
The Pinotage Rosé 2025 is fragrant and expressive, with aromas of red fruit like strawberry and cherry, along with a subtle touch of boiled sweets. The palate is fruit-driven, balanced with refreshing acidity and a creamy undertone from barrel fermentation. This wine finishes long and elegant, with a silken smoothness.
The Reds Are Still Ageing
While these four wines are ready for you to enjoy, we’re still waiting on the reds to reach their full potential. Currently ageing in barrels, these reds will develop further complexity and depth before being bottled and made available. Keep an eye out for these reds as they reach perfection, and we’ll be sure to share updates as soon as they’re ready to shine.
The New Labels: A Fresh Look for Mel Wines
Along with our new wines, we’re also excited to reveal new labels that reflect the evolution of Mel Wines. Designed to capture the essence of our equine connection and the land we nurture, these labels tell the story of Mel Wines through a minimalist, yet striking design. The new look will be part of the 2025 release, and we can’t wait for you to see it.
Looking Forward to the Future
The process from harvest to bottle is a labour of love, and we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved with our 2025 wines. With the red wines still ageing beautifully, we’re excited for what’s to come in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to subscribe for first access to these exciting new releases.
We hope you’re as excited as we are about the 2025 vintage. Whether you’re enjoying our newly bottled whites and rosés, or waiting for the reds to make their debut, the future of Mel Wines is looking brighter than ever.