After the frantic pace of last year’s harvest, the 2025 growing season began on a more typical note, with moderate sunny conditions allowing for steady fruit ripening. However warm weather in February quickened the tempo as grapes began to ripen fully, prompting owner Jeff Burch to describe this year’s vintage as “fast and furious.”
We caught up with Jeff for an update on the 2025 white harvest:
“All of our whites – including sparkling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Riesling – were harvested before the end of February, which is exceptionally early for us, two to three weeks ahead of the historical average. Unusually, several regions and varieties ripened simultaneously. Our vineyards in northern and southern Margaret River, as well as Mount Barker, all had fruit ready at the same time, requiring flexibility and meticulous scheduling from our viticulture and winemaking teams. Warm days, cool nights, no disease pressure, and above-average yields have delivered clean, ripe fruit full of flavour while still holding great acidity. All in all, the whites are looking extremely promising.”
With the crisp, pure juice from the white harvest now safely resting in tanks and barrels, the vinification process is well underway. As this transformation unfolds, our attention has turned to the red varieties, which are now arriving daily at our Margaret River winery.
Chief Viticulturist Steve Kirby is equally optimistic about the next stage of the vintage:
“Yields appear strong, and fruit quality remains excellent. If warm, dry conditions persist, 2025 will also deliver exceptional red wines.”