Vintage 2025 – A Season of Surprises and Exceptional Reds
Vintage 2025 – A Season of Surprises and Exceptional Reds
Harvest is in full swing at Bago, and the 2025 vintage has been anything but predictable!
A hot, dry December meant an earlier-than-expected harvest, keeping us on our toes as we raced to keep up with ripening fruit.
Verdelho & Savagnin – The Early Picks
We kicked off the season with Verdelho on January 14th, enlisting the help of our Cellar Door team when we found ourselves short of pickers. Their thoughts? "It's not for me!"
The yield was lower than expected (thanks to our geese snacking on the vines!), but the quality is exceptional. With limited supply, Verdelho lovers should grab their bottles as soon as it's released!
Next came Savagnin, which inspired an exciting winemaking experiment—we’re blending fresh, unfermented juice with last year’s wine to create a low-alcohol, lightly sweet wine reminiscent of Moscato. We’re excited to see how it develops!
Red Harvest: Chambourcin & Tannat Steal the Show
This week, we began picking reds, starting with Chambourcin—10 tonnes in total!
The first press (free-run juice) is destined for Rosé, creating a light-bodied, fresh wine with minimal tannins.
The second press will become our Rosella Red, a bold, fruit-forward favorite.
Tannat, known for its structure and intensity, is being fermented for a fortified wine.
Our final picks will see Tannat crafted into a dry red, alongside a last batch of Chambourcin for a classic dry red wine.
We’re thrilled with the red grape quality this year—it’s the best we’ve seen in years! The combination of deep flavors, balanced tannins, and rich aromas is setting up for an exceptional vintage.
With Chardonnay harvested this week and the final reds coming in soon, the 2025 vintage is nearly complete. The continuing hot weather is keeping us on our toes, ensuring each variety is picked at its peak.
Stay tuned for new releases, tastings, and behind-the-scenes updates as we bring this exciting vintage to life!
