Scenes from Vintage 2024

After a concerted nutrition effort throughout the Winter and Spring months by the vineyard team, led by Vineyard Manager, Tristan Moore, the canopies were in excellent health, holding them in good stead leading into the warmer Summer months. As Chardonnay ripened throughout the vineyard, both viticulture and winemaking teams meticulously monitored fruit parcels to ensure the perfect balance in sugar, acidity and flavour. The final block of Chardonnay was hand harvested from our Karridale vineyard on the 9th of February.

Brendan Carr, Idée Fixe Operations Manager and Winemaker explains that “Despite the record early season, this atypical vintage has produced strong quality. Moderate yields had buffeted the warm, dry season well and despite some heat spikes, we have seen strong acidity across the different Chardonnay parcels. Early indications are that 2024 will be an excellent vintage across the region, but the southern cooler conditions of Karridale have certainly tempered the warmth to ensure we have building blocks for another great suite of Blanc de Blancs cuvées.”

With another vintage under the belt and all of our Chardonnay safely pressed and in tank, the Idée Fixe winemakers continue their careful watch over individual batches as they undergo primary fermentation. Meanwhile, dosage trials are being finalised as the team prepare for the next disgorgement of our 2021 vintage Premier Brut and, in the vineyard, the team are focused on maintaining soil nutrition and vine health.

Discover snippets from Vintage 2024 below.