The 2025 harvest at Saint Clair Family Estate has officially wrapped up, and the team is pleased to report another successful season. This year brought a mix of ideal weather, quality fruit, and a strong team effort.
Harvest kicked off with the first fruit arriving on 27th February, and by 19th March, the winery was running 24 hours a day. With dry, settled conditions throughout March, the harvest progressed smoothly, allowing fruit to be picked at peak ripeness without weather-related challenges.
Marlborough’s sunniest year on record in 2024 contributed to exceptional flowering and high potential yields. Some crop thinning was required to maintain balance, while a cooler summer helped preserve acidity and support gradual, flavour-rich ripening.
Chardonnay was a standout, particularly the Mendoza clones, which benefited from the strong flowering and delivered well-structured, intensely flavoured fruit. Pinot Noir was harvested over nearly a month, with clones 943 and 115 showing impressive clonal expression and delicate structure. As always, Dillons Point vineyards produced consistently concentrated Sauvignon Blanc, with fruit from new and young plantings also showing exciting promise.
This year, Saint Clair received over 260 applications for vintage roles, selecting a final team of 35 people from 15 different countries. The team combined returning experience with fresh perspectives and enjoyed several team-building activities throughout the season, including a Marlborough Sounds boat trip, wine tastings, vineyard tours, and the annual post-vintage celebration.
While the broader industry faces pressures from another high-yielding season, Saint Clair remains focused on quality. The fruit is now safely in the winery, and the winemaking team is optimistic about what lies ahead. Early signs suggest that the 2025 vintage will deliver wines of character, concentration, and exceptional regional expression.
