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The 2024 vintage will be remembered for its fast pace, its early timing and its quality.

While all the forecasts predicted a return to an El Nino weather pattern, with drier conditions expected, the growing period between September and December 2023 saw above average rainfall and cool and mild conditions. We were certainly preparing ourselves for another cool, wet and late vintage.

Veraison commenced approximately 10-14 days earlier than usual, starting in late December in our early ripening varieties. A 68mm rainfall event on Christmas Day 2023 created splitting in some of our more susceptible blocks, leading to leaf plucking and fruit thinning in order to protect the crop from disease.

Fortunately, January through to March remained dry and warm, without being excessively hot, seeing a rapid accumulation of sugar in the fruit, while also ensuring the fruit remained disease free.

Vintage commenced on the 13th February with Chardonnay harvested from our 44 year old vines from our Sunday Creek vineyard.

As we progressed through the vintage, it became clear that the quality of the reds were very strong, as well as our full bodied whites. What is most exciting however, is the quality of our fortifieds, particularly our Topaques and Muscats, which are all outstanding.

The Pfeiffer Gamay 2024 was blended from fruit from our old vines (planted in 1976) and our young vines (planted in 1989). The two blocks ripen at different times, so were picked separately, but treated in the same way in the winery.

The Gamay grapes were hand-picked into airtight bins. Yeast and CO2 gas were added and the bins sealed. The grapes commenced fermentation in their whole bunches (including stalks) in these airtight conditions (known as carbonic maceration). After around 14-20 days, the bins were opened and the grapes crushed by foot (a process called “pigeage”). Fermentation continued with pigeage carried out 3 times a day. After 3 days of pigeage, the wine was pressed into a stainless steel tank for completion of alcoholic fermentation.

Each parcel was kept separate until the completion of alcoholic fermentation. The two parcels were then blended, fined and clarified prior to bottling in May 2024 to lock in fruitfulness and freshness.

Our 2024 Gamay has a highly perfumed bouquet of summer berry and red cherry fruit. Traditional foot treading methods are used to create soft tannins, good mid-palate weight and a long, savoury finish.

Pfeiffer Gamay can be enjoyed chilled or at room temperature and is the perfect accompaniment to most foods.