Discover how Nepenthe's 2025 vintage overcame extreme heat with innovation and sustainability to deliver vibrant, cool-climate wines full of flavour.

6 May 2025

Vintage 2025: Fast, Furious, and Full of Flavour

South Australia experienced one of its fastest and warmest vintages on record, with persistent heat and limited rainfall pushing harvest to start and finish several weeks ahead of schedule. For Nepenthe, which is based in Adelaide Hills, it meant moving quickly to protect fruit quality and capture optimal ripeness.

Despite early concerns about a reduced harvest, Nepenthe’s crush remained strong and in line with 2024 volumes - a testament to the winemakers’ seamless coordination and timing in the vineyard.

Innovation in the cellar

To meet the demands of a fast-moving vintage, Nepenthe’s winemaking team turned to modern techniques and precision tools:

Continuous float systems were used to speed up juice clarification, maintaining clarity without compromising quality.

Powdered oak tannins were added to enhance structure and mouthfeel, particularly in whites like Chardonnay.

Strategic yeast selection and tight temperature control helped preserve varietal character and freshness across the range.

Sustainability in focus

Nepenthe's 2025 vintage placed a renewed focus on sustainability, particularly within the Altitude Collection. This premium range from Adelaide Hills incorporates lighter glass bottles, reduced water usage, and lower-impact packaging - all part of our broader push toward more sustainable winemaking.

These efforts build on the success of our Naked In The Vines with Nepenthe Wines campaign, which champions transparency and environmental responsibility in everything from vineyard practices to packaging. The result is a wine that reflects both our regional identity and our values.

What to expect in the glass

Wines from Vintage 2025 are vibrant, expressive, and unmistakably cool-climate in character. Expect notes of pear with a floral lift, stone fruit, pithy grapefruit, sweet spice, and deeper layers of plum and dark berries.

We can't wait for you to experience this vintage - from crisp Pinot Grigios and elegant Chardonnays to bold Shiraz and more.

As Head Winemaker James Evers put it,

“2025 was a challenging vintage, but the results are some of our most vibrant and balanced wines to date.”

Looking ahead

From vineyard to bottle, vintage 2025 reflects Nepenthe's drive for innovation, quality, and sustainability. Whether you're enjoying a wine from the Altitude Collection, Single Vineyard range, or Winemaker's Selection, this is a vintage full of character and creativity.