Our family returned to Lourensford Estate’s Hanepoot Harvest in Somerset West for a second weekend of grape picking. Here’s why we’d do it again.
I often find that the best way to spend a Saturday morning in Somerset West is to lean into the rhythms of the farm, and this past weekend was no exception.
After missing out on the Lourensford Estate Hanepoot Harvest in 2025, our family made sure we didn’t miss the opening session on Saturday, 14 February 2026. We enjoyed it so much that when Lourensford Estate announced an additional harvest day for Saturday, 21 February 2026, the decision to return was an easy one.
Standing among the vineyards with the Helderberg mountains rising behind them, it’s easy to understand why this has become one of Somerset West’s most anticipated late-summer events. The setting alone is worth the visit.
The logistics were just as smooth as we remembered from our first harvest in 2024. After checking in, families hopped aboard the complimentary tractor ride, which carried everyone out to the vineyards. For the children, that journey is almost as exciting as picking the grapes themselves.
Picking Hanepoot grapes straight from the vine
The atmosphere in the vineyards struck the perfect balance between busy and relaxed. There were just as many people picking grapes as during the Valentine’s Day opening session, yet there were still plenty of bunches waiting on the vines.
One of my favourite parts of the morning is simply wandering between the rows. The combination of lush green vines, crisp morning air and warm sunshine creates a peaceful setting that’s difficult to rush through. Even as temperatures begin to climb, the breeze rolling down from the Helderberg mountains keeps everything pleasantly cool.
This time around, we managed to fill another two 3kg boxes, along with my son’s dedicated little grape bucket, which he proudly carried around for most of the morning.
The Hanepoot grapes were every bit as good as we’d hoped. They were wonderfully sweet, beautifully juicy and had that unmistakable floral flavour that makes Hanepoot such a favourite. According to the estate staff, the sugar levels this season have been ideal, resulting in an exceptional crop.
More than just grape picking
Once the boxes were full, the smell of the braai usually leads everyone back toward the refreshments. The boerewors rolls are a staple of the harvest morning and they did not disappoint. It is a simple setup—fresh air, good food, and a bucket of grapes—but it works because it feels like a genuine farm experience rather than a polished tourist trap.
Looking around at the number of people filling baskets and chatting between the vines, it’s clear that this event has become a genuine community tradition in the Helderberg.
Although Saturday, 21 February marked the final confirmed harvest day for the 2026 Hanepoot Harvest, the enthusiastic turnout suggested there would certainly be demand for even more sessions in future.
As for us, we’re already looking forward to next year’s harvest. Until then, we’ll happily work our way through two boxes of some of the sweetest Hanepoot grapes we’ve tasted, while counting down to another morning among the vineyards at Lourensford Estate.
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