Vine / Wingerd
Vitis vinifera — Western Cape wine estates · seasonal
Burns (approx./Drop)
Fast / intense
Moisture
under 10%
From
R79/Drop
Why choose Vine / Wingerd Firewood?
The winelands' pizza-oven secret. Grapevine offcuts burn fast and fierce with a clean, subtly sweet heat — ideal for pizza ovens and quick, hot braais. A zero-waste by-product of Cape vineyard pruning.
About Vine / Wingerd
Vine (Wingerd / Vitis vinifera) offcuts are sourced from Cape wine estates during the annual winter pruning season. They burn fast and fierce with a clean, subtly sweet heat — the traditional wood for pizza ovens.
Very high heat, very quickly — ideal for getting a pizza oven up to temperature fast, or for a quick, intense braai session. The subtle sweet aroma adds character without overwhelming.
A zero-waste by-product of Cape vineyard pruning. Available seasonally — order when in stock.
Sourced fromLocal / SA
Grapevine offcuts collected from partner wine estates in the Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl regions each winter pruning season. Stock is limited to the annual pruning yield.
⏳ Limited seasonal stock — availability variesBest for
- Pizza ovens
- Quick hot braais
- Open fireplaces
- Fast-heating fires
When not to choose Vine / Wingerd
- Closed-combustion stoves (burns too fast and hot)
- All-night fires (burns too quickly to sustain)
WoodDrop tip
Vine burns fast and fierce — excellent for getting a pizza oven up to temperature. Pair with Kameeldoring for sustained heat after the initial spike.
How much Vine / Wingerd do I need?
Vine (Wingerd) is sold at R79/Drop (≈ 18 kg). One Drop is enough to heat a pizza oven to temperature twice, or to run three to four quick braai sessions. For a pizza night, use half a Drop to heat the oven and keep the rest for cooking. Vine burns fast and hot — plan quantities around sessions, not evenings.
How long does Vine / Wingerd burn?
Vine burns fast and intensely — the fastest of any wood in the catalogue. The density of 630 kg/m³ is the lowest WoodDrop stocks, which means Vine reaches peak temperature very quickly and burns through fast. The low density also means more pieces per Drop (36–60), which is useful for sustained fire management — add pieces frequently rather than loading once.
Vine / Wingerd vs Rooikrans
Vine and Rooikrans are both fast-burning aromatic woods, but they serve different purposes. Rooikrans at R89/Drop burns for 1.5–2.5 hours and produces good braai coals. Vine at R79/Drop burns fast and hot with a subtle sweet aroma — ideal for pizza ovens and quick sears. Use Vine to get heat fast; switch to Rooikrans or Kameeldoring for sustained cooking.
How to light Vine / Wingerd
Vine lights with a single firelighter cube or even just a match to a few pieces, because the dry low-density wood ignites readily. A few pieces in a tent over the firelighter will be fully alight quickly. For pizza ovens, load the fire with Vine and allow the stone to come up to temperature before placing the first pizza.
Storing Vine / Wingerd in Cape Town
Vine (Wingerd) arrives at under 10% moisture — the driest firewood in the catalogue. It is the most sensitive wood to re-wetting: at low moisture levels, wood cells can absorb ambient humidity from Cape Town's winter air if left uncovered. Store Vine under cover in a well-ventilated space. It holds its quality well when kept dry and re-dries quickly if slightly damp.
Common questions about Vine / Wingerd
Is Vine wood only available seasonally?
Yes — Vine (Wingerd) is a seasonal product. Cape wine estate vinestock is pruned annually in late winter and early spring. WoodDrop collects the pruning waste during this window each year. Stock is limited to what the season yields, so availability is not guaranteed year-round. When stock is exhausted it is removed from the catalogue until the next pruning cycle.
Does Vine wood give food a wine flavour?
Vine wood adds a subtle, clean-sweet aroma when burning — most noticeable with pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven, where proximity to the fire is greatest. The flavour is mild, pleasant, and not 'winey' in the way that grape skins or stalks would be. On a braai grill, the flavour contribution is lighter — mainly an aromatic quality in the smoke.
Can I use Vine in a closed combustion stove?
Vine is not recommended for closed combustion stoves. It burns very fast and very hot — two properties that can overheat a sealed stove and cause thermal stress. The fast burn rate also means frequent reloading, which interrupts the stove's thermal cycle. For closed combustion, use Blue Gum, Black Wattle, Kameeldoring, or Mopane.
Why is Vine wood cheaper than the other hardwoods?
Vine (Wingerd) is cheaper because it is a by-product of annual vineyard pruning — the wine estates must remove it as part of normal viticulture, so it has a low base cost. The lower density (630 kg/m³) also means a lighter, less energy-dense Drop. R79 per Drop reflects both the availability and the faster burn profile.
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