SOUTH AFRICA LEADS THE WORLD - IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY + PRODUCTION INTEGRITY - Cape Classics
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
SOUTH AFRICA LEADS THE WORLD
IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY + PRODUCTION INTEGRITY
BIODIVERSITY & WINE INITIATIVE (BWI) INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF WINES
Biodiversity is a measure of the health The IPW scheme was introduced
of ecosystems. The BWI is a pioneering to South Africa in 1998, in order to
partnership between the South African encourage sustainable, environmentally
wine industry and the conservation friendly wine production. Administered
sector that aims to conserve the rich by South Africa’s Wine & Spirit Board,
biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. it is a voluntary monitoring system
that evaluates wine growing and
winemaking practices and their effects
on the environment.
DID YOU KNOW?
WINE & THE CAPE FLORAL KINGDOM THE NEW WINE & SPIRIT BOARD SEAL THE WINE OF ORIGIN CERTIFICATION
Over 90% of South Africa’s wine is This seal, beginning with the 2010 vintage, Established in 1974, it was the first of
produced in the Cape Floral Kingdom, one guarantees that the wines have been any type of wine certification in South
of six such plant kingdoms in the world. The sustainably produced in accordance with Africa. The Wine of Origin Certification
Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest and their new guidelines. By using the unique guarantees that the label information
richest, with 70% of the plants found here, numbers on the label, consumers can correctly states origin, vintage and variety.
not found anywhere else on earth. verify all sustainability information online.
CAPECLASSICS.COM
GREEN PRACTICES ACROSS THE BOARD
ALL OF CAPE CLASSICS’ FARMS USE SOME FORM OF GREEN PRACTICE AND MOST ARE IPW CERTIFIED
FARM
BAYTEN
BEYOND
BRAAI
DEMORGENZON
DE TOREN
EXCELSIOR
GLENELLY
INDABA
JAM JAR
KANONKOP
RAATS FAMILY WINES
MVEMVE RAATS
RUDI SCHULTZ
TERRE BRÛLÉE
TOPIARY
ed ed als al n g g
etc
. n g n
de
s ies ion
tifi tifi ov tio lin tin tio lin tio ici lad
r r
an
im m va ho
o
po
s tc s, va yc va g a vers
Ce Ce re er sc e se
r
re
c
se
r n m n
I
tiv
e
tio
n on
s
g/ Co
m
ins on er on r fu ine Co
IPW BW a a c i n al c a t c s o v in
of
n et at us fic
i er W rg
y de ht nic
n v eg a bit ho ene W
at ne b ici o fig rga
o h s E r t
lat
i
ien ra
l
vid
e
s,
b he es rt O
pu Al a tu ro bird d es, a nc o ce
o P i t c
p N ve tic bs E
e rse nati p es d su
iv ing tic ve
s ad us the p pro
e sts n a
ag sy
ur s pe of IPW
o l e f
En
c
ntr
o us eo
Co No Us
CAPECLASSICS.COM
Green Practices
Buitenverwachting embraces the philosophy that Ladybugs and wasps are used for pest control –
you have to look after the land, care for it well and they help keep the population of mealy bugs (which
leave it for the next generation. spread leaf roll virus) in check.
They use cover crops of rye and wheat between the There is a staff village where most of the BV
vines and also leave vine cuttings after pruning. This employees live. Here water, electricity and waste
helps to maintain moisture in the soil. They apply removal is provided free of charge, as is ongoing
compost made from grape skins, stems and seeds. maintenance of the houses and yards. There is
When sprays are needed, they opt for the least toxic a crèche on the farm as well as a community
and use only IPW-approved substances. center. The workers also have a committee (whose
members they elect) to look after their affairs. There
Most of BV’s vineyards are unirrigated, as Constantia are organized sports teams (soccer and rugby) for
receives significant rainfall. the farm workers’ children. Transport is provided to
A program of removal of alien vegetation from the the schools as well as the local shops.
farm is currently under way, and has been mostly Only peroxide and potassium hydroxide are used to
completed. Several dams that are not used for clean cellar equipment – nothing toxic!
irrigation and the areas surrounding them have
been set aside for conservation. Here there are They work to conserve both water and energy,
reed beds for birds to nest in. The farm is home to and many of the exterior lights throughout the farm
a diverse population of birds (including fish eagles are powered by solar energy. Energy efficient light
and owls) as well as other native animals, including bulbs are used in the cellar, and plastic, glass and
foxes, caracals, porcupines, spotted genets, otters cardboard are all recycled.
and baboons.
CAPECLASSICS.COM
Green Practices
• Glenelly’s state-of-the-art cellar was developed with a mind
towards conservation. 2018 was an experimental year, as
a block Merlot and Chardonnay was taken and sprayed
organically (Sulphur and Copper). In 2019 Glenelly is expanding
the organic vineyard to 15 hectares. A clover cover crop was
planted in these blocks and wheat control on the bankies will
be done mechanically. The sprays will be organic. The rest of
the farm is kept conventional, with minimal intervention in 2019.
The plan is to go fully organic in 2020/2021, and with a potential
certification in 2024/2025.
• The ochre concrete used in the building’s exterior was custom
colored to match the farm’s soils, so that the building would have
as little visual impact as possible on the landscape. Eventually,
plants growing on the roof will cascade down to cover the sides less irrigation. (A blue gum, for example, uses an enormous 350
of the building, achieving a visual aesthetic but also helping to liters of water per day – significantly more than what the native
keep the building cool (thus requiring less energy). Concrete plant species require!)
itself uses very little energy to maintain its temperature. 15 • Water levels in the soil are monitored, allowing for minimal use
kilometers of pipes snake through the concrete in the walls of irrigation.
and ceilings, with cold water running through them. This results • Many native animals call Glenelly home, including 160 species
in a 70% energy savings as compared to a traditional cooling of birds (among them fish eagles and paradise flycatchers) as
system. The roof contains a series of void formers – cylindrical well as buck, porcupines, caracals, mongeese.
tubes which hold atmospheric temperatures.
• Glass, cardboard, plastic, and wine barrels are all recycled in
• Glenelly has as close to a closed system as possible where the winery. Even the containers from chemicals are recycled
water usage is concerned, with very little waste. The water through a specialist.
comes from a bore hole. It is purified, then cycled to the winery.
• Glenelly provides housing for workers on the farm. There is also
After it is used for cleaning, the water is purified again, then
a community center on the farm, where anyone who works on
sent to the dam. It is used for irrigation in the vineyards and then
the property can enroll their children. Glenelly provides books
filters back through the ground to the bore hole.
and school supplies as well as an after-school tutor to help with
• Very hot water (90 degrees C) is used to clean tanks and cellar homework. There is a big focus on math, science and English,
equipment. This allows the use of less cleaning products. as Madame believes that engineers and scientists are the
• All cellar waste gets composted and returned to the vineyards. future. South Africa needs these people to push the boundaries
• “Responsible farming” is the name of the game at Glenelly. and help advance the country. Children are provided with a hot
Cover crops are used extensively at Glenelly and are rolled flat nutritious meal each day at the community center.
in between the vineyard rows in order to prevent weeds. Vine • Adult education classes are provided on occasion, and workers
cuttings are mulched, then placed beneath the vines to prevent attend workshops where they can improve their skills and learn
weeds and help with water retention. Sprays are only used why they do things a certain way in the vineyards and cellar.
when absolutely essential. Workers and their families also receive free health screenings,
• A program of alien vegetation removal has begun, where blue eyeglasses. Workers also have organized recreational sports
gum (eucalyptus), wattle, and pine trees are being replaces with teams.
native fynbos. Proteas have been planted all along the border • Wind is not a viable energy source at Glenelly, but they are
of the vineyards. Additional proteas and other flowering plants looking to invest significantly in solar energy going forward.
are still being planted. These encourage a healthy population There are plans to install solar panels on the roof, in the carpark
of wasps, which in turn control the mealy bugs (a vector in (raised solar panels would provide a shaded area under which
the spread of leaf roll). Removal of alien vegetation greatly visitors could park) and in the area at the bottom of the estate,
increases the water holding capacity of the soil, allowing for near the entrance, by early 2012.
CAPECLASSICS.COM
Green Practices
All organic cellar waste (stems, skins, pips) is Excelsior has numerous sustainable community
composted and returned to the vineyards. They also upliftment projects:
apply vermi tea (earthworm urine that is collected • Workers are housed on the farm, with two new
from earthworm farms) onto the young vines. This houses built yearly.
increases microbial activity in the soil, which results
in healthier plants. • Excelsior created and funds a computer room for
the departmental Preparatory school adjacent
Because Robertson is a relatively dry area, there is to Excelsior Estate. The school has 7 classrooms
very little disease pressure, reducing the need to with approximately 30 children per class.
spray fungicides. Ladybugs and wasps are used for
pest control in the vineyards. No chemical sprays are • They have joined with several neighboring farms to
used for mildew or pest control. employ two remedial teachers at the local school,
as well as two tutors to assist with studying/
Irrigation is very strictly controlled and used minimally. supervise homework in the afternoons.
This not only reduces the amount of water used, but
also makes the grapes/vines more resistant to rot/ • Embracing youth, Excelsior maintains a good
disease and allows for less use of herbicides. rugby field which is home to “The Evergreens”
rugby team, which is 100 years old and one of the
oldest rural clubs.
• Honey produced on the farm, known as “Hendrick’s
Honey” is a BEE project. Excelsior buys the glass
jars and assists the project in sales.
• Employees manage their own cattle on the farm’s
pastures, which are irrigated by Excelsior.
• Employees run their own stall on the farm during
the annual “Wacky Wine Weekend” festival.
• Excelsior assists with transport to Robertson on
Saturday for shopping, as well as transport to
clinics, church meetings and hospitals if needed.
In addition, all picking is done by hand at Excelsior,
a socially conscious practice which provides much-
needed jobs.
CAPECLASSICS.COM
Green Practices
Rather than going for full-on certified organic farming De Morgenzon has planted fig, olive and citrus trees on the
(which was the initial plan) De Morgenzon has recently farm contours, with beds of rosemary and other herbs in
implemented a new farming style – not full-on organic, between. 6 hectares of the property have been set aside
but sustainable biological farming. They use a full organic for conservation.
spray program, and only use systemic sprays in limited
De Morgenzon has a full program for recycling all of the
amounts when absolutely necessary to combat isolated
property’s organic waste – from cellar, kitchen and garden.
threats (e.g. 1 systemic spray was used in certain blocks to
It is all turned to compost and returned to the gardens and
protect against downy mildew in 2011). Spray every second
vineyards.
row when needed.
All cellar water is recycled. It is run through an effluent
De Morgenzon uses as few herbicides as possible and is
plant, then through a reed bed for purification. It then flows
moving to a system of cover crops for weed control. Cover
back into the dam for irrigation. Testing is done monthly
crops are the key to sustainable farming. Insects, ladybirds
to ensure the water is clean. Water meters have been
live in cover crop. They put organic material into soil,
installed in the cellar in an effort to reduce usage.
encourage earthworms, and the root system helps to break
up soil and create tunnels for water penetration. Cover In an effort to reduce energy consumption, energy saving
crops also act to prevent erosion and provide competition light bulbs are utilized in the shed and winery. The winery
for problem weeds. De Morgenzon has introduced operates on a gravity flow system which incorporates
permanent cover crops in certain blocks to slow vigor manual pulleys. No pumps are used in the cellar.
and dry the soil and are beginning a program of nitrogen
fixing cover crops, including lupine and medic. Wildflowers
– also nitrogen fixers – are planted between the rows in
some blocks. Weeds are removed by hand in young blocks.
For pest control, they release wasps and ladybugs into the
vineyards. These are natural predators for mealy bugs,
which spread leaf roll virus. They also use mealy bug traps
to monitor counts and spot treat problem areas. Very limited
sprays are used to control problem areas, particularly in the
rows close to the renosterveld (natural vegetation). There
are owl and raptor poles throughout vineyards for control
of mice and small birds.
There is incredible bird life on the farm, with many species
including hawks, eagles and owls. Other wildlife includes
chameleons, porcupines, antelope (including grysboks and
steenboks), caracal and guinea fowl.
Removal of alien vegetation and restoration of renosterveld
around the borders and in the center of the vineyards is
an ongoing process. The goal is to create a more natural
environment and return balance to soil by incorporating
diverse plant life. In addition to stunning flower gardens,
CAPECLASSICS.COM
You can also read
