{"id":6383,"date":"2016-01-27T11:40:03","date_gmt":"2016-01-27T09:40:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wfi-global-staging.com\/topwineold\/?p=6383"},"modified":"2021-01-25T17:55:52","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T15:55:52","slug":"showcasing-sa-wineland-conservation-champions-walks-and-drives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wfi-global-staging.com\/topwineold\/2016\/01\/showcasing-sa-wineland-conservation-champions-walks-and-drives\/","title":{"rendered":"Showcasing SA Wineland Conservation Champions, Walks and Drives"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘<\/em>THE WINE KINGDOM' is a marvelous publication\u00a0‘Celebrating conservation in the Cape winelands' – marvelous by way of stunning photographs of beautiful countryside, fauna and flora, marvelous by way of the many success stories and conservation-worthy achievements that involve an industry collaborating out of respect for nature and the environment. And although not a wine guide proper, the coffee-table book features some of the main attractions on South Africa's wine routes and draws attention to Conservation Champions who, coincidentally or not, include a number of the country's top wine farms.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a global network active in over 100 countries, striving to halt degradation of the planet's natural environments and to build a future in which people\u00a0live in harmony with nature. Production of The Wine Kingdom by WWF South Africa marks the 10th anniversary of the\u00a0Biodiversity and Wine Initiative established back in 2005, subsequent to which some 90% of the nation's wine producers have adopted responsible business\u00a0practices as regards the environment, with a third committing to conservation of the fynbos, renosterveld and other indigenous plant and wildlife, the removal of alien vegetation, water saving, wind or solar power (energy efficiency) and generally more sustainable farming methods all round.<\/p>\n

At the time of writing (after the book went to press), there were around 40 Conservation Champions committing 10% or more of their land to conservation, achieving environmental certification with distinction and having exclusive use of the distinctive WWF label featuring the Cape sugarbird on a protea (see below). Of these champions, the following also count among South Africa's top wine producers with those in the 2016 Top 100 SA Cellar Classification highlighted in bold:<\/p>\n

WWF CONSERVATION CHAMPIONS<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Almenkerk Wine Estate – Elgin
\nBacksberg Estate Cellars – Simonsberg-Paarl
\nBartinney – Banghoek, Stellenbosch
\nBoschendal<\/strong> – Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek
\nBouchard Finlayson<\/strong> – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus
\nCederberg Private Cellar<\/strong>
\nCloof Wine Estate<\/strong> – Darling
\nDe Wetshof Estate<\/strong> – Robertson
\nDelheim<\/strong> – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
\nGraham Beck Wines<\/strong> – Robertson
\nHamilton Russell Vineyards<\/strong> – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus
\nHermanuspietersfontein – Hermanus
\nHidden Valley<\/strong> – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
\nKlein Constantia<\/strong> – Constantia
\nKoelfontein Estate – Ceres
\n\"WWFLa Motte<\/strong> – Franschhoek
\nLourensford – Helderberg, Somerset West
\nMerwida – Rawsonville
\nNeethlingshof Estate<\/strong> – Stellenbosch
\nOak Valley<\/strong>\u00a0– Elgin
\nPaul Cluver Wines<\/strong> – Elgin
\nRust en Vrede Estate<\/strong> – Stellenbosch
\nSpier<\/strong>\u00a0– Stellenbosch
\nUitkyk Wine Estate – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
\nVergelegen <\/strong>– Helderberg, Somerset West
\nVondeling – Voor Paardeberg, Paarl
\nWaterford Estate<\/strong> – Blaauwklippen Valley, Stellenbosch
\nWaterkloof – Helderberg, Sir Lowry's Pass \/ Somerset West
\nWildekrans Wine Estate<\/strong> – Bot River<\/p>\n

WALKING AND HIKING IN THE WINELANDS<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Among the attractions featured in ‘The Wine Kingdom' are some of the more special walks and hiking trails to be enjoyed in the vicinity of the Cape's vineyards and cellars\u00a0– appointments recommended:<\/p>\n

Bergsig <\/strong>– two routes make for gentle riverside walks south of Wolseley in the Breedekloof
\nBoekenhoutskloof <\/strong>– 850m boardwalk trail through ‘enchanted' forest alongside the Franschhoek River and punctuated with wooden wolf sculptures (booking essential)
\nBoschendal <\/strong>– the Silvermine Trail runs through the orchards, whereas and the Kloof Trail crosses a mountain stream before traversing the Franschhoek side of the Simonsberg
\nBouchard Finlayson <\/strong>– routes\u00a0in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley outside Hermanus range from 45 minutes to two hours in length (guide and brunch optional)
\nGreen Mountain Trail<\/strong> – a four-day, 60km route above Grabouw and Elgin that takes in Paul Cluver and Oak Valley before finishing at Beaumont in Bot River (guided walk with overnight stays at guesthouses in the area)
\nHidden Valley<\/strong> – an undemanding 20-minute walk through an olive grove and above a lush valley in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch
\nKlapmutskop Trail<\/strong> – meandering route on a hill above Warwick and Delheim's Delvera vineyards in Stellenbosch (permit obtainable at Delvera)
\nLa Motte Hiking Trail<\/strong> – 5km guided or self-guided trail on the slopes of the Wemmershoek Mountain in Franschhoek
\nMooiplaas<\/strong> – the private nature reserve on this estate in Bottelary, Stellenbosch, offers a 5km trail on which hikers are often accompanied by co-owner and viticulturist Tielman Roos
\nTanagra\u00a0<\/strong>– three walks outside McGregor including an “interpretive” plant trail and the Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
\nVan Loveren<\/strong> – challenging 7km hike along the Fish Eagle Trail above the vineyards in the Breede River Valley outside Robertson
\nWaterford<\/strong> – discover green belts and wildlife corridors on a two-hour guided walk along the Porcupine Trail in the Helderberg area of Stellenbosch<\/p>\n

WINE DRIVES, GAME DRIVES – EFFORTLESS OPTIONS<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

‘The Wine Kingdom' in South Africa's Western Cape also points to where you can get up close to the fynbos and ronosterveld as well as some of the animals in the winelands without having to don your hiking boots – from the comfort of a 4\u00d74:<\/p>\n

Cloof<\/strong> – nature drive offered on the adjacent Burgherspost farm near Darling
\nGroote Post<\/strong> – various drives through a game camp outside Darling
\nVilliera<\/strong> – a game drive safari through a Stellenbosch wildlife sanctuary
\nWaterford<\/strong> – a wine drive safari exploring the farmland\u00a0and conservation areas\u00a0on the slopes of the Helderberg in Stellenbosch, culminating in\u00a0a wine tasting on a deck with a view of the vineyards<\/p>\n

For more information about ‘The Wine Kingdom' or\u00a0to purchase the book – selling at R456 for the hard-cover version – visit the online shop at\u00a0www.wwfsa.org.za<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0or contact WWF South Africa at\u00a0Tel +27 (0)21 657 6600, Email info@wwf.org.za<\/a><\/span><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

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‘THE WINE KINGDOM’ is a marvelous publication\u00a0‘Celebrating conservation in the Cape winelands’ – marvelous by way of stunning photographs of beautiful countryside, fauna and flora, marvelous by way of the many success stories and conservation-worthy achievements that involve an industry collaborating out of respect for nature and the environment. And although not a wine guide proper, the coffee-table book features<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2217,1904,1968,1975],"tags":[1764,2233,2238,2236,849,1044,2235,774,2237,2239,1648,2234],"class_list":["post-6383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2217","category-cellar-ratings","category-wine-producers","category-wine-route","tag-book","tag-conservation","tag-game-drive","tag-hikes","tag-sa","tag-south-africa","tag-walks","tag-wine","tag-wine-drive","tag-wine-kingdom","tag-wineland","tag-wwf"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t