This is not just a quote from the HG Wells inspired movie, ‘The War of the Worlds’ referring to the ironclad boat that bravely sailed out to meet the invading Martians. It is also the name of a wine, made in Robertson by the community in support of the local children’s home.
The origin of the institution, The Herberg Children’s Home, also has an interesting story. This year, a century ago marks the flu epidemic that swept across the world killing 50 million globally and 500 000 in South Africa. Many children were left orphans in the wake of this devastating pandemic, and the Robertson community was not spared.
So the community got together to tackle the problem of the orphans among them and so the Herberg Children’s Home came into being. Land was donated, buildings erected, children clothed and fed. Being a farming community, the Herberg owned a 5 hectare piece of land adjacent to the Home, the fruit of which was sold to provide them with an income. However, about 15 years ago stone fruit prices were falling and wine sales were climbing, so the townsfolk decided to uproot the fruit trees and plant vines instead with the goal of making wine and selling it to raise more funds.
What followed was a monumental exercise in generosity, selflessness and compassion by the Robertson region. Everything used to establish the vineyard was donated – from the machinery used to prepare the soil, the fertilizers, the actual vines themselves, as well as the labour and expertise needed to plant the vines and manage the land. After years of carefully tending the vines, the first wine from the Herberg’s vineyard was finally made in 2008. It is a red blend of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and it was made using only natural yeast and uncrushed, unpressed grapes, resulting in a beautifully complex wine with notes of cassis and red fruits, complemented by velvety tannins.
The wine is sold in several wineries on the Robertson Wine Route, and is also shown at international shows along with the rest of Robertson’s impressive line-up.
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