Groot Constantia, Boschendal, and Vergelegen, three of the oldest wine farms in South Africa, are heritage landmarks in the Winelands. Founded in the late 1600s, these showpiece destinations have won global acclaim for their contribution to the history of winemaking in the new world – and to the evolution of modern winemaking in the Cape. Staying at the forefront in the twenty-first century, all three have also been recognised as Conservation Champions by the Worldwide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA).
South Africa is the only country in the world with a dedicated Winelands conservation programme.
According to WWF-SA, Conservation Champions are acknowledged as environmental leaders in the wine industry for their exceptional commitment to regenerative farming practices, including implementing responsible production practices; spearheading innovations in water, waste management and energy efficiency; and conserving ecosystems to provide a habitat for many rare and endangered species. WWF-SA undertakes an annual audit of members to monitor progress.
By May 2022, 55 WWF-SA Conservation Champions had been recognised in the Cape Winelands – an area which overlaps with two global biodiversity hotspots, the Cape Floral Kingdom and the Succulent Karoo. New members include Creation, De Morgenzon and Warwick.
These 55 Cape wine farms have set aside 24 372 hectares for conservation as part of the Cape Floral Kingdom to protect the rich biodiversity of flora and fauna; rehabilitated vast sections through alien invasive clearing projects; and diversified into ecotourism, through sustainable nature activities like walking, hiking and mountain biking trails, game drives, bird watching, nature drives, and ‘vini safaris’.
Groot Constantia
Groot Constantia is set on the boundary of Table Mountain National Park – a world heritage site renowned for its indigenous fynbos, the core of one of the richest floral kingdoms in the world. Driving up the ancient oak-lined driveway to the heritage cellar, manor house, coach house and museum set against the Constantiaberg takes visitors back centuries. While attending the launch of the Vintage Vault in the old cellar in 2021, I stopped in the tasting room to admire the collection of antique handblown wine bottles from Groot Constantia which go back to Constantia 1791. (Recent bottlings all carry the WWF-SA Conservation Champion logo of the sugarbird and the protea.)
I’ve known general manager Jean Naude and cellarmaster Boela Gerber for over two decades since they took up their prestigious positions at the oldest wine farm in South Africa. Audited by the WWF-SA, sustainability is the keyword – with a special focus on erosion and storm water management to cope with the steep slopes and high rainfall. Resource efficiency and cleaner IPW production projects have reduced energy and water consumption.
Over dinner, we discussed the extension of the baboon fence at Groot Constantia to reduce the conflict between humans and primates in the Constantia Valley, and to protect the biodiversity of flora and fauna.
On a lighter note, a video clip of a hungry baboon who joined surprised tourists outdoors at the Jonkershuis restaurant at Groot Constantia went viral, drawing thousands of hits. He gave the fare the paws-up as he tucked into a selection of dishes before returning to his troop in the vineyards. The search for more gentle, non-lethal methods of wildlife management is one of the key conservation issues facing farmers – along with climate change, global warming and resource usage.
Boschendal
Boschendal, another of the Cape’s oldest wine farms, founded in 1685, is another leading example of a WWF-SA Conservation Champion. Sustainability and regenerative farming are two of the credos of this landmark heritage wine farm. A multifaceted tourist destination set in the heart of the winelands, the vision is to be an ethical village, working in concert with nature.
According to the farm’s environmental custodian, Leon Adams, the removal of invasive alien flora in this biodiversity hotspot is a primary concern to stop wildfires, soil erosion and clogged wetlands – and to encourage the growth of endangered indigenous species and the free movement of wildlife. The cameras at Boschendal frequently capture the nocturnal activities of leopard, caracal, porcupine and Cape Fox.
“The transformation is remarkable,” says Leon, explaining the rehabilitation process. “Once the trees (wattle, blue gum and Port Jackson) are gone the land starts to breathe again and natural water sources are liberated. Incredible things happen as Nature rights herself. We now have four new significant streams of water flowing into the river all year round.”
Another positive is the wealth of bird life, attracted by the return of fynbos species like proteas, wild peach and almond trees. Without the impenetrable alien thickets, wildlife is also able to move around more freely.
Boschendal, which sustainably farms Angus cattle, Duroc pigs, layer hens, vegetables and crops, rotating land use and soils, is the first farm in the Cape Winelands to be awarded environmental and animal welfare certification from A Greener World (AGW). Certified Animal Welfare Approved is the only higher animal welfare certification in South Africa, developed by veterinary and farming experts to encourage welfare farm management.
“We’re proud to certify farms like Boschendal that have demonstrated commitment to transparency and verified, high-welfare, farming practices. These stewards of the countryside are building a greener world,” says AGW Head Tozie Zokufa. The homegrown food products go into the restaurant kitchens, deli, and farm shop at Boschendal.
Vergelegen
Vergelegen (1700), another of the Cape’s oldest heritage wine farms, a showpiece for wineland tourism today, is another WWF-SA Champion. The first producer to win champion status under the former Biodiversity Wine Initiative in 2005, it has restored 2240 hectares of the 3200 hectare estate through an extensive campaign of invasive alien clearance. The return of many indigenous insect predators has resulted in a 70% decrease in pesticide and insecticide use. Environmentally friendly solutions include the use of the humble ladybug to control micro pests (such as mealybug) and planting longer poles between the vineyards as perches for raptor birds (falcons, hawks and owls).
A walk among the heritage gardens, ancient camphor trees (declared a national monument in 1942), white mulberry (dated from 1700) and the royal 1928 oak from Blenheim Palace at Vergelegen is a visual reminder of the rich heritage of the Cape’s wine industry. A proud supporter of the Cape Leopard Trust, the farm is also home to a breeding project of bontebok, Nguni cattle and eland (since 2020) – a veld management project.
After visiting the museum which documents the colourful history of Vergelegen, a game drive through the declared nature reserve to the state-of-the-art cellar is a wonderful way of experiencing the modern renaissance of this heritage farm.
Biodiversity is at the forefront of sustainability practices at Vergelegen. The large-scale alien clearing project from 2004 to 2018 has led to positive results in various other areas of biodiversity. Birdlife at Vergelegen increased from 57 to 159 species with over 60 species recorded as breeding pairs, including the Blue Crane. Plant species thought to be extinct such as the Lachenalia liliflora was discovered as well as 20 species on the red data plant list classified as critically endangered. Vergelegen also has two complete vegetation types classified as critically endangered – namely Swartland Shale Renosterveld and Lourensford Alluvium Fynbos.
All of the above led to the declaration of a 1900-hectare private nature reserve in 2018 in partnership with CapeNature.
Vergelegen is an active member of the Confronting Climate Change (CCC) initiative, a carbon footprint project developed to support the South African fruit and wine sectors. Tracking and manage its carbon emissions, over the past two years, the estate’s emissions were low enough to be considered an industry benchmark for the CCC and South Africa. Other ongoing environmental campaigns focus on solar power, greener energy, recycling, water usage and wetland restoration. The natural heritage of the winelands is in the safe hands of the WWF-SA Conservation Champions.