Firsts on all fronts
Hartenberg Estate is proud to release Sacred Soil 2023, the first South African wine to carry Land to Market certification, grown on the country’s first scientifically verified regenerative wine farm. This is a wine born from living soil, farming that gives back, and a long-term commitment to the health of the land.
The name Sacred Soil says exactly what it means. At Hartenberg, the soil is the foundation of everything, carefully tended, scientifically monitored, and treated as a living system.
“At Hartenberg, we believe the secret is in our soil,” says owner Tanya Browne. “Sacred Soil 2023 is more than a wine, it reflects what regenerative farming can achieve. We see it in the health of our vineyards, taste it in the glass, and measure it through science.” Regenerative farming at Hartenberg is a daily practice shaped by observation, science, and care. Cover crops restore nutrients and improve soil health, while cattle, sheep, and Indian Runner ducks all play a role in supporting a balanced ecosystem and reducing the need for intervention.
In collaboration with Stellenbosch University, early findings suggest regeneratively farmed vineyards show fresher aromatics and more naturally balanced acidity, with research continuing across future vintages.
Why regenerative matters
Healthy living soils create:
- Stronger vineyard ecosystems
- Improved water retention
- Greater vine balance and resilience
- Better expression of terroir
- Wines with purity, structure and energy
"When the soil thrives, the wine does too."
Hartenberg Sacred Soil 2023 tasting note
Layers of cassis, ripe plum, and dark berries unfold alongside notes of soft spice and gentle oak. Rich and velvety on the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced with fine tannins, elegant structure, and a lingering finish of vanilla and spice. Refined, expressive, and made to be savoured slowly.
Wine of origin: Stellenbosch
Price: R265
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