Stellar Winery Expands its Operations to Vredendal
Tuesday, 14 September, 2010
Stellar Winery
Stellar Winery has recently acquired a second processing facility near Vredendal.
Previously a grape-juice concentrate and distilling wine plant owned by KWV, the new venture will be known as Stellar Vredendal.
Renovations to turn the facility into a winery are in progress. Organic Fairtrade grapes will be processed exclusively at Stellar Trawal cellar to maintain continuity of supply to already established markets.
The new facility will allow Stellar to considerably expand its output. The last few harvests have placed severe capacity strain on the Trawal cellar and everyone is looking forward to having the extra space in which to operate. A major benefit to the company will be the ability to fine-tune quality-control procedures in both plants.
The new site is located approximately 5 km south-east of Vredendal and occupies a 6.4 ha rectangular footprint, of which 20% is occupied by buildings, plant and equipment. Water is supplied via irrigation canals from the Olifants River.
A waste-water treatment plant is in situ, which will allow Stellar to maintain its environmentally-friendly production practices. A custom-built wastewater treatment plant is successfully operating at Stellar Trawal.
In addition to the various production-related buildings, a number of freestanding residential units on the site will be utilised by Stellar personnel who are relocating from Vredendal.