What we've come to realise from our #wineforgood campaign is that us wine drinkers are everyday heroes, really. Quietly helping conservation efforts and boosting education in the winelands simply by drinking wine. YOU, the wine drinker, can make a difference by buying these wines...
1. Du Toitskloof Wines
In 2005 Du Toitskloof Wines became one of the first Fairtrade accredited producers in South Africa. The initiative and empowerment concept is built around wineries and was a direct result of the limited success in achieving black empowerment in the wine industry. Farm workers are stakeholders in the success of what is produced and they now have the chance to acquire new skills and thereby create opportunities for their children which never existed before.
Over the years the Du Toitskloof Fairtrade Initiative, based in the town of Rawsonville, has played a pioneering role in shifting paradigms and opening the mind to the realm of dreams and the pursuit thereof.
Painted Dogs populations are affected by changes in the density of the bush and access to prey. Between 4 and 5 % of turnover is donated to conservation, bringing the total amount raised to over R2 million from sales alone.
Buy Painted Wolf Wines here
4. Balance
Balance, the quirky range of generous, everyday wines, has been relaunched after a stylish makeover, mastering the fine balancing act between a modish new look and environmental awareness.
As a caring range of wines signified by the trusty mascot, Hank the elephant, Balance has adopted the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) as a CSI initiative. For every bottle sold, a contribution is made to fund the EHRA PEACE project, an educational programme promoting the peaceful cohabitation of local communities with desert elephants in Southern Africa. The PEACE project empowers people in close proximity to wild elephants, with the necessary information to keep themselves, their families and livestock safe during elephant visits.
Buy Balance Wines here
5. Van Loveren Family Vineyards
The well-known Van Loveren Family Vineyards has not only one, but two wine ranges dedicated to wildlife conservation.
Part of the profits from Van Loveren's Five's Reserve Range benefits the SA Wildlife College, an initiative of the WWF and Peace Parks Foundation. The Van Loveren Employees Trust owns 25% of the Five's Reserve brand, giving employees further access to the value chain and the range further also offers a bursary scheme for the children of employees.
Their Rhino Run Range was created to give exposure to the crisis surrounding Rhino poaching and generate income for the education on this matter.
The range was inspired by Dr. Ian Player, founder of the
Player Ntombela Foundation and the conservationist who dedicated his life to save the Rhino. For every bottle sold, a donation is made by Van Loveren towards the Player Ntombela Foundation.
MORE ON #WINEFORGOOD
There are plenty of good news stories about upliftment and transformation in the South African Wine Industry. The #wineforgood website, launched by wine.co.za in June 2016, hosts all the positive stories from the winelands, of which there are plenty. wine.co.za has made April a focus for #wineforgood stories. Share them far and wide and spread the good news about South African wine.