This month Boland Cellar launched the Sandrivier Conservation Project, a collaborative initiative with World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA). Boland Cellar will restore critically endangered Swartland Renosterveld vegetation with the removal of invasive alien trees along riverbanks as one of the WWF’s Conservation Champions.
This project will help to protect scarce water resources, reduce fire risks, and create sustainable habitats for wildlife in the region. International sales manager at Boland Cellar, Anneen du Toit, believes wine is more than just a product “it’s a vehicle for change”.
The first phase, alien invasive clearing, is now in full swing. This work is supported through contributions from WWF’s Conservation Champions, with additional backing from the Table Mountain Funds Fynbos Forever initiative.
WWF-SA’s senior extension officer, Carina Becker-du Toit, together with Ryno Pienaar are overseeing the implementation and monitoring aspects of the work. The contracting company responsible for clearing efforts is led by Cleo Davids from Lyns Valley.
Removing invasive species is the first step in restoring natural water flow and improving the overall health of the ecosystem, paving the way for long-term environmental sustainability. The rehabilitation process includes three key phases: invasive alien clearing, ecological restoration, and habitat replanting. Lynda Muller, from Bristle Nursery will guide the project team on the best native vegetation to be reintroduced along the streams, creating crucial ecological linkages between the few remaining patches of natural veld.
This winery aims to restore biodiversity, support sustainable agriculture, and ensure the long-term resilience of this vital landscape.
Boland Cellar's Chenin Blanc can spend months to years aging in a barrel, developing its depth, character, and complexity. Similarly, a single seed planted in the earth takes years to grow into a thriving tree, shaping the landscape for generations to come. Both processes demands patience, care and deep respect for nature’s rhythms, just like Boland Cellar’s commitment to sustainability. Through partnerships and conservation initiatives, they ensure that every bottle sold nurtures something far greater than wine alone.
Every bottle sold supports meaningful projects in conservation, sustainability, and environmental rehabilitation. “We believe in collaboration and we’re committed to ecological restoration”, Du Toit adds.
Trees for Bees: Protecting pollinators and reforesting the land
Boland Cellar’s commitment truly extends beyond vineyards. Through a partnership with Greenpop’s Trees for Bees reforestation project, which restores habitats essential for honeybee populations, critical pollinators for global agriculture. A portion of the proceeds from wine sales is donated to this reforestation program, supporting honey bee conservation while also helping to offset carbon emissions and promote biodiversity.
Beyond reforestation to marine conservation, a special wine collaboration with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of southern Africa’s critically endangered African Penguin, is ongoing.
Project Adelie, Boland Cellar’s new export wine range, not only celebrates the region’s finest wines but also champions vital marine conservation initiatives. Adelie is committed to supporting the survival of this charismatic yet critically endangered species. With less than 10,000 breeding pairs left in the wild today, the African Penguin is the most endangered penguin species on the planet, and the conservation of this species is now more important than ever.
That is why a portion of the proceeds from Adelie sales is contributed to SANCCOB, which works tirelessly to conserve African penguins and other seabirds through rescue, rehabilitation, research, education, skills development, and advocacy.
‘We focus on being a responsible winery, one that continuously seeks like-minded partners to amplify our impact. Whether it’s replanting trees, conserving critically endangered species, or investing in sustainable agriculture, every bottle of Boland Cellar wine contributes to something bigger. Wine should do more than just fill a glass; it should leave a lasting impact. That’s what Boland Cellar stands for,” du Toit says proudly.