‘THE WINE KINGDOM’ is a marvelous publication ‘Celebrating conservation in the Cape winelands’ – marvelous by way of stunning photographs of beautiful countryside, fauna and flora, marvelous by way of the many success stories and conservation-worthy achievements that involve an industry collaborating out of respect for nature and the environment. And although not a wine guide proper, the coffee-table book features some of the main attractions on South Africa’s wine routes and draws attention to Conservation Champions who, coincidentally or not, include a number of the country’s top wine farms.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a global network active in over 100 countries, striving to halt degradation of the planet’s natural environments and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. Production of The Wine Kingdom by WWF South Africa marks the 10th anniversary of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative established back in 2005, subsequent to which some 90% of the nation’s wine producers have adopted responsible business practices as regards the environment, with a third committing to conservation of the fynbos, renosterveld and other indigenous plant and wildlife, the removal of alien vegetation, water saving, wind or solar power (energy efficiency) and generally more sustainable farming methods all round.

At the time of writing (after the book went to press), there were around 40 Conservation Champions committing 10% or more of their land to conservation, achieving environmental certification with distinction and having exclusive use of the distinctive WWF label featuring the Cape sugarbird on a protea (see below). Of these champions, the following also count among South Africa’s top wine producers with those in the 2016 Top 100 SA Cellar Classification highlighted in bold:

WWF CONSERVATION CHAMPIONS

Almenkerk Wine Estate – Elgin
Backsberg Estate Cellars – Simonsberg-Paarl
Bartinney – Banghoek, Stellenbosch
Boschendal – Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek
Bouchard Finlayson – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus
Cederberg Private Cellar
Cloof Wine Estate – Darling
De Wetshof Estate – Robertson
Delheim – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Graham Beck Wines – Robertson
Hamilton Russell Vineyards – Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus
Hermanuspietersfontein – Hermanus
Hidden Valley – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Klein Constantia – Constantia
Koelfontein Estate – Ceres
La Motte – Franschhoek
Lourensford – Helderberg, Somerset West
Merwida – Rawsonville
Neethlingshof Estate – Stellenbosch
Oak Valley – Elgin
Paul Cluver Wines – Elgin
Rust en Vrede Estate – Stellenbosch
Spier – Stellenbosch
Uitkyk Wine Estate – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Vergelegen – Helderberg, Somerset West
Vondeling – Voor Paardeberg, Paarl
Waterford Estate – Blaauwklippen Valley, Stellenbosch
Waterkloof – Helderberg, Sir Lowry’s Pass / Somerset West
Wildekrans Wine Estate – Bot River

WALKING AND HIKING IN THE WINELANDS

Among the attractions featured in ‘The Wine Kingdom’ are some of the more special walks and hiking trails to be enjoyed in the vicinity of the Cape’s vineyards and cellars – appointments recommended:

Bergsig – two routes make for gentle riverside walks south of Wolseley in the Breedekloof
Boekenhoutskloof – 850m boardwalk trail through ‘enchanted’ forest alongside the Franschhoek River and punctuated with wooden wolf sculptures (booking essential)
Boschendal – the Silvermine Trail runs through the orchards, whereas and the Kloof Trail crosses a mountain stream before traversing the Franschhoek side of the Simonsberg
Bouchard Finlayson – routes in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley outside Hermanus range from 45 minutes to two hours in length (guide and brunch optional)
Green Mountain Trail – a four-day, 60km route above Grabouw and Elgin that takes in Paul Cluver and Oak Valley before finishing at Beaumont in Bot River (guided walk with overnight stays at guesthouses in the area)
Hidden Valley – an undemanding 20-minute walk through an olive grove and above a lush valley in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Klapmutskop Trail – meandering route on a hill above Warwick and Delheim’s Delvera vineyards in Stellenbosch (permit obtainable at Delvera)
La Motte Hiking Trail – 5km guided or self-guided trail on the slopes of the Wemmershoek Mountain in Franschhoek
Mooiplaas – the private nature reserve on this estate in Bottelary, Stellenbosch, offers a 5km trail on which hikers are often accompanied by co-owner and viticulturist Tielman Roos
Tanagra – three walks outside McGregor including an “interpretive” plant trail and the Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve
Van Loveren – challenging 7km hike along the Fish Eagle Trail above the vineyards in the Breede River Valley outside Robertson
Waterford – discover green belts and wildlife corridors on a two-hour guided walk along the Porcupine Trail in the Helderberg area of Stellenbosch

WINE DRIVES, GAME DRIVES – EFFORTLESS OPTIONS

‘The Wine Kingdom’ in South Africa’s Western Cape also points to where you can get up close to the fynbos and ronosterveld as well as some of the animals in the winelands without having to don your hiking boots – from the comfort of a 4×4:

Cloof – nature drive offered on the adjacent Burgherspost farm near Darling
Groote Post – various drives through a game camp outside Darling
Villiera – a game drive safari through a Stellenbosch wildlife sanctuary
Waterford – a wine drive safari exploring the farmland and conservation areas on the slopes of the Helderberg in Stellenbosch, culminating in a wine tasting on a deck with a view of the vineyards

For more information about ‘The Wine Kingdom’ or to purchase the book – selling at R456 for the hard-cover version – visit the online shop at www.wwfsa.org.za or contact WWF South Africa at Tel +27 (0)21 657 6600, Email info@wwf.org.za.