Great honour for wine region
Hermanuspietersfontein Boerdery achieves
Champion Status
The Walker Bay Wine Region was accorded a great honour on 19
September 2008 when our wine farm was awarded Champion Status
by the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) – the first wine farm in
this region to achieve this status. So far, only 11 wine farms in South
Africa have been declared Champion farms.
Hermanuspietersfontein Boerdery, the collective name of the two
adjacent farms of Johan and Mariëtte Pretorius, viz. Waterval and
Waboom, is situated about 20 km east of Stanford in the Sundays
Glen wine ward. Eco-friendly farming practices have been applied for
the past nine years, preserving and supporting the rich biodiversity of
the area. This approach ensured that the farms comply with the strict
prescriptions of the BWI. Invasive alien plants have been eradicated,
endemic fauna and flora have been restored in their original biological
communities, workers and visitors are exposed to the conservation
ethics on the farms and a comprehensive management plan has
been drawn up with the assistance of the farm manager and
consultants.
The BWI sets very strict requirements before champion status can be
achieved. The property must include pristine areas comprising not
less than 10% of the total surface area of the farm; at the time of
assessment the farm must achieve a minimum of 85% for the
implementation of biodiversity guidelines; an external audit must be
conducted by the IPW (Integrated Production of Wine); application
must be made to the Cape Nature stewardship programme for the
targeted conservation area; and a comprehensive management plan
must be accepted and approved by the BWI.
Gerald McCann, author and well-known conservationist, drew up the
management plan. This document covers invasive alien
management, fire management, management of poisons, erosion
control, recycling and management of waste, as well as the
conservation of fauna and flora. Extensive data lists for the latter
have also been compiled for this purpose.
Farm manager Derrick Steyn is thrilled at the champion status. He
says that the farm is divided by five natural corridors which link the
pristine fynbos with vleis, dams and other fynbos communities. This
brings a unique bio diverse dimension to the vineyards and the rest of
the farm.
14 Wine cultivars are grown on 63ha. A unique micro-climate with
winds from the Atlantic Ocean makes these vineyards 2°C cooler
than other wine farms in the region. The exceptional character which
is typical of Hermanuspietersfontein wines is shaped by this terroir.
Hermanuspietersfontein Boerdery is ideal for visitors and eco-tourists.
It offers majestic mountains with pristine fynbos slopes and clear
mountain streams. There are graded 3 star holiday cottages and
routes for mountain bikers and hikers. Birders can enjoy the rich
birdlife and fynbos enthusiasts can lose themselves in the great
variety. Here the nights are illuminated only by oil lamps.
Enquiries:
Gerard Scholtz
Hermanuspietersfontein Wynkelder
gerard@hpf1855.co.za
028 316 1875
083 388 8209
www.hpf1855.co.za
Bookings
Ilse-Marie Thiart
Hermanuspietersfontein Volkshuisies
028 316 1875
ilse-marie@hpf1855.co.za