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LEUCOSPERMUM PROSTRATUM - PIC FARM 215

A ground-hugging pincushion, it shows itself during the first years after fire and disappears again when and where taller bushes smother it after a few years, only to come back again after the next fire. Coastal, between Kogelberg and Elim hills.

Red data species: vulnerable (IUCN red data list) www.farm215.co.za

Posted on 16 August 07 | |

WATSONIA STENOSIPHON - PIC FARM 215


A species restricted to the southern Overberg between Hermanus and Potberg and the first Watsonia to be in flower (as from Aug to Oct).

www.farm215.co.za

Posted on 16 August 07 | |

Western Leopard Toad - pic Farm 215


Western Leopard Toad. Red data species, only occuring on Cape peninsula in some little corners and around Gansbaai.

www.farm215.co.za

Posted on 11 August 07 | |

WOSA team visits Mooiplaas


Tielman Roos, viticulturist at Mooiplaas, took the entire international Wines of South Africa team on a hike through the renosterveld (indigenous vegetation translating as rhinoceros bush) on his farm last week. Tielman has cleared this land of alien, water-guzzling vegetation and set it aside for conservation. He was the first producer to join the BWI initiative. It is pretty grey at the moment but in spring the land comes alive when the bulbs flower. But even in summer, once you start walking, the veld is fascinating. Mooiplaas vineyards are in the background, and after the hike, our team tasted the wines in the unusual tasting room built in the very old stables. The tasting tables are the old feeding troughs. Fabulous!

Su Birch
CEO
Wines of South Africa
8 Helderberg Road
Stellenbosch 7599
Tel +27 (0)21 883 3860
Fax +27 (0)21 883 3861
www.wosa.co.za

Posted on 6 December 06 | |

Steenbuck in Cloof vineyard


A regular visitor to our vineyards, a steenbuck looks a little startled at

Cloof, in Darling.

Posted on 17 November 06 | |

Species Diversity in Iona's Vineyards


At Iona Wines we take biodiversity seriously.

Here is a shot of natural fynbos growing among young vines.

Posted on 12 October 06 | |

Giant carnivorous plant at Iona Wines


Growing in the cool fynbos area in which Iona's vineyards florish is this red data book plant named roridula gorgonis. It is carnivorous and has a symbiotic relationship with a small bug.

Posted on 10 October 06 | |

Spring Competition For Producers - Winners Announced

We're pleased to announce the winners of our Spring Competition as unanimously chosen by a panel of judges from Wines of South Africa (WOSA), the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) and World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA).

  • Protea - Rob Armstrong.jpgRob Armstrong of Haut Espoir's photograph was rated the winner,
  • Ruschia - Nora Sperling Thiel.jpgNora Sperling of Delheim's entry took second place and
  • Protea by Gary Jordan.jpgGary Jordan of Jordan Winery's pic came in third.

Congratulations!

We'd also like to thank all the producers who submitted photographs of the spectacular spring flowers on their properties.

Posted on 12 December 07 | |

Whale tales

As I write this, there is a Southern Right whale pottering around in the False Bay sea less than 50 metres from the rocks below our house. I say pottering because she is doing pretty much what I like to do early on Sunday morning, namely nothing. Further out to sea the rest of the whale gang is doing fluke-up dives, waving their distinctive tails in the air. Mama here is very idle, letting off the occasional blow. In August and September every year the whales come to our shores to calve and the exciting part is that each year there are more of them. When I was a child, we never saw whales. Today there are an estimated 3000 visiting our shores and by 2040 the natural population should be fully restored.

What has this to do with wine? Well, there is the lovely Southern Right pinotage brand, and the fact that the very best land-based whale watching in the world is in Walker Bay, a few kilometres from the wine ward of the same name, which is home to some of our best chardonnays and pinot noirs. But more importantly, it makes me realise once again just how vital the Wine and Biodiversity Initiative is (www.bwi.co.za).

The whales are back because conservationists fought to get them protected. If we want our children to experience the wonder of the Malachite Sunbird's iridescent throat and the glorious King Protea's spiky splendour, then we must support the BW initiative and ensure our fynbos and renosterveld are preserved alongside, and in harmony with, our vineyards. I think it is a wonderful achievement that already 88 producers have joined up and between them conserved 50 638 hectares of natural vegetation on their farms. More than one hectare of conservation for every two hectares of vineyard in the Cape winelands. Now that is something as awesome as mama whale out there.

- Su Birch, 26 August 2007

Posted on 28 August 07 | |