Biodiversity & Wine Initiative Update

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Biodiversity & Wine Initiative Update:
Members and more members! ... with a focus on Paarl Vintners

by Sue Winter
Since the last edition of Wynboer in November 2005, when the 3rd and 4th Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) members were announced (namely Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards and Montagne farm in Franschhoek) another 15 members have officially been registered. This brings the current total to 19 BWI members and 1 champion. These include the following producers:

The sum total of land that is being conserved by these 19 members and champion, represents 5 392 ha collectively! This is great progress towards achieving the goals of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, which is to minimise the loss of threatened natural habitat, and increase the amount of land set aside as conservation areas.
The recent groundswell in membership was timeous, coinciding with the recent Wosa mega-tasting in London on 11 and 12 October 2005, where the new biodiversity theme for brand South Africa was made very prominent. Individual producer stories of what is being done to conserve biodiversity at the farm-level, can only but reinforce the industry's overall new brand positioning. Without individuals going to the effort of fulfilling the simple BWI membership requirements and putting certain management practices into place, the overall marketing strategy would lack credibility. This is exactly why Wosa are encouraging producers to become members and champions of the BWI, and to ensure they are adhering to the IPW guidelines so that they have their "house in order" in that respect.

An example of some of the indigenous species naturally re-growing in Avondale vineyards (Courtesy: Johnathan Grieve).

The BWI extension officer, Sue Winter, was asked to speak at the Winetech/VinPro Information Day for the Paarl region on 7 September 2005. Sue shared her presentation with Cobus van Graan, viticulturalist for KWV and board member of Paarl Vintners. As said by Cobus in his presentation, "Paarl Vintners would like to encourage every producer within the Paarl wine route region that has natural habitat on their farm to become a member or champion of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative". This statement is backed by the support of the Paarl Vintners board of directors who are very supportive of the BWI strategy. Cobus pointed out that many of the aims of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative are in fact either shared or endorsed by Paarl Vintners, such as the aim to promote changes in farming practices that will enhance the vineyard environment as habitat for biodiversity. The character of Paarl Vintners has always been one that is associated with the biodiversity of the region, with the Paarl Rock and Nature Reserve towering above the landscape as prominent reminder. As stated on the Paarl Vintners website, "Paarl Vintners invites you to discover the diversity of our beautiful wine valley" (www.paarlwine.co.za).
KWV as a company have also given their "thumbs up" to the BWI after Tony Hansen, BWI project co-ordinator, had a very positive meeting with KWV CEO, Dr Willem Barnard and the managing directors, Johan and Willem Bestbier.
Regarding who can be involved in the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, both individual estates and co-operatives/producer cellars can become members although the co-operative cellar criteria do differ to estate criteria. Rooiberg are gearing up to become the first BWI co-op member, while Perdeberg Winery and Darling Cellars are also in the process of getting their respective members compliant with the criteria.
Of the 19 BWI members, 5 of these fall within the Paarl wine district. These include Avondale, Black Pearl Wines, Backsberg, Plaisir de Merle and Boschendal. Each of these members have commendable stories to tell.

Species rich Swartland Alluvium fynbos that is being conserved on Backsberg (Courtesy: Sue Winter).

Avondale (Paarl Vintners)
Avondale, owned by the Grieve family, has demonstrated many innovations for increasing biodiversity on their farm, including testing with indigenous cover crops, and using organic viticultural methods on some blocks. Their efforts have been rewarded, having recently received a double gold for their 2001 Avondale Graham Reserve and 2003 Avondale Syrah, proving that they understand how to give nature a chance to give her best. Avondale has replanted hundreds of indigenous trees (including 27 different species) along the river corridor that extends through the property and cleared many alien plants on their 25 ha portion of mountain fynbos, and are very serious about these on-going projects. Since re-establishing indigenous trees Avondale are proud to say that they now have a thriving ecosystem with frequent sightings of buck, rabbits, hawks, owls and eagles.
Avondale truly believe in the balance of nature, and so always try to maintain this balance and interfere as little as possible - for example, they use the Albrecht system of soil balancing. Avondale also focus on encouraging natural predators into the vineyard and using natural fungicides. Some examples include:

Ducks: A flock of ducks is used to control the whole of Avondale's snail population thus cutting out any chemical snail pellets. They have found that it is much more effective and cost-efficient.
Bacillus strains: Two strains of naturally occurring bacteria are used at this stage - one that works for many worms and one for Downy mildew. Both of these natural strains are very specific as to the job it does and what it affects, which makes it a very "soft", environmentally-friendly product.
Predatory wasps (Coccidoxenoides perminutes): These wasps are used for the control of the vine pest Mealybug, which has proved very successful over the last 3 seasons.

These are just a few examples as to what Avondale is doing. In the long run they believe that this form of 'biodiversity-sensitive' viticulture will become much more sustainable than conventional methods. It could also result in very site-specific and unique wines. See www.avondale.co.za for more info on Avondale wines or contact them at (021) 863-1976 or e-mail wine@avondale.co.za.
Black Pearl Wines (Paarl Vintners)
Black Pearl Wines is located on the farm Rhenosterkop, along the R44-Agter Paarl Road, situated directly adjacent to the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. The farm is owned by Dr Lance Nash and boasts a large 184 ha area of natural vegetation, of which 110 ha is in a pristine condition. This area consists of 3 vegetation types, namely Swartland Granite Renosterveld (classified as a critically endangered veld type), Swartland Granite Fynbos (endangered), and Swartland Shale Renosterveld (also critically endangered). The property therefore represents an important upland-lowland link between the upper-lying Paarl Rock vegetation and the surrounding lowlands. There are 19 Red Data Book species recorded for the adjacent Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve, and it is likely that further botanical surveys would confirm a number of these to also occur at Black Pearl Wines. Already 2 rare and endangered species have been identified, including the legume Xiphotheca lanceolata. Numerous raptors and small mammals have been observed on the farm, benefiting from the riverine thicket and Olive-dominated woodland that extends along the drainage lines. The 16 ha of vineyard is managed under closeful eye of Lance's daughter, Mary-Lou. For more information on Black Pearl Wines, go to www.blackpearlwines.com or phone Lance Nash on 083 395 6999.

Boschendal (Courtesy: Wosa)

Backsberg (Paarl Vintners)
Ten years ago, a full-time horticulturalist was employed at Backsberg to attend to the estate's landscaping. This work has evolved into large alien clearing efforts and considerable progress has been made. Michael Back, owner of Backsberg is also proud of the hundreds of trees that have also been planted on the estate to "re-green" areas and counteract the removal of indigenous trees over the previous decades. Birds are noticeably being attracted back to the farm by this re-greening project. The main biodiversity feature of Backsberg is their approximately 40 ha of Swartland Alluvium Fynbos which is also a critically endangered veld type, due to its association with the lowlands. This fynbos area, one of only a few patches left in the area, has been preserved over the generations and will never be ploughed even though it might hold soils suitable for more vines - such an act of conservation certainly deserves fitting recognition.
Plaisir de Merle (Franschhoek Vignerons)
Plaisir de Merle is located at Simondium near Paarl and is one of Distell's flagship farms and part of the prestigious Cape Legends brand. Approximately 500 ha of the 985 ha farm is not cultivated, which extends from the Simonsberg mountain to the old stone terrace of the Berg River. There are numerous scree forest patches located on the property - this is a special kind of forest also called Daschbosch, which only grows on fallen rock patches on mountain sides that are protected from fire. Apart from the good condition granite fynbos on the mountain part of the farm, there is also a small, yet very important transition area of renosterveld and lowland fynbos. Such lowland ecosystems have far higher conservation importance than mountainous vegetation simply because the lowlands are today largely transformed by agriculture. Fifteen years ago, eradication of Hakea began on the farm under the leadership of farm manager Freddie le Roux. Already much money has been spent on the first phases of their alien clearing plan, and provision has been made in the budget to continue the next 8 phases of alien plant clearing and replanting of indigenous trees. Plaisir de Merle also has a rich cultural history, including numerous historic buildings on the farm, built as early as 1764 and an old cellar built in 1831. See www.plaisirdemerle.co.za for more info on Plaisir de Merle or phone (021) 874-1071.
Boschendal (Franschhoek Vignerons)
Boschendal has always taken an active interest in conservation and the sustainability of an environmental and agricultural equilibrium. Since 2000, finite steps have been taken to ensure these goals are attained. Many indigenous trees such as yellowwood, stinkwood and wild olive are nestled in the ravines of the property. These trees were primarily used by the early settlers for their furniture and housing needs, and are therefore very valuable and protected. Boschendal acknowledges that the custodianship of these pristine areas of indigenous flora is both an obligation and a privilege. Boschendal has embarked on an immense, privately funded alien eradication programme. More than 800 ha of the natural area on Boschendal is infested with alien plant species. For this reason, Boschendal has undertaken to spend in excess of R20 million over the next 10 years, to return this land to its original state. To date, R2,5 million has been spent on alien clearing from some 500 ha of land. The genuine enthusiasm of the nature-loving farm manager, Andre Lamprechts, is the main reason the alien clearing efforts have progressed so well. Boschendal in its entirety is now being conserved according to the international guidelines of Agenda 21 and Unesco's Man and the Biosphere programme. See www.boschendal.co.za for more information or contact them on (021) 874-1071.
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