Earth, Wind and Wine at Waterkloof As we move into the age of being more conscious about the decisions we make toward ourselves and our environment, caring about where our food comes from and realizing that our resources are finite, it is necessary, if not vital to talk about and showcase the wines and ethos of Waterkloof. Meeting some of their key role-players; Nadia Barnard- Cellar Master, Claudia Young-Kelly- Head of Marketing and Meagan- an ambassador for Waterkloof, they shared with us the dream turned reality of owner Paul Boutinot. After many years of searching the world over, the hand-picked site was to be on the Schapenberg slopes of Somerset West; the amphitheatre of False Bay. It took Christian Loots, Farm Manager & Viticulturist and the dedicated team at Waterkloof approximately a decade to restore the true and real LIFE into their soils. In 2009 Waterkloof were certified with full Organic and Biodynamic status--which is not very easy to achieve. As Nadia mentions during our tour of the cellars, though some farms may use biodynamic or organic practices, these will usually be in conjunction with conventional farming methods, for example, using herbicides or pesticides. It really says something if you're 100% certified. For me, one of the most important aspects I look for when it comes to learning about new wines or exploring what we have here in the Cape, is that the creators of a product sincerely believe in what they do. The team at Waterkloof believe that the wines, and more specifically each vintage should be a reflection of the terroir and all of the factors or Circumstance(s) that played a role in the wine produced in the end. Just as an example, it is also why their wines are usually only lightly oaked, so as to allow the natural elements (which they work really hard to conserve) to come through and speak for themselves. Using balance-oriented methods of keeping their soils and vines alive and happy, what is showcased in the wines is a true Circle of Life. From the big, white Percheron horses loosening the soils in the vineyards to the jackal buzzards swooping and landing on the installed perches dotted around the farm, even the earthworms down below, each component of nature has a say in crafting this extraordinary end result. What we find are wines that are elegant and complex and yet, balanced and subtle when and where they need to be. Some quick facts about Waterkloof: About 60 Hectares of their property is under vine and 80 Hectares are reserved for indigenous flora and fauna to flourish. The area is home to jackal, mountain leopard, mongooses, birds of prey and the ecosystem continues to grow.
Their remarkable approach to farming and wine-making is a principle we can apply to life; go back to your soil (roots) and focus on making sure that this is where you do your most important ground work (pun intended). The rest will all reflect in time. For more information, do visit their website http://www.waterkloofwines.co.za/ A special thank you to the team at Waterkloof for such a welcoming and informative experience!
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AuthorHi there, my name is Judete Fourie. I am a twenty-something-year-old writer living in Stellenbosch in SA's Western Cape. Follow my day to day adventures that involve wine, wit and braaibroodjies. Archives
June 2017
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