Stellar Winery gains BWI membership

BRAND ACTIVITY

Aug 15th, 10:19

Stellar Winery Multi-Estate is proud to announce that they have recently become a member of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative. The BWI membership is a welcome addition to the organic and Fair Trade certification that has marked Stellar out as one of the world’s leading ethical wine producers. This business ethos was recently recognized by The Drinks’ Business Green Awards 2013 judging panel by naming Stellar Winery Ethical Company of the Year.

This Fair Trade enterprise, consisting of a winery and 13 independent organic grape producers, lies scattered between Bulshoekdam and Koekenkaap in the West Coast Municipality. The area forms part of the Cape Floral Kingdom where the wide-open, arid spaces of Namaqualand are transformed once a year into vibrant carpets of flowers

In addition to the 6 main vegetation types within the Multi-Estate, there is also an abundance of wildlife to be found in the mainly pristine 5197 hectares of land set aside for conservation. Waterfowl, game and birds of prey are a few examples of the fauna in the area, in addition to such exotica as dolphins, which have been spotted in the Olifants River adjacent to the wetlands at Koekenaap and a colony of freshwater turtles in a spring on one of the inland farms.

The agriculture practiced near the conservation areas is organic, which helps to lessen the impact on wildlife and natural vegetation due to the lack of chemicals used in the vineyards.

Each farm within the conservation area has an environmental management plan in place which includes the regular removal of alien vegetation. The policy of Stellar in consultation with BWI is one of minimal interference, but careful stewardship of land which has looked after itself efficiently for millions of years.