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Hartenberg lies in its own self-contained valley with a pure water source flowing through the entire length of the property
into a pristine wetland system. This wetland, occupies 65 of the farm's 170 ha, and has never been cultivated. Neither shall it be. Since their purchase of Hartenberg in 1986, the owners have intensified conservation efforts, especially regarding alien clearing and birdlife proliferation on the farm. |
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Conservation PhilosophyAll owners and staff have accepted responsibility for the conservation of the property through responsible and sustainable use of all natural resources, with our stated intention being to leave the property in a better condition than in which we received it. |
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Important Birdlife• Guineafowl (approx. 300 birds) • Burchell's Coucal (rare in the Western Cape) • African Fish Eagle (summer visitor) • Spotted Eagle Owl (three breeding pairs) • Jackal Buzzard Animal Life• Civet • Mongoose • Porcupine • Caracal • Various Antelope |
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Biodiversity and Wine InitiativesIn 1997, an 8 km electric fence was erected around the farm's perimeter, and within two years, substantial increases in animal sightings and nesting birdlife were recorded. With a significant financial contribution from the owners, wage staff were incentivised to acquire their own properties off the farm. As a result, human impact on the wetland has been reduced by 60%. Water InitiativesA water quality management report was conducted for the estate in 2003 in order to optimise water use, and also to re-devise domestic and cellar effluent systems. The result has seen grey water being aerated and filtered, then re-used for vineyard irrigation. |
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Since 1995 we have reduced our overhead sprinkler irrigation from 80% to 10%. Today almost all irrigation is achieved through either a drip or micro system, with considerable water savings as a result. Vineyard irrigation is now only used when necessary, with soil probe and leaf pressure bomb readings triggering watering. In order to prevent soil erosion and silt being carried into the wetland, most water furrows have been cement-lined or hand-packed with stone. |
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Alien Vegetation RemovalA R50 000 investment has seen the removal of a lane of about fifty massive Blue Gum trees growing on the feeder river upstream of our wetland. We have since noticed increased and longer runoffs after rains and into spring. A lane of about sixty mature pine trees was removed in 1998 at a cost of R70 000. Recently, a forest of about two to three hundred Blue Gum trees was removed near our front entrance. Every year since 2002, the wetland has been cleared of any new alien vegetation. |
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Some Local Beauties |
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Other InitiativesThe farm has gradually moved from annual to permanent cover crops between vines, which provide additional natural habitat for fauna. A moratorium on the removal and/or disturbance of any indigenous flora or fauna has been declared, and all staff have been educated as to the reasons for this. Disused telephone poles have been erected at strategic points for use by raptors. There is an ongoing indigenous tree-planting programme on the property. No yearly fertilizers have been added for the past ten years. Instead, annual leaf and soil analyses determine maintenance nutrition for the vines and, should it be necessary, nitrogen is only added locally in the form of organics like chicken manure. Nitrogen-fixing cover crops are also used. |
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Our refuse management strategy in 2001 changed from traditional burning and/or burying, to contracting the removal of refuse by an outside party. The large rubbish dump was covered over and will in time be rehabilitated.
Weed spraying is only carried out on wind-still days and only in a covered unit. Hartenberg does not follow the traditional fixed and preventative fungal spray timetable. Instead, three strategically placed weather stations on the farm record conditions conducive to mildew infection. If an impending threat is noted, an SMS is sent to the viticulturist alerting him. With the guesswork taken out of spraying, not only have we managed to reduce our spray bill by 50%, but far less chemical is now applied to the environment. Possible Future Initiatives• Erection of bird hides. • Incorporate our wetland into the Bottelary conservation area. • Scientific surveys to record amphibian, bird and plant statuses and diversity. • Re-establishment of fynbos in suitable vacant sites. • Investigate use of fynbos as a possible permanent cover crop. • Removal of Kikuyu grass areas in a specific portion of the wetland. |
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Our picnic area is large and green, and yours to enjoy.
Spotted Eagle Owl chicks are becoming a more and more common sight on the farm.
While harvesting our Cabernet, we found an incredibly rare Arum Lily Frog. Not much of its wetland habitat remains.
Even when you're drinking a bottle of our red, you can be sure the wine in your hand is very very green.
We also cultivate a family environment!
Nature walks along the wetland area.
TRADING
HOURS
MON-SUN From 1 Dec - Easter 2009 MON-FRI 09h00-17h15 SAT & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 09h00-15h00 SUN (DEC & EASTER) 10h00-15h30 LUNCH 12h00 - 14h00 CELLAR TOURS By appointment only CLOSED Christmas Day New Year's Day Good Friday RESERVATIONS 021 - 865 2541 cellardoor @hartenbergestate.com |
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