Year-long wine sales fundraiser materialises in joyous hand-over this week
African conservation efforts were given a small boost this week thanks to eco-conscious Stellenbosch wine estate Eikendal as well as its customers who purchased Eikendal Pinotage 2015 over the past year. Highlighting the winery’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, Eikendal committed a portion of sales from the wine that was handed over to the internationally renowned Peace Parks Foundation this week.
Cellar Master, Nico Grobler, proudly displays the 2015 Eikendal Pinotage. Since May 2016, 5% of all tasting room sales of this acclaimed vintage has been committed to Peace Parks Foundation.
Since the launch of the campaign in May last year, funds were raised for this worthy cause by committing 5% of every bottle of Pinotage sold at the Eikendal tasting centre, in addition to a generous donation by the estate’s proud owners, the Saager Family, which brought the total contribution to R173 000.
The donation was presented to Peace Parks Foundation last night (14 March 2017) during the Foundation’s Legacy Society function hosted at Eikendal by Chairman of the Society and owner of the wine estate, Mr Hansjürg Saager.
“As Eikendal wines is a product given to us by nature, we as a company have a responsibility to protect it and to play our part in ensuring future generations have access to the wonders of nature too,” says Eikendal cellar master Nico Grobler. “With this in mind Eikendal partnered with Peace Parks Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has done immense work in helping to preserve and protect southern Africa’s natural heritage. Eikendal is proud to be able to contribute to this effort.
“Furthermore, we look forward to building our partnership with the Foundation and being part of this great initiative.”
Peace Parks Foundation CEO Werner Myburgh expressed his gratitude at the generous donation from Eikendal. “Peace Parks Foundation wishes to thank Eikendal and the Saager family, not only for this contribution towards transfrontier conservation, but also for the loyal support they have shown the Foundation since its inception 20 years ago.
“We are proud to be associated with a business that shows true commitment to giving back through its various Corporate Social Investment initiatives.”
Pinotage, a uniquely South African grape varietal, has a natural fit with Peace Parks Foundation, which facilitates the establishment of southern Africa’s transfrontier conservation areas and develops human resources, thereby supporting sustainable economic development, the conservation of biodiversity and regional peace and stability.
While 2015 is widely regarded in the industry as one of the top vintages in recent years, Eikendal Estate’s Pinotage 2015 itself comes from a lineage of excellence most recently highlighted by its forerunner’s champion performance at the National Wine Challenge (NWC) and inclusion in the list of SA’s top 100 wines.
Eikendal Pinotage 2014 received Double Platinum at the authoritative NWC, which incorporates the Top 100 SA Wines.
The estate’s reputation for excellence has much to do with its location in a part of the Stellenbosch wine growing region that is renowned for producing red wine champions in particular. As such, it benefits from ideal climate, soils and aspects. The property lies only some eight kilometres from the ocean and among the foothills of the Helderberg, which provides optimal conditions for the slow, steady ripening of fruit. All this is reflected in the wine through the winemaking team’s preference for minimal intervention.
Since establishment of the cellar in 1981 and subsequent modernising of the vineyards, Eikendal Estate has become well-known for producing a range of consistently excellent wines. These include reds, such as the Classique flagship blend; whites, like the award-winning Chardonnay; rosé and an MCC. In addition, Eikendal Estate has steadily built a reputation as being a popular, child-friendly destination for amongst others dining, fly-fishing and vineyard walks. The estate is also a supporter of the Pebbles Project for children with special needs.
