Lourensford Wines joins biodiversity initiative

Published: 29 October, 2008

Lourensford Wines has joined the group of just 13 South African wineries to be named a "champion producer" by the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI).

Lourensford Wines has joined the group of just 13 South African wineries to be named a "champion producer" by the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI).

The BWI Champion Programme recognises wine estates and wine farms that demonstrate an "exemplary" role with regard to their conservation practices for endangered fauna and flora within the Western Cape winelands.

The initiative claims to be the largest conservation project within the global wine industry.

Lourensford, in Somerset West, is one of seven producers named as champions this year.

BWI project coordinator Inge Kotze said: "Over the past five years, flagship South African estates have achieved the project's exemplary level of certification. These farms have taken extraordinary steps, including clearing vast areas of alien invasive plants, and allowing indigenous plant and animal species to return to these tracts of land.

"All farms have avoided any further planting of vines in any remaining threatened natural areas, despite the soils of these areas being renowned for their 'terroir', indicating superior viticulture potential."

Anton du Toit, CEO of Lourensford Wines, said: "Our aim is to clear approximately 75% of a total of 1,200 hectares of alien vegetation within the next five years. Each year a follow up is done on the areas that were cleaned, until the field is restored to its original natural status."

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