Western Cape: Five new farms in the Cape Winelands awarded Conservation Champion status!

WWF South Africa has announced that five new farms in the Cape Winelands in South Africa's Western Cape have been awarded Conservation Champion status in the past six months. Conservation Champion farms are committed to regenerative farming practices, including conserving natural systems and biodiversity on their land and optimal water and energy efficiency.  

The five farms to have joined the programme are: 

• Anthonij Rupert Wyne (Franschhoek)
• Journey’s End Vineyards (Somerset West)
• Mooiplaas (Stellenbosch)
• Nederburg Wines (Paarl)
• Tierhoek (Robertson)

WWF South Africa supports Conservation Champion farms in their environmental efforts by co-developing detailed environmental management plans, setting tangible targets and helping them to prioritise actions to address their most pressing envionmental risks. In exchange for their commitment to nature and adhering to WWF's high standards, the Conservation Champions can use the distinctive sugarbird and protea logo on their wine bottles so consumers can make an informed choice to support our environmental wine leaders.

WWF South Africa's Conservation Champion programme was initiated in 2004 and was originally called the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI). A total of 45 Conservation Champion farms are currently part of the the programme.

The basics of wine in South Africa (video)

South Africa's winelands, the oldest in the so-called new world, are among the most popular tourist destinations in the whole country. The heart of the winelands in South Africa is the Western Cape, particularly the southwest corner of the province near its coastal region. The area, known for towns like Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek, with its long, sun-drenched summers and mild, wet winters, has ideal conditions for a wine industry combining the classicism of the Old World with the contemporary fruit-driven styles of the New World. But it is not only the climate of the winelands, it is also the soil and the unique geography which includes several inland mountain chains and valleys, that is making South African wine so outstandingly good and popular worldwide.
Travellers who are planning to visit the winelands and its historic towns will find the following videos, produced by South African Tourism, quite helpful and interesting as they provide a very good introduction to the wines of South Africa. Enjoy!

Eat Out names South Africa's best restaurants 2012

South Africa's leading restaurant guide, Eat Out, has named the winners of the 2012 Eat Out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards. According to this year's awards, the Western Cape is South Africa's foodie paradise with 8 out of the top 10 restaurants being based in Cape Town and the Winelands. Bon appetit!

The Top 10 restaurants:

1. The Test Kitchen (Cape Town)
2. The Tasting Room (Franschhoek)
3. Jordan Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
4. Overture (Stellenbosch)
5. Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)
6. DW Eleven-13 (Johannesburg)
7. La Colombe (Cape Town)
8. The Greenhouse (Cape Town)
9. Terroir (Stellenbosch)
10. Hartford House (Mooi River)

Restaurant of the Year

• The Test Kitchen (Cape Town)

Best Bistro

• 9th Avenue Bistro (Durban)

Best Steakhouse

• Carne SA (Cape Town)

Best Country-style Restaurant

• Fresh at Paul Cluver Wine Estate (Elgin)

Best Asian Restaurant

• Saigon (Gardens, Cape Town)

Best Italian restaurant

• Café del Sol (Johannesburg)

Chef of the Year

• Margot Janse of The Tasting Room (Franschhoek)

Service Excellence Award

• Rust en Vrede (Stellenbosch)

The Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award brought to you by Paarl Media

• Alicia Wilkinson of Silwood School of Cookery (Cape Town)