Bouwland Estate
| Country: South Africa - Stellenbosch |
| Website: |
| About: This newer Stellenbosch, South Africa winery is part of an exciting worker empowerment project overseen by one of South Africa’s most celebrated winemakers, Beyers Truter, of Kanonkop and Beyerskloof fame. A total of R9 666 328.00 (almost CA$2 million) has been invested in Bouwland Estate to carry out the biggest agricultural empowerment venture yet in the Cape’s wine industry. Most of the 60 beneficiaries are still employed at the wine farms Beyerskloof, Bouwland and Kanonkop, and therefore the Bouwland Deelnemingstrust is an additional asset to their current jobs. The inspiration behind the project is to create true agricultural and economic empowerment for future generations of the community who has been part of the Cape’s wine culture since the first vineyard was planted by Jan van Riebeeck in 1659. The driving forces behind it are South Africa’s internationally renowned wine maker, Beyers Truter, and Jan Hendriks, founder of the Stellenbosch Farm Workers Association (which led to the SA Farm Workers Association). Beyers Truter is co-owner of Beyerskloof and cellar master of Kanonkop Estate, where Jan Hendriks has been working as farm supervisor for more than 10 years. Beyers and Jan are the directors of the new Bouwland Estate and together with the nominated trustees will run the management of this vineyard farm. “Many of the trustees are people who literally grew up on prime wine farms and are specialists in vineyard cultivation. They have been working in the vineyards all their lives and now are an integral part of creating superior vineyards, wine and a future for their children as co-owners of a wine enterprise,” says Beyers. “Besides the aspect of being co-owners of an established 56 hectares vineyard farm in a prime wine region, the trustees will also benefit from the fact that Bouwland is a well-established brand in Holland, Belgium, England and Denmark. Our aim is to increase our production to at least 225 000 litres of wine per annum within the next five years.” “When the story of South Africa’s successful transformation is told, initiatives such as these will be the milestones. They show the way towards a better South Africa, where people live together as prosperous, good neighbours,” said Venete Klein, General Manager of Absa Agribusiness, the project’s bankers. Absa is the leading bank in agricultural empowerment. The Bouwland wines This empowerment transaction was celebrated on the estate with the Minister of Agriculture, Tourism and Gambling, Mr Johan Gelderblom, and at the same time the Bouwland Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot red blend (which up till now has been marketed abroad) and Bouwland Chenin Blanc were also launched in the South African market. The next wine to be added to the Bouwland range is the flagship wine, a so-called Cape Blend in which South Africa’s home-grown Pinotage wine variety will be a major component. Red wine varieties currently cultivated at Bouwland are Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, while Cabernet Franc and Shiraz will also be planted in the near future. The Bouwland wines are made at the Koelenhof wine cellar from grapes cultivated at Bouwland and sourced in the surrounding areas. Beyers Truter is the winemaker and he has two talented trustees at his right hand to unhurriedly and meticulously be taught all the fine skills of making absolute top quality wines. |
| Special Notes: see article: Bouwland Shows the Way |