News | October 2021

First WWF Conservation Pioneer Award

It was a true honour for De Wetshof to recently be announced as the first recipient of the WWF Conservation Pioneer Award, an accolade that is a part of the prestigious Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism and Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards.

Johann de Wet, CEO of De Wetshof and Christiaan Matthys, farm manager, with the WWF Conservation Pioneer award

Sponsored by the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF), the Conservation Pioneer Award intends to emphasise the critical role of eco- and social sustainability in the development and execution of a new generation of relevant and appealing competitive travel offerings.
According to Shelly Fuller, WWF South Africa's sustainable programme manager for fruit and wine, De Wetshof is a truly worthy recipient of the first WWF Conservation Pioneer Award.
“De Wetshof lies in the magnificent Robertson Valley dissected by the Breede River and home to numerous indigenous species of flora and fauna,” says Fuller. “The ethos of the De Wet family, who have been farming here for over 70 years, has ensured that conserving this natural paradise receives as much attention as De Wetshof’s world-renowned wine-farming activities. 

Wild vygie flowers growing between the vines

“The farm was one of the first Cape wine farms to in 2005 be officially recognised for these conservation efforts when the former Biodiversity and Wine Initiative was launched. Since the WWF’s involvement in recognising and collaborating with conservation-minded wine farms through WWF Conservation Champions programme, De Wetshof has been an exemplary Conservation Champion and is continuously finding ways to improve its profile as a pioneering wine farm in terms of conservation and sustainability.”

Johann de Wet, CEO of De Wetshof, says receiving this award is recognition for the values of conservation and sustainability that runs through all De Wetshof’s operations.
“Having grown-up on De Wetshof, myself and my brother Peter have an ingrained respect for and love of our unique natural surroundings – something we inherited from our grand-parents and parents who pioneered wine farming here,” says Johann. “To us, conserving the environment comes naturally and all our viticulture and wine-making endeavours are undertaken through environmentally responsible practices.”

Michelangelo and Other Wine Awards

On the wine competition front, De Wetshof put in an exceptional performance in this year’s Michelangelo International Awards, winning two Double Gold medals and four Golds. The Double Gold accolades went to De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2018 as well as to the perennial award-winning Limestone Hill Chardonnay, this from the 2021 vintage. The Gold winners were Lilya Rosé 2021, The Site Chardonnay 2018, Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2021 and Cabernet Sauvignon 2020.

This being the competition season, De Wetshof also sparkled at other shows. On the international front, the Mundus Vini Summer Tasting in Germany saw Gold medals awarded to De Wetshof The Site Chardonnay 2018 and the Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2021.

Other awards:

• National Wine & Spirit Competition: Limestone Hill 2020 - Double Gold
• The Merit Wine & Spirit Challenge : Limestone Hill 2021 - Gold
• Gold Wine Awards: Limestone Hill 2021 - Gold
• Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards: Limestone Hill 2021 - Robertson District Winner  

For us, wine-shows and competitions are important for two reasons. First, they allow us to place our wines alongside those made by our peers to gauge the quality proposition offered by De Wetshof. By annually exposing ourselves to this peer review, De Wetshof can gain insights as to how our wines are seen by neutral, objective judges allowing us to ensure that our quality-levels meet the exacting demands of these judges.

Secondly, wine competitions are keenly followed by wine consumers, arguably the most important segment in the wine value chain. Everybody loves a winner, and by achieving commendable results, high scores and the right medals, the consumer can be assured that the contents of the bottle have met standards set by renowned judges. This stamp of approval, therefore, leads to sales and assists in ensuring the reputation of our brand remains where it deserves to be, which is at the high levels of quality we strive for. Each and every day.

Wine Walks through the Valley

Visitors to the Robertson Wine Valley will possibly have been exposed to the sight of sportily clad people of all ages walking through the vineyards, stopping-off at a few cellars for a rest and a bit of sustenance before heading further. These organised Wine Walks are proving extremely popular, allowing participants to get out into the pristine natural environment of our majestic wine-lands as well as to experience the hospitality at various famous wineries found en route. 

Walkers heading down the De Wetshof entrance road and then stopping off for a wine-tasting under the trees, ready for the next stage of the walk

Three different walks are available, each route being a three-day excursion through the rolling hills and beautiful vineyards of the region. These walks incorporate daily distances of between 14 and 16 kilometres, and walkers stop at half-a-dozen of the region’s prominent wine estates – including De Wetshof – and there are also some surprises along the way, surprises of the non-wine-related kind.

Each of the three different walks begin at Excelsior Manor and follow three diverse routes. For bookings and more details, contact Heinrich at frontdesk@dewetshof.com.

Wine Library Opens Door to Vinous Rarities

De Wetshof’s exclusive Wine Library is now open for visitors wishing to step into the world of premium De Wetshof vintages in a unique environment. Here rare wines can be tasted and ordered for purchase in a quiet, private space ideal for the serious wine lover.

A glorious wooden counter and a formidable antique sideboard off-sets wine fridges where these rare De Wetshof wines are stored at optimal temperature.

The expansive collection of wines held in the Wine Library has been built-up by several generations of the De Wet family. Johann de Wet did the personal selection of the rarities on offer, ensuring that the wines are in prime condition and waiting to offer wine-lovers a glimpse into the beauty of aged wines.

A Wine Library tasting, guided by one of our in-house experts, affords a unique opportunity. For a list of wines found in this space, go to: The Wine Library - De Wetshof Estate. And to book a private tasting contact Heinrich Bothman: frontdesk@dewetshof.com. An experienced not to be missed.

With the skies opening-up for international visitors, we are anticipating local and foreign tourists to flock to our valley over the holiday season. As always, we at De Wetshof look forward to welcoming you with a glass of Chardonnay and a slice of Robertson hospitality.