Swallow, Sip, Save: Green Theme

Friday, 15 November, 2013
Shante Hutton - wine.co.za
Want to go green and earth-friendly but are not sure which wines fall under that category? We did a little research to help you on your drinking way.
It has never been easier to support those South African wineries that are tirelessly working to create masterful wines without damaging the environment.

From gravity cellars to using ducks to keep away the snails, even the smallest change for nature can have a big impact on the future.

So support green and drink more!

Swallow:

Tangled Tree by Van Loveren
They currently have 5 wines in this 'earth friendly' range and all of them are packaged in PET bottles and the labels are printed on tree-free paper meaning that they are entirely recyclable.
"Tangled Tree wines are Van Loveren Family Vineyards' tribute to our close relationship with nature. In keeping with this philosophy we chose packaging that is as environmentally friendly as possible."
Expect light and friendly wines which, and I think it's pretty awesome, have pairing options on the back of the labels.

Tread Lightly by Backsberg
Backsberg were the first carbon-neutral wine estate in SA.
Guillaume Nel, Backsberg's winemaker said of their PET bottles, "This product is something we believe in," says Mr Nel. "We're putting a Merlot and a Sauvignon Blanc into the PET bottles, which will be the same wines we've been putting into glass."
These wines are perfect for taking on a picnic with no chances of accidental breakages.
Read the full "Plastic' bottles for wine are 'not inferior'" press release here
They recently won the title of Best Value wine for their Backsberg Tread Lightly Chenin Blanc 2012 (in the category of Best Biodiversity and Wine Initiative Wines) at the Nedbank Green Awards. Read the article here.

Sip:

Fleur du Cap's Unfiltered range.
These are wines made with minimal human interference, offering only the best of the vines and soil.
Being made in this way results in wines with abundant flavours unique to each varietal and the rich biodiversity of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Expect something a little different but once you go unfiltered, you never go back.
Shop their range here

Save:

Reyneke
They offer biodynamic and organic wines and their vineyards are herbicide, pesticide and fungicide free. Just like any organic vineyard should be.

Johan Reyneke is the master behind the wines and is one of the pioneers of Biodynamic farming in the wine industry.

You won’t find commercially cultivated yeast or bacteria, acid adjustments or fermentation aids and so on in their cellar. Only natural solutions to natural challenges.

It would take me forever to describe their entire wine range and I couldn't do them justice. Fantastic wines from a winery that has stand-apart ethos.
See their wine range here