Until the second half of the 20th century, when artificial fertilizers, pesticides and growth hormones came into use, we all ate organic. In fact, organic is still the traditional method of farming employed in many non-industrialized countries. According to a recent study1, 30% of the world's organic agriculture is in Africa. But, it's not all bananas, chocolate and coffee.
"When most people think 'organically grown', they are thinking about food, but here at Papkuilsfontein Vineyards, we're thinking Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon!" said winemaker Samuel Viljoen. The vineyards in the West Coast Darling district produce the Earthbound range of 100% organic wines, which also happen to be Fairtrade certified.
Conventionally grown grapes are sprayed with up to 15 different pesticides, exposing both consumers and farm workers to harmful chemicals. Organic farming uses traditional methods, but: “One thing organic definitely isn't, is ‘Mother Nature farming’,” declares Viljoen, who is a 40-year-veteran of the wine industry. “You still need to offer guidance - it's certainly not a dream world that grapes fall by themselves; it takes labour to get the vine to produce what it needs to produce."
And out-of-the-box thinking too. Papkuilsfontein actively looks for alternative ways to address potential harm to the vineyards. It has installed owl boxes to help control rodents, which can cause substantial damage to young vines in particular. A specialised weeding machine that utilises steam to eradicate weeds eliminates the need for harmful herbicides.
Organic wines are growing in popularity, and are now widely stocked by retailers nationwide, from large retail chains to smaller purveyors. Restaurants are also responding to customer requests for more organic, both on the menu and the wine list.
"When it comes to the food and beverage industry, South African consumers are increasingly looking for natural and organic products," says Cara Birkett, Col'Cacchio Pizzeria Marketing Manager. "We’re proud to stock Earthbound Wines on our restaurant menu and be able to offer our customers the choice of enjoying both a good quality and earth-friendly wine. A lot of merit goes to Earthbound Wines for its commitment to ecologically sustainable practices and producing wines that are truly earth-friendly."
As for the quality of organic wine: “It can stand alongside conventional wine," says Earthbound's Viljoen. "Our organic wines compete in all the major competitions; we compete in the mainstream contests and we have brought home medals. Organic isn't an excuse to make a poor wine – if a wine is not up to scratch, the consumer won’t buy a second bottle, irrespective of the message," he says.
How Can You Celebrate International Organic Day? #EarthboundOrganic
Have a meal out at one of these organic cafes:
Leafy Greens (Johannesburg) - http://www.leafygreens.co.za
Plant café (Cape Town) – http://www.theplantcafe.com/
La Boca (Port Elizabeth) - https://www.facebook.com/LaBocaPortElizabeth
Recipes paired with two of SA's only organic and Fairtrade wine - Earthbound
Lemony Zucchini carbonara with chilli paired with Earthbound’s Chenin Blanc
https://www.facebook.com/notes/earthbound-wines/lemony-zucchini-carbonara-with-chilli/761222907253132
Ostrich fillet kebabs (sosaties) with zucchini tzatziki paired with Earthbound’s Cabernet Sauvignon
https://www.facebook.com/notes/earthbound-wines/ostrich-fillet-kebabs-sosaties-with-zucchini-tzatziki/761221680586588
Stock up on organic produce and other products at these organic food markets and shops:
Markets:
The Bryanston Organic & Natural Market (Johannesburg) - http://www.bryanstonorganicmarket.co.za
I Heart Market (Durban) - http://iheartmarket.blogspot.com
OZCF Harvest and Market Days (Cape Town) - http://www.ozcf.co.za
Shops:
Terra Madra (Gauteng – online) - http://terramadresa.com
Dovehouse Organics farm shop (Howick) - http://www.dovehouse.co.za
Nurture your green thumb:
Attend an organic workshop at Soil for Life (Cape Town) - http://soilforlife.co.za/workshops
Pick up the book Jane’s Delicious Garden for organic gardening tips - http://www.janesdeliciousgarden.com/the_books
Pamper your body organically:
JuMe body products (sold nationally) - http://www.jume.co.za
Africology spa (Johannesburg) - http://www.africologyspa.com/spasenter.php
Stay at an organic B&B:
Rosedale Organic B&B (Eastern Cape, near Addo) - http://www.rosedalebnb.co.za
Samhitakasha Cob House (Muizenberg, Cape Town) - http://www.cobhouse.co.za
Follow these organic voices on Twitter:
@FoodWithAStory - Promoting artisanal and ethical food in South Africa, with a strong interest in food security and community resilience
@EcoDivaNicole - For all things Divalicious - Check out http://www.ecodiva.co.za for the latest eco & wellness tips, news and trends.
@ChangeAgentSA - Change Agent: Humanitarian, Climate Change &Environmental Activist, Entrepreneur. Tutu Fellow. Lead SA Executive & National Director of @missearth_sa
The full Earthbound range can be foraged from TOPS @ SPAR, Liquor City, CyberCellar.com and Darling Wine Shop, and Makro, Wellness Warehouse Cavendish and Kloof street, Pick n Pay and wine.co.za for between R45.00 (white) and R54.00 (red) RSP. Also available at Col Cacchio’s Restaurants.
#EarthboundOrganic. For more information about #Earthboundwines visit www.earthboundwines.co.za and join them on Facebook at EarthboundWines and Twitter @EarthboundWines.