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Conservation

Conservation is very important to us at Hidden Valley Wines, and we live the philosophy of “Working with nature”.

WORKING WITH NATURE

WWF Conservation Champion Program

Hidden Valley Wines are farmed in accordance with ecologically sensitive farming practices. This entails careful consideration as to how we prepare the soils, nurture the vines and conserve non-agricultural lands.

This considerate approach is part of the core philosophy of working with nature, where we produce wines sustainably and responsibly.

Hidden Valley Wines is currently 1 of 40 WWF Conservation Champions-acknowledged as an environmental leader in the industry for our commitment to conservation, responsible production practices, integrated environmental management systems and spearheading innovations in water, energy efficiency and climate adaptation.

wwf.org.za/conservationchampions for more information.

 


Gardens

Sustainable agriculture is the approach both in and outside the cellar.

The gardens on the Hidden Valley Wines farm have been created with care and sensitivity for the environment. The indigenous wild olive forests in the valley inspired the creation of an indigenous and environmentally sensitive landscape. Visit us to take a walk through our beautiful gardens and nature trail.


Recycling and Our Worm Farm

Recycling has become a mantra at Hidden Valley Wines. It is important to us to ensure that we reduce waste by recycling everything possible on the farm.

  • Our paper, plastic and glass waste is recycled
  • Our water is recycled after use, which includes a bio-plant and a special reed bed recycling system through which all effluent water is treated prior to going back in the valley.
  • We chip all alien vegetation cleared from the valley, as well as vine and olive cuttings.
  • The used grape skins and stems are integral to making compost, which is recycled into the olive orchards, gardens and vineyards.
  • All green vegetable offcuts from Overture Restaurant are fed daily to the willing earthworms which in turn convert the waste to liquid which is added to the garden irrigation water to promote healthy plants. The black excretion produced by our worms adds a further nutrient to our compost for use in the endemic gardens.

Invasive and Alien Plants

Invasive Plants ImageIn a conservation initiative undertaken by Hidden Valley Wines, with Nomzame Ngame and her team, who originally worked for the NGO Working for Water, we continuously remove all exotic and alien plants.

The fauna and flora of the environment are treated with respect  – the birdlife is now abundant and small animals roam freely in the valley once more.

All the plants are indigenous and most are endemic to the area.


Dam Conservation

Specific fresh water fish were introduced into the dam:

  • Tilapia – (sushi for the dykers and cormorants),
  • Grass Carp – (to contain water grass growth) and
  • Trout

These fish also serve as water quality monitors in the dam that contains recycled water after being treated in our bio plant.