“Ons moet ons aktiwiteite in die wingerd en die kelder bestuur volgens die beste praktyke beskikbaar om sodoende ons impak op die omgewing te verminder”.

Só het Rooiberg se Direksie ‘n jaar of twee gelede besluit.

Ses doelwitte is gestel om respek vir die omgewing ‘n belangrike deel van die Rooiberg - kultuur te maak:

Lidmaatskap van die BWI (Biodiversiteit- en Wyn Inisiatief) : dit is in November 2005 verwerf

Die saamstel van ‘n Bewaringswerkgroep : hierdie span is al sedert Junie verlede jaar aktief aan die werk

Onderhandel met grondeienaars van Goreeshoogte tot by Nuy om die wenslikheid van ‘n Bewarea te ondersoek : Die Rooiberg-Breederivier Bewarea word op 17 Februarie formeel geloods

Die daarstel van ‘n afvalwater - projek by die kelder : dit is reeds in werking

Bydra tot die beskerming van die habitat van bedreigde diere : sien die artikel hieronder oor die African Dawn wynreeks

Betrek die jeug by bewaring : lees die berig verder aan oor die opwindende projek vir leerders deur Rooiberg en CapeNature

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...
Introduction	1
Nuwe webwerf	1
African Dawn & Big 5	1
SAIAB...?	2
Biodiversiteit uitstalling	2
Nuwe plantspesies ontdek	2
Bergklub van SA bestyg Rooiberg	3
Rooiberg & Cape Nature	3
What can I do on my farm?	3

Na etlike vergaderings oor die afgelope paar maande word die ideaal van ‘n Bewarea vir die Groter Rooiberg gebied op 17 Februarie ‘n werklikheid. Rooiberg Kelder het saam met ons buurman, Graham Beck Wines en hul energieke Mossie Basson, gewerk om dinge aan die gang te kry.

In die volgende uitgawe van die Nuusbrief vertel ons meer oor hoe wyd die bewarea - gebied gaan strek, wat ‘n bewarea vir almal beteken en watter projekte aangepak gaan word.

Besoek ons nuwe webwerf

Biodiversiteit het binne ‘n baie kort tydsbestek ‘n sleutelwoord in die wynbedryf geword.

Gaan kyk gerus na http://www.biodiversity-wine.co.za/ en vind uit hoe Rooiberg Kelder daarmee woel!

African Dawn and Rooiberg help protect the environment

The Dutch wine company, African Dawn, and Rooiberg Winery have teamed up – with the blessing of the World Wildlife Fund - to launch an awareness-raising initiative that will also generate substantial funding for the preservation of wlldlife habitat.

Rooiberg Winery has already made their passion for conservation very clear. The winery has enthusiastically met all the requirements for membership of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI)..

Rooiberg is situated in the picturesque Breede River Valley which is surrounded by soaring mountains and is home to a unique meeting place of three very different plant kingdoms: Succulent Karoo, Renosterveld and Fynbos. This is an area of complex biodiversity, a rich reservoir of plant and animal life. Many species found here often occur within a single square kilometre only.

With this background of conservation-consciousness, Rooiberg was a logical partner for African Dawn in the thrust to help build a future where people and nature can exist in harmony. The sanction of the WWF for the enterprise was the final and crucial stamp of approval. This is one of the best-known and most highly trusted brands in the world.

The very distinctive panda logo of the organisation on each bottle is the guarantee that a portion of the purchase price will go towards safeguarding our natural habitat.

It is a unique feature that does not appear on any other wine range in the world.

The range of wines comprises four smooth-drinking reds (Shiraz, Cabernet sauvignon, Pinotage and a blended Cape Red) and three tantalising white wines (Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cape White – Colombar).

African Dawn wines have already met the stringent licensing requirements of the WWF

which varies according to specific countries. The agreement is already in place in Holland,

Belgium, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Negotiations are proceeding to extend the WWF license to Germany and the U.S.A.

SAIAB …???

SAIAB (SA Instituut vir Akwatiese Biodiversiteit) is die nuwe naam vir die vorige JLB Smith Instituut vir Visnavorsing in Grahamstad.

Rooiberg Kelder het ‘n ooreenkoms met die Instituut om hulle by te staan met navorsing oor varswatervisse in hierdie omgewing. Rooiberg verskaf ook al die wyn vir die amptelike opening op 23 Maart van SAIAB se nuwe gebou van etlike miljoene rand waar die spesies - versameling gehuisves sal word.

Verder word ‘n wynreeks beoog wat bekende vissoorte soos die Selekant en die Rooivlerkie van ons kontrei sal uitbeeld.

Biodiversiteit uitstalling

– wie kan help?

Binnekort gaan daar in die proelokaal by Rooiberg ‘n uitstalling open wat besoekers ‘n smakie sal gee van die ongelooflike diversiteit van flora en fauna in ons kontrei.

Dit sal baie op prys gestel word indien u dalk items het wat u goedgunstiglik vir ‘n kort tydperk vir hierdie uitstalling kan leen. Ons dink aan enigiets wat besoekers nader aan die natuur kan bring!

Kontak asseblief vir Johan van Zijl by (023) 6251 593 as u kan help. Baie dankie!

Bergklub van SA bestyg Rooiberg

In November het die Bergklub van SA ‘n draai by Rooiberg Kelder kom maak voor hulle die berg met dieselfde naam aangedurf het. Hulle het elkeen ‘n inligtingstuk oor Rooiberg Kelder se bewaringsinslag gekry en ‘n muskadelletjie om die uitstappie aan die einde van die dag mee af te sluit.

Later vanjaar kom die Bergklub weer en hulle nooi alle Rooiberg lede om saam met hulle tot bo-op die kruin te stap. Wié gaan almal saam? Hou hier dop vir meer besonderhede!

Rooiberg & CapeNature join hands to introduce youngsters to conservation

The day was Friday the thirteenth of October.

The place: Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve near Robertson.

And the event? A joint venture between Rooiberg Winery and Cape Nature to introduce young people to the wonders of nature and the magic of biodiversity.

Some 30 kids from Vinkrivier Primary School, next to Rooiberg Winery, travelled to the reserve in the giant CapeNature truck.

On arrival, after some refreshments, they had a brief talk on how and why one should respect nature.

Cape Nature's Piet van Zyl and young conservationists

Following a visit to the Information Centre at the entrance to the reserve, they embarked on their adventure into the veld along the Heron Trail.

Groups of about six learners each walked (no running allowed!) under the care of the experienced game guards.

Every child had a worksheet and they had to learn to be observant in order to respond to all the questions.

A visit to the bird hides concluded the walk and a light lunch ended the day.

The teachers loved this pilot project and the goal of Rooiberg Winery now is to extend the project to other rural schools as part of their commitment to the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative.

What can I do on my farm?

Good land and waste management practices can encourage an increase in biodiversity elements.

Here are ten activities that all Rooiberg Winery landowners are now encouraged to follow:

Have a conservation management plan for the farm

Assist with environmental education activities for farm workers

Plant indigenous species for cover crops, windbreaks, at the end of vineyard rows and in the gardens

Use innovative ‘animal-friendly’ methods to deter problem animals such as ‘badger-friendly’

beehives and electric fencing for buck and baboons

Commitment to the creation of green linkages (corridors), e.g. widening of buffer zones along rivers, or around wetlands through habitat restoration with indigenous vegetation of stream banks and river corridors

During vineyard layout and especially with replanting of existing vineyards, allow for buffers and corridors

Vineyard water management: All water uses such as dams and boreholes should be registered and accurately monitored. Water consumption can be reduced through practices such as drip irrigation and soil moisture measurements

Re-establish indigenous habitat patches on unfarmed areas such as road verges, around dams, disused vineyards as well as re-establishment of aquatic habitat for fish and water birds

Reduce solid waste by recycling of the following materials: glass, paper, metal, plastic, cardboard, natural cork. Recycling containers to be placed on farms

Rehabilitate erosion scars and dongas

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