The excitement is palpable in the fynbos sea air on the well-known wine farm Raka, between Caledon and Stanford, in the Western Cape, South Africa.
It is here that twenty members of Akkedisberg have just launched their first wine, Southern Treasures Pinotage 2021. Akkedisberg Boerdery, a company with a trust as shareholders and beneficiaries, was founded in 2013. They lease 16 hectares of land from Raka Wines, at a nominal amount with a 30-year agreement.
The brand name Southern Treasures refers to the people who made this empowerment project possible.
Led by their mentor Josef Dreyer and their two directors, Mariëtte Moos and Christel Moses, Akkedisberg’s proud group of men and women is now launching their first barrel-aged Southern Treasures Pinotage 2021, made from grapes from their own vineyards.
Generations close to the vineyard have worked together in these southern vineyards to create an excellent version of South Africa’s distinctive Pinotage cultivar. A wine that has aromas of ripe cherry, blackberry, plum and light hints of oak that promise excellent ageing potential. Conscious wine drinkers will be happy to hear that the environmental impact from packaging to the vineyard reflects care. In addition, sales of this wine support a better life for the families of Akkedisberg.
The Dreyers assisted Akkedisberg to apply to Vinpro in 2014 for a vineyard planting project as well as to invest capital in a fishing business. Their first vines were planted in 2015 – sangiovese, Pinotage, and malbec. At first, the grapes were sold to Raka, but by 2019, the members were keen to establish their own label.
INVEST IN A RARE TREASURE
Moses is excited now that their product is on the shelves where everyone can see it. “This wine is something a little different, a Pinotage, but not necessarily with the flavour profile that people are used to,” she explains. “Even people who don’t like Pinotage but taste it because I encourage them, say afterwards that I was right.”
Only a limited number of 5033 bottles of the Southern Treasure Pinotage 2021 have been released. It can be bought for R300 at Raka Wine Estate between Caledon and Stanford. “Southeast of Hermanus, just a ‘short’ distance from Stellenbosch,” as Piet Dreyer says tongue in cheek.
“Come and experience the northern-most point of the southern-most mountain range in Africa,” invites Josef Dreyer. “The Klein River is popularly known as the longest river in the world whose source and mouth are the closest to each other, a distance of 90 km of meandering, but only 3.3 km as the crow flies.”
For more information, send an email to info@southerntreasureswine.co.za or call +27(0)283410676.
ISSUED BY: YOLANDI DE WET PR
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