South Africa's Best Wine Tourism Awards: Hartenberg as a Conservation Leader

Awards in South African Wine Tourism

Wesgro, the official agency promoting tourism, trade, and investment for Cape Town and the Western Cape region, is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Best of Wine Tourism and Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards. As part of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, Wesgro acknowledges the remarkable achievements of wineries that drive innovation and excellence in the wine tourism sector.

With 26 years of tradition, the 2025 Best of Wine Tourism Awards represent the dynamic development of the global wine tourism industry. As the demand for authentic experiences among international tourists grows, wine tourism plays a significant role as a driver of economic growth. From vineyard tours and festivals to exclusive wine tastings, the industry showcases the best aspects of the rich wine heritage and culture of the region.

“Wine tourism is a cornerstone of the South African economy, attracting visitors from around the world to experience our vineyards, wineries, and wine traditions. It not only supports local businesses and communities but also solidifies our renowned reputation on the global stage. With 20 wine routes, the Western Cape region is one of the premier wine tourism regions worldwide,” expressed Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander.

The wine tourism sector is highly relevant to the South African economy: generating over R9.3 billion annually and, according to South Africa Wine 2022 data, creating more than 40,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly. Celebrating and acknowledging this sector, as well as enhancing its marketing strategies, are crucial to fostering further growth and innovation.

Stander emphasized the necessity to strengthen this industry: “Our wineries and wine tourism offerings are internationally recognized. These awards honor the thought leaders who continually raise the bar of excellence and ensure that we remain a fundamental destination for wine lovers.”

Winners of the 2025 Great Wine Capitals Best Of Wine Tourism Awards

Accommodations

• Winner: Delaire Graff
• Runner-up: Brookdale Estate

Culinary Experiences

• Winner: FABER at Avondale
• Runner-up: Rust en Vrede

Wine Tourism Services

• Winner: Creation Wines
• Runner-up: Ernie Els Wines

Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices

• Winner: Creation Wines
• Runner-up: Jordan Wine Estate

Architecture and Landscaping

• Winner: Babylonstoren
• Runner-up: Delaire Graff

Arts and Culture

• Winner: Spier Wine Farm
• Runner-up: Delaire Graff

Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences

• Winner: Vergelegen
• Runner-up: Constantia Wine Walk

2025 Wine Tourism Ambassador Award Winners

The Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards honor wineries that go beyond outstanding winemaking to emphasize their commitment to sustainability, innovation, and providing unique and authentic experiences for visitors.

The Wine Tourism Diversity Award

• Winner: Van Loveren

The Authentic South African Experience Award

• Winner: A.A. Badenhorst Kalmoesfontein
• Runner-up: Muratie Wine Estate

Conservation Pioneer Award

• Winner: Hartenberg Wine Estate

The comprehensive assessment process involved a panel of experts conducting undercover visits to ensure fair evaluations of the nominated wineries. The criteria for selecting winners included the quality of the wine selection, visitor experience, sustainability initiatives, and general excellence in wine tourism.

West Cape CEO Ivan Meyer stated, “The wine industry is essential to our economy, creating jobs and showcasing our exemplary wines. These awards highlight the creativity and dedication of our winemakers, many of whom set a standard for excellence and sustainability in wine tourism.”

The winners of the 2025 Best of Wine Tourism and Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards represent the innovation and commitment that drive the wine tourism industry to new heights, solidifying the Western Cape region as a leading player in international wine tourism.

Hartenberg and the Conservation Pioneer Award

The Conservation Pioneer Award, sponsored by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), recognizes wineries that go above and beyond to implement environmentally conscious farming methods while providing premier visitor experiences.

Located in the heart of the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, Hartenberg Wine Estate has long produced exceptional wines through environmentally conscious farming practices. The Mackenzie family, who has owned the estate since 1987, strives tirelessly to uphold the estate's legacy, aiming to “leave Hartenberg in a better state than we found it.”

Kobus Potgieter, Managing Director of Hartenberg, shared his appreciation for the recognition: “It is a tremendously rewarding feeling for the Hartenberg team to receive this honor, which acknowledges the collective commitment over many years to promote a healthier environment. I want to thank each member of our team for their dedication and careful stewardship that has allowed us to be pioneers in regenerative viticulture. This journey is worth every effort. As the saying goes, ‘We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.’”

One of the estate's flagship environmental projects is its 170-hectare estate, which includes a 65-hectare wetland. In 1995, Hartenberg embarked on an ambitious initiative to restore the wetland from invasive alien vegetation and re-establish fynbos gardens, creating ideal conditions for native flora and fauna. Today, the wetland has been rehabilitated and serves as a critical habitat for wildlife, housing over 85 species of birds, including Cape Francolins and the Blue Crane. The wetland also provides sanctuary for various species of animals such as antelope, porcupines, and caracals.

In 2023, Hartenberg was honored as a Conservation Champion by WWF for its ongoing environmental stewardship.

As early as 1997, cellar master Carl Schultz recognized climate change and global warming as pressing challenges for the wine industry in the Western Cape. “Climate change is a reality, and for the Western Cape in South Africa, this means rising temperatures, decreasing rainfall, and declining soil health. We had to plan early and adapt to ensure the longevity of our estate, our people, and our wines,” says Schultz.

Wastewater Recycling at Hartenberg

This foresight led Hartenberg to become the first winery in South Africa to recycle 100% of its wastewater. For over 20 years, the estate has operated a fully closed-loop water system that recycles all wastewater from the cellar, tasting room, restaurant, and residences. The cleaned water is used to irrigate the vineyards, with the 2 km-long reed bed playing a fundamental role in naturally filtering the water.

Biological Pest Control at Hartenberg

In 2006, the estate transitioned to biological pest control, replacing harmful chemical pesticides with natural predators such as ladybugs and native wasp species, Anagyrus and Perminutus, to combat pests like mealybugs that transmit the leaf roll virus. As a result, all vineyards younger than twenty years remain virus-free. Instead of chemical baits, resident owl populations naturally regulate rodent numbers. Recent innovations include using Indian Runner ducks to control snail and insect populations in the vineyards.

Soil health has become a priority for Hartenberg. Schultz, who has led winemaking at the estate for over three decades, emphasizes: “Our soil and terroir are our most valuable assets, and failing to improve them makes it increasingly challenging to run a successful farm. We do this not solely for marketing—though that is a beneficial side effect—but out of strategic ecological and business responsibility.”

Cover Cropping: An Advanced Terroir Science

In 2010, Hartenberg's esteemed winemaker Wilhelm Joubert began experimenting with various cover crops between vine rows to enhance soil health and fertility. By 2019, his approach evolved into a focus on carefully selected, perennial cover crops that boost both biodiversity and soil quality, while also serving as feed for the livestock on the estate. Since 2017, the estate has also been grazing cattle between the vines, a key principle of regenerative viticulture.

Hartenberg's herds of Ankole, Dexter, and Nguni cattle, along with recently introduced sheep, graze the cover crops between the vines, improving soil health through natural nutrient contributions from their dung, urine, and even saliva. To avert soil compaction, the cattle are rotated daily, grazing in a method known as high-density, controlled grazing: “By moving them more frequently, the grass grows back quicker and the plant species diversity increases. We began to see clover that we hadn’t planted and new grass sprouted below the vines. Dung beetles also suddenly appeared. Overall, nine different mushroom species emerged, five of which were edible,” explains Joubert.

Hartenberg is a pioneer in this innovative farming approach and has completed its baseline for Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) in October 2023, conducted by TruQuest, the South African Savory Hub. The EOV will be repeated after one year to verify improvements in soil health.

Guests visiting the Hartenberg Wine Estate can experience this commitment to conservation firsthand. Visitors are invited to enjoy wine tastings and leisurely lunches while taking in the breathtaking natural surroundings of the estate. For deeper insight, guests can join a regenerative vineyard tour that guides them through the vineyards and the restored wetland, offering direct views of the ongoing regeneration efforts.

At Hartenberg, exceptional wines are part of a larger experience—one in which nature, heritage, and conservation harmoniously intertwine to create an unforgettable encounter.