Slow walk through the Winelands 4 October 2006

Angela Lloyd takes a walk along the world's first Biodiversity Wine Route and does some tasting along the way.

`Wosa's focus is to build eco-tourism in the winelands' announced an up-beat Su Birch, CEO of the generic marketing board, at the recent `Changing Environments' seminar. 

This is one of three objectives forming the latest developments in the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative, a collaboration between the wine industry and conservation bodies. The other complementary missions are `To create awareness of our wines amongst nature lovers from all over the world' and `To authenticate the "Variety is in our Nature" message'.  

Posters with pictures of pretty, indigenous flora in the London underground (linking the idea of wine and biodiversity) and the launch of a new, interactive website are great in theory but for that eureka moment, it all comes down to a practical experience.  

It was, appropriately enough, Wosa Chairman and Elgin wine farm owner, Dr Paul Cluver's idea to combine a `Slow Walk',  through some glorious indigenous vegetation on the Groenland Mountain, with wine tasting and lunch. This area, known as the Green Mountain Eco-Route, has recently been proclaimed the first Biodiversity Wine Route.  

The advertised pace of the walk has more to do with Slowine (whose emblem is, appropriately, a tortoise), a joint project between wine producers from around the Groenland Mountain,  than the brisk gait at which the lanky doctor leads us! [That's him in the photo showing one of our group the fairly rare cream-coloured everlasting flower] Slowine, inspired by the Slow Food movement (emblem, a snail), recognises, as both emblems suggest, that fast isn't always better.   

We start the morning at the Cluver's farm with a tasting of their wines; some walkers are more inclined to spit than others! Probably just as well the bacon and eggs that Liesl Cluver says make the perfect partner with their gewürztraminer are not available.  

The first part of the walk passes through a multitude of proteas, restios and many other species (Paul Cluver always at hand to identify anything we do or don't see) but, after we've left the Clu

ver's farm, barely a vine in sight. Two and a half hours later - and not a moment too soon -  Wildekrans Country House appears below us. Al fresco lunch is accompanied by a taste of the Slowine wines, all sensibly closed with screwcaps. The pinot noir rosé made by the Cluvers and chenin blanc from Villiersdorp Co-op are both delightful - fresh and with welcomingly moderate alcohol. The other wines, made by Beaumont and Luddite, are red and more conducive to evening sipping, when one doesn't have a further hour and a half on the road. 

Very fortunately, this was, literally, all downhill through the old pass to Bot River. Above us, cars roared along the new pass, the dual carriageway of the N2; little did their occupants know of the slow route below them! The dramatic vista of the Caledon wheatfields, framed by the steep slopes either side of the track, heralded our entry to Bot River and the Beaumont's characterful, old wine farm. After some restorative non-alcoholic sustenance, Jayne Beaumont ensured we ended the day as we started, with a wine tasting. 

Paul Cluver's innovative initiative might promote Wosa's objective but more importantly it is another instance of a group of people working together for their common benefit. (The idea is to eventually incorporate members of the Bot River squatter camp in the event.) 

It's a wonderful, reviving day out, living life as it should be lived - slowly and with appreciation for all the beautiful Cape has to offer. 

A further two walks are planned for October; for details contact the Paul Cluver office, email receptionist@cluver.com or phone 021 844 0605. 

Slowine - www.slowine.co.za ;
Wildekrans Country House - www.wildekrans.co.za;
Beaumont - www.beaumont.co.za;
Wosa - www.varietyisinournature.com 

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