Stellar launches its eco-fair brand promise

The Stellar Winery eco-fair brand promise is a guarantee to consumers that our products are made from organically-grown grapes, ethically produced and fairly traded.

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The Barrel & Brew Festival

The Barrel & Brew Festival is happening at the Blue Bird Garage in Muizenberg 10-11 September and Stellar wines will feature! Details of the event on www.facebook.com/bluebirdgaragefoodandgoodsmarket.

Stellar Winery announces move to fair trade certifiers Fair for Life

In the seven years since Stellar Winery became a fair trade producer, the number of farms supplying the winery with fair trade grapes has expanded from five to fourteen. In order to manage adherence to the standards of fair trade and social responsibility in the expanded structure, the Stellar Winery Multi-Estate, following a detailed review, is to move from the FLO Fairtrade system to Fair for Life, a Swiss-based fair trade auditor and the social and fairtrade arm of IMO (Institute for Marketecology).

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Stellar's Pinotage Representing West Coast Wine Route

Pinotage is a uniquely South African grape variety. It was cross-cultivated between Hermitage and Pinot Noir by a South African, Professor Perold, in 1925

This culitvar was not widely known and was only recognized in South Africa, but this all changed after Kanonkop's Beyers Truter was named Winemaker of the Year for his 1989 Pinotage.

After the success Pinotage had overseas, it was decided that more effort should be put into marketing this uniquely South African cultivar and so the Pinotage Association was born.  The Association is dedicated to promoting and improving the Pinotage cultivar.  Membership mostly consists of winemakers, growers, researchers, viticulture consultants and marketers, but is open to anyone who is interested in the production and marketing of the Pinotage grape.

Every year Pinotage is tasted from the cellars in each wine region in South Africa. The best Pinotage of each region is then presented at the Pinotage Association in Stellenbosch.

This year, Stellar's Pinotage was chosen to represent the West Coast Wine Route region. Although this is not a competition but merely a way to assess and compare the different styles and quality of Pinotage from the different regions for the new season, it is still a good indication of what lies ahead.

For more information on the Pinotage Association go to www.pinotage.co.za

 

Stellar Winery Interim Harvest report, 18 March 2011

The climate has been very moderate up until now, although the temperatures and humidity are high. These conditions ensure that grape dehydration is avoided and that the sugars remain low. This is a very good outlook for keeping the alcohols low as well.

The flavours of the grapes are excellent. Signs of rot and botrytis are apparent on some of the whites, but the situation is manageable.

Some of the first Chardonnay wines are almost fermented to dryness. We are currently very busy with Sauvignon Blanc from the cool-climate vineyards at Koekenaap.

The reds are going well, with the cellar receiving large quantities of Merlot and Shiraz grapes at the moment. The Pinotage from Koekenaap began arriving from the middle of March and predictions for this wine are excellent. Cabernet Sauvignon is also in.

Colombar and Muscat d’Alexandrie are the whites still out there and Shiraz and Merlot on the red side. It’s expected that the final grapes will be in by the end of the month.

Early predictions are that this will be a red wine year, with the wines being more in balance than previous vintages.

 

The crush!    

                       

The cellarmaster is quietly confident

Soccer Field Opening

The Stellar United soccer club was established in 2007 as a response to an increase in juvenile offences in the Trawal area. It was thought that healthy recreation could be one of the ways to keep children and their parents busy and away from crime, drugs and alcohol.

Dreaming of a proper soccer field, several projects were launched to generate funds and sponsorship was sought.  As a Fairtrade company, our Fairtrade clients, especially Peter Riegel Weinimport, were generous with donations and publicity for the project in their home markets.

In 2011 the dream became a reality as the soccer field was finally ready for its first game.

The opening of the new soccer field at Stellar took place on Saturday 12 February 2011. The community turned out to welcome our main sponsor, Peter Riegel and his wife Gisela of Peter Riegel Weinimport and Mayor Bok of the Matzikama municipality. Everybody enjoyed the performances of the drum majorettes, marching band and of course the main attraction, the soccer teams.

The tournament consisted of 4 teams, playing knock out rounds.

Stellar United 0 vs. Young Rebels 2

Owies Agri United 0 vs. Vaalwater 2

Final Round: Young Rebels 2 vs. Vaalwater 0

Congratulations to Young Rebels who won the trophy! They will keep it for 6 months after which the the trophy will be up for grabs in the same tournament format.

Stellar United would like to thank the following people who helped out with various important tasks that made the day so successful:

• Celina Lefase from the local community who sang beautifully.
• Liezl Rossouw, Candice Cloets and Sarah Samson with catering and Jacques Skinner and Koos Goeieman who helped with the braai.
• Drum majorettes from Vredendal Senior Secondary High School for their great performance.
• The Marching Band all the way from the Moravian Mission in Wupperthal, Cederberg.
• Berni Theys from Stellar Star for taking the photos.
• Department of Sport for all the advice and help.
• Gert Loubser (Fairtrade officer) for all the organizing and standing in as master of ceremonies at the last minute.
• Lukas Theunissen (Stellar United) for assisting Gert.

And without the following sponsors the day would not have been possible:

• Peter Riegel from Peter Riegel Weinimport, Germany
• Stellar Farming
• Stellar Winery
• Mayor Bok
• Matzikama Municipality
• Afrox Vredendal
• Alphonso  Cloete Transport
• Mikodemius Olivier Sound and Music
• Shelagh de Rosenwerth
• Department of Sport and Recreation
• Department of Correctional Services

                    

 Drum majorettes leading the way to the soccerfield    Berty, Peter Riegel and wife Gisi on red carpet      

     

 Peter Riegel and Gisi meeting Stellar United              Up and away! Stellar United release the balloons.

 

Harvest 2011 has begun

Harvest this year officially started in the cool early morning of January 10th. The Chardonnay grapes were the first to come in and in the tradition of Stellar, everybody pitched in.

                                            

        Early morning picking in the vineyards                               Into the crusher

Ducktales

After Stellar's flock of Indian Runner ducks were decimated in an attack by unknown predators, the farming division decided to embark on a breeding programme in addition to beefing up the fencing. Eggs were collected from the vineyards and hatched in an incubator. The ducklings, hand-reared by Koos Goeieman, thrived in their cosy accommodation and were recently released into the vineyards to do what ducks do best- eat snails!

The Stellar duck flocks protect the organic vineyards from snails and other pests and are a vital part of our organic programme. Indian Runner ducks are ideally suited to the semi-arid climate, as their water needs are less than other breeds.

               

Koos with his precious eggs                                         Ducklings in a huddle

     

First day out, heading for the vineyards                 Hard at work

                                                                            

 

 

  

 

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• The South Africa Project- Harpers Wine & Spirit online