Fynbos and farming flourish at Delheim

Over 70 years, the team at Delheim Wines have mastered the art of farming with conservation at its core. Farm manager CORLIA ERASMUS explains how the farm’s history is inextricably linked with its commitment to protecting biodiversity.

In the heart of Stellenbosch’s Simonsberg Mountains lie the Delheim vineyards where we produce world-renowned wines. We consider ourselves lucky to be here: in the Cape floristic region, renowned for its biodiversity, surrounded by fynbos – the only of the world’s six floristic kingdoms wholly within the borders of one country.

The incredible species diversity that occurs here was gifted to us by nature. But the careful preservation of the estate’s natural heritage is the result of unwavering passion: a commitment to environmentally conscious viticulture practices and active conservation efforts spanning more than 70 years.

This commitment to sustainable practices is threaded through our heritage and still steers our way of farming today.

On our neighbouring Vera Cruz farm, the peak of Klapmutskop was originally covered by Swartland shale renosterveld, thanks to the unusual Magrug conglomerate rock that occurs there. An indigenous yellowwood forest is located at the top, now surrounded by returning renosterveld and indigenous pioneer species.

The estate is also rich in wildlife endemic to the Cape region, like the Cape fox, Cape clawless otter, honey badger and Cape leopard. More than 50 bird species occur here, including the Cape sugarbird, found only in the fynbos and nowhere else on Earth.

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Protecting soil health: In our vineyards, we work to protect our most important resource – our soil. We use no-till methods to avoid disturbing the soil structure and minimise compaction. By covering our soil and shielding it from the elements, we reduce erosion and nutrient loss due to run off. Organic mulch not only suppresses weeds and reduces herbicide use, but also minimises water loss and creates environments for microorganisms and insects to thrive in.

We also plant cover crops – rye and barley to add biomass, lupines and peas for nitrogen, and daikon radishes with tap roots that loosen soil – which will, in time, naturally break down into carbon to nourish the soil.

Green belts: From a viticultural perspective, we believe that the more natural the vineyard environment, the healthier and more expressive the grapes. We have undertaken to establish 10% corridors between our vineyards each year to re-establish indigenous vegetation and sustain natural ecosystems. These fynbos strips will create habitats for beneficial insects, predators and wildlife, while also minimising the spread of pests and diseases.

Reduce, reuse, recycle: We reduce carbon emissions by using lightweight machinery and battery-operated tools as opposed to conventional fuel equipment. Wastewater from the cellar is recycled and reused as irrigation water in the vineyards and gardens. We irrigate only 50% of our vines, and water usage across the property is registered and controlled.

No blanket approaches are followed in our vineyards. Scientific analysis and continuous scouting of each block of vines ensure we only apply chemicals and nutrients that are actually needed. The use of insecticides is also minimised by releasing beneficial insects as natural pest control.

Animal-friendly wildlife practices: We plant indigenous trees to create habitats for owls and birds – also for the kingfishers and eagles that naturally control fish species in our dams. Our ‘no harm’ policy means all fauna is left undisturbed. Problematic animals, like snakes, are caught and released by our in-house snake handler.

Bringing back the fynbos

In July 2024, we launched our Fynbos in Vineyard project. Teaming up with Discover Renosterveld, we embarked on a five-year plan to re-establish natural vegetation in lower areas used for wine grape farming.

The pilot project aims to conserve biodiversity of the species and ecological processes that sustain natural ecosystems. It will also minimise the spread of pests and diseases with natural barriers, provide opportunities for public education and create opportunities to study the establishment, longevity and integration of natural vegetation on agricultural land.

The first phase will involve planting indigenous fynbos species across one hectare of old (35 years +) vineyards. The suitable species identified through field research include kooigoed (Helichrysum petiolare), botterblom (Gazania pectinate), strawflower (Helichrysum teretifolia), golden carpet (Helichrysum cymosum), skunk bush (Chaenostoma hispidum), katbossie (Stachys aethiopica) and vygies (Erepsia anceps).

Sharing our success

Experience has taught us that partnerships within the conservation community are equally as important as the work we do on the farm. Back in 2004, Delheim was one of the founding members of the Greater Simonsberg Conservancy – a non-profit public benefit organisation that promotes natural biodiversity and sustainable practices, today comprising 20 wine producers and 10 landowners.

With 89 hectares of our 375-hectare estate set aside for conservation, we are proud to be recognised as a WWF Conservation Champion. And the honour of being named ‘Conservation Pioneer’ at the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Awards was a highlight of our year.

Blending nature conservation with the production of award-winning wines has taken hard work and much trial and error, but the worthy result is a symbiosis that has stood the test of time. We hope to keep honouring the wisdom of the generations before us for decades to come.

The best way to understand how agriculture can help cherish our unique natural heritage, is to experience it first-hand. We invite you to visit Delheim and see how fynbos and farming flourish together!

Find out more about visiting Delheim Wines at: https://delheim.com/