You know we Get It girls love a safari … and are passionate about our wildlife. And we’re not averse to glass of wine either. So when we combine the two … bliss. This month we’re raising our glasses to wineries that embrace conservation. Cheers!
Balance, the quirky range of generous, everyday wines, has been relaunched after a stylish makeover … and besides looking (and tasting) good, also supports desert elephant conservation. With Hank the elephant as the wine’s mascot, Balance has adopted the Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) as a Corporate Social Investment initiative. For every bottle sold, a contribution is made to fund the EHRA PEACE project, an educational programme promoting the peaceful cohabitation of local communities with desert elephants in Southern Africa. Taking the project even further, the wine’s packaging uses digital technology linked to an exciting online game to support this initiative … play and you can win Balance Bucks to buy more wine, and a donation is made on your behalf. There are two ranges … the affordable Classic easy-drinking range and the Balance Winemaker’s Selection range … all really lovely wines for a summer celebration. Available from your local bottle store or online for between R47 and R67. Details: Play the game and buy the wine on balance.wine
We’re rather loving the trend of wine makers supporting nature conservation … and this month we’re drinking Van Loveren Family Vineyards’ latest vintage Rhino Run wines. It’s a superb range of great quality wines, celebrating the magnificent rhino and the efforts being made to save it. There are five great wines in the range … the Rhino Run Chardonnay 2017 (slightly wooded, medium-bodied, created in honour of the white rhino, and ideal with creamy pasta dishes, grilled sole, crayfish, or chicken); Rhino Run Chenin Blanc 2018 (the perfect partner to herbed mussels, grilled chicken or pork); The Rhino Run Ian Player 2016 (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot … all ripe berry, cassis and redcurrant); The Rhino Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (enjoy with rich meat dishes, pork or venison) and The Rhino Run Pinotage 2017 (perfect with red meat, rich stews, curries and smoked foods). Prices from around R60 to around R71.
For a real treat, look for the sixth wine … a limited release collector’s item, The Last One Shiraz 2013. Only 1215 bottles were released … they sell for R1215 each and each is hand-bottled, waxed and labelled, featuring the signature of cellar master Bussell Retief on the label, and beautifully presented in a rhino-inspired box. Details: rhinorunwine.co.za.
