Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate is situated on the R46 just outside the picturesque town of Riebeek Kasteel. It’s nestled in the foothills of the Kasteelberg, which is fitting since Kloovenburg means “place in the ravine”.
THE FOUNDATIONS
Kloovenburg was the first farm to be registered in and around the Riebeek Valley. The family-run estate was purchased from its previous owners in 1958 by Springbok rugby player Piet (Spiere) du Toit and passed on to his son, Pieter du Toit, who has continued to build the brand and develop the farm into the enterprise it is today. Eight Feet, a blend of Shiraz, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan is Kloovenburg’s flagship wine. Each blend chosen to symbolise the personality and spirit of one of the Du Toit sons.
The farm has dedicated a 100ha area to its conservation efforts. This includes patches of pristine Afromontane forest in the ravines within the boundaries of the estate, as well as critically endangered Swartland Shale Renosterveld on the lower slopes of Kasteelberg. Regular visitors to these mountainous parts include steenbok, baboons, Cape leopards and porcupines. Far from merely conserving fauna and flora for the sake of conservation, the Kloovenburg team’s intention is to safeguard their region’s biodiversity to ensure their stewardship of the land preserves it for generations to come.
FUN ACTIVITIES
Kloovenburg is a wonderful family destination where you can either spend a weekend at the gorgeous guest house or stop over for a shorter visit. A few friendly labradors will welcome you upon arrival and there is a play area with a swing and trampoline for the kids. Adults can enjoy a wine tasting paired with the best Kloovenburg stories or an informative tasting of olive oils and pesto.
As one of WWF’s 40 Conservation Champions, an exclusive and hard-earned status, Kloovenburg can proudly use the sugarbird and protea logo on its wine bottles. This logo demonstrates the farm’s long-term commitment to the environment and conservation of the Succulent Karoo and Cape Floral Kingdom.
For more information on WWF’s Conservation Champions, visit
wwf.org.za/conservationandwine