The Mutual & Federal Wellington Wine Route has finally put the WOW (Wine of Origin Wellington) in their wines, after being declared a separate wine district on 16 March 2012.
Wellington celebrated their independence at a gala event on 21 September, held at Kleinevalleij, where they announced their new title sponsor, Mutual & Federal Insurance Company Ltd.
This celebration boasted a wide range of local wines and cuisine, as well as top-class entertainment. “Mutual & Federal Agri is honoured to be the title sponsor of the Wellington Wine Route”, says Philip du Preez, Head of Agriculture at Mutual & Federal. “As one of the leading insurers of wine estates in South Africa, we are excited about this relationship and look forward to exploring mutually beneficial opportunities with the Wellington Wine Route community.”
Well-known wine expert and master of ceremonies, Neil Pendock, accompanied by reputed international guest speaker, Tersina Siehn from Hong Kong alongside delegates from Cape Wine and Vindaba, joined in the evening's festivities.
Pendock stated that Wellington's declaration as an independent wine district continues the European process of mapping terroir.
"Consumers will now be able to home-in on Wines of Origin Wellington (WOW!) and seek out mountain wines of singular intensity, authenticity and palate power."
Historically Wellington, along with Franschhoek and Tulbagh, sorted only as wards of the Paarl wine region.
Following a meeting with the Wine and Spirit Board in November 2010 during which producers strongly lobbied for Wellington's independence, the district was finally announced as a separate wine region in March this year.
This move is fully endorsed by the Wine and Spirit Board of South Africa and the formal proclamation was published in the Government Gazette. From now on this new status not only allows Wellington producers to label their wines as "Wine of Origin Wellington" - or WOW, but also to introduce their respective terroir-based wards to the consumer. Wellington Wine Route chairperson, Schalk Burger Sr, is elated with Wellington’s new independent status.
"This is truly a joyous day for Wellington and the start for the wine estates and producers in Wellington to showcase the unique terroir and skills of our viti and vini culturists which already have the pundits and consumers in awe. The future of the icon wines of the world lie with site specific offerings. Watch this space for Wines of Origin Wellington.
The Mutual & Federal Wellington Wine Route encompasses 21 producers, their wines increasingly receiving acclaim at local, as well as international wine competitions.
In addition to three ABSA Top Pinotages, these also include several Decanter, Veritas and Michaelangelo.
The conception of the local Wellington Quest for the Best - for Wellington, by Wellington, has contributed greatly to the overall quality of their wines, with Wellington proudly receiving the SA Terroir Top Wine Region award in 2010. This achievement lead to Terroir signs being positioned at all major Wellington access routes, serving as notice to tourists and wine lovers alike that they are now entering a leading wine produce region.
At present Terroir signs welcome guests on the R301 near Diemersfontein, along the R44 next to the Florida farm stall and on route to Hermon, as well as both turnoffs toward Lady Loch on the R45.
Another sign is planned for Eerste Tol on Bain's Kloof Pass. Since the proclamation in March, the borders of the Wellington wine region have changed to include more fynbos areas, cultural diversity, as well as farms previously supplying to the Paarl and Swartland wine districts.
For more information, contact Trudy Oosthuizen on tel 021 864 2479, email wine@wellington.co.za or visit Wellington Wine Route.
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