Wine With Soul and #doDifferent
This week we look at a Stellenbosch vineyard choosing to #doDifferent in their approach to winemaking. Journey's End are a vineyard and winery producing a range of handcrafted boutique wines. Operating in a highly competitive local market they have chosen to focus on sustainable agriculture and social impact along with their terroir focussed approach to winemaking.
The philosophy of quality over quantity, limiting crop yields, ties in with their holistically ethical approach. Organic farming practices prioritize sustainability and keeping as close to natural processes as possible. Production is powered by solar energy greatly reducing the environmental impact.
The farm is WEITA, BWI and IPW accredited as well as certified Fair Trade – all accreditation bodies verifying that high standards of sustainability and ethical practices are followed. All of this led to Journey's End being recognized as an ethical company of the year 2020 by The Drink Business Green Awards.
Alongside their ethical and sustainable practices sits their long-standing commitment to social upliftment. Journey's End have focussed their social support towards the people of Sir Lowries pass village. Many of the vineyard workers are from this community, which is often overlooked for social support programs. Journey's End have been involved in building a hall for the local school and funding the ‘Beat the Bully’ program amongst other initiatives. Their most recent undertaking, under their newly formed Journey's End Foundation, is a feeding program. Started in August 2020, with a goal to provide 8000 meals per week for 52 weeks, the program has already scaled up to provide 13 000 meals per week to people in the Helderberg region of Stellenbosch.
All companies require consistent patronage to keep going, but companies who ensure that social good is done in the process of their business really deserve ongoing support from customers. In South Africa, we have a huge selection of good wines to choose from. Why not choose to #doDifferent and buy wines which support those in need.
Check them out here.
