Paul Cluver Wines is situated in Elgin on the De Rust estate. De Rust has been in the family since 1896. Dr Cluver has long been a supporter of conservation projects, officially undertaking projects of his own on the estate from 1970. Dr Cluver was involved in the establishment and development of Groenlandberg Conservancy and was appointed founding Chairman of this body in 1998.

Today the conservancy spans some 34 000ha, and includes the Groenlandberg and Nature Reserve, after which it is named. Over and above the inclusion in the aforementioned conservancy, Paul Cluver Wines also forms part of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve area. The Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve was the 1st Biosphere Reserve to be declared in southern Africa and forms part of UNESCO””s world-wide network of Biosphere Reserves.

De Rust is one of the first farms in South Africa to enter into a stewardship contract agreement with Cape Nature. The objective of which is to conserve the pristine habitat on the property in perpetuity by means of provisions attached to the property’s title deeds. The conserved area is in excess of 1000ha, and is now called the Cluver Family Reserve. It is being managed according to a management plan that was drawn up by staff of the Cape Nature Stewardship Programme. This reserve includes a game camp for antelope that used to occur in the area.

The property has 3 types of vegetation: Elgin Shale Fynbos, Western Ruens Shale Renosterveld and Kogelberg Sandstone Fynbos, the first two of which are critically endangered. Paul Cluver Wines is a member of the Green Mountain Eco Route – specifically focused on developing tourism linked to biodiversity values – with the logo “blending wine and biodiversity”. strongly linked to the biodiversity values of the area, and also promotes the Groenlandberg Conservancy. The Cluver’s were instrumental in initiating this project too.

BWI accreditation is guarantee of sound conservation practices – assuring ‘green’ consumers that both vineyards and cellars are Eco-friendly. Dr. Paul Cluver is a founding signatory of BWI.

For more information on this initiative please visit  https://www.cluver.com/about/biodiversity-and-wine-initiative