Nederburg`s Cab for Earth Hour

With the lights out and no visual distractions, you can concentrate on the rich, juicy flavours of Nederburg’s Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense with ripe black and red berry tastes, it’s smooth and sleek, and ends on a satisfyingly lingering note.

It’s good to know that as you savour its succulence this Earth Hour – March 29, from 20:30 to 21:30 – the famous Paarl winery has been doing its own work to be kinder to the planet.

Since embarking on a major sustainability drive in July 2010, Nederburg has already achieved a 33% reduction in the consumption of electricity (per unit production that’s measured per litre of wine). It has also cut down on the use of other fossil fuel-based energy sources by 43% and uses 15% less water.

Cellar master Razvan Macici says the electricity savings come from a number of steps, like installing variable speed drives on cooling condensers and replacing regular incandescent cellar lighting with energy efficient light bulbs.  Boilers are used more efficiently. Steam system insulation has been improved and that means less fossil fuel-based energy in the cellar. Water in the cellar is also routinely recovered and reused for cooling systems.

Available from leading stockists, the wine sells for around R70 a 750ml bottle.