In 2009 The Neethlingshof wine estate outside Stellenbosch launched a highly successful reserve tier of wines, made exclusively from hand-picked grapes, which are named The Short Story Collection.  They draw attention to Neethlingshof’s rich and varied narratives, and initially they started the collection with three limited-edition wines each of which focus on a specific aspect of the estate’s philosophy or history.

They have the Owl Post, being a single-vineyard Pinotage, and draws attention to the estate’s integrated pest management that forms part of the winery’s focus on production integrity to reduce its dependence on pesticides. Owl posts have been placed strategically throughout the vineyards. The wine has been produced from dryland vines established in deep red soils that is rich in organic material and amply feeds the roots.

The Caracal, which is their flagship Bordeaux-style blend, celebrates the return of the rooikat to Neethlingshof since the start of its programme two years ago to conserve and rehabilitate areas of indigenous habitat, particularly the unique ecosystems surrounding the estate’s granite hills.  These rooikatte are now also breeding on Neethlingshof.