The Stables Wine Estate Media Service


*The Stables Wine Estate* Media Release		*No: Stables0901***	*1 February 2009*
The Stables Wine Estate celebrate the 350 year anniversary of the SA Wine Industry Nottingham Road – At the start of what promises to be record harvest from the KwaZulu-Natal vineyards, The Stables Wine Estate will celebrate the 350^th anniversary of the establishment of the wine industry on Monday 2 February with a commemorative gesture to the Groot Constantia Estate where the industry was founded. In 2 February 1659, Jan van Riebeeck noted in his journal that wine had been bottled for the first time in the Cape. “We have a great relationship with Groot Constantia, where the first wine was made, so this anniversary celebration is particularly significant for us” said The Stables Wine Estate winemaker Tiny Van Niekerk. “There are great parallels between us,” he added. “They pioneered the industry in the Cape, and we are setting off on the same road in KwaZulu-Natal. They have been very supportive towards us, and on the occasion of the 350 year anniversary, it gave us great pleasure to send them our warmest wishes and a commemorative gift.” “Those first bottles produced in 1659 spawned the thriving wine industry in the Cape, and we are passionate about doing the same in KwaZulu-Natal,” Van Niekerk added. “A KwaZulu-Natal wine route, with many succesful wine producers is a dream that we are passionately pursuing.” The 250th anniversary is being marked by tasting and functions at many major wine estates around the country, cementing South Africa's prominent position as one of the oldest "New World" wine regions. Van Niekerk and his team are gearing up for the start of the 2009 harvest from their KZN vineyards, expecting a bumper crop. “The wet and warm summer has been brilliant for our grapes. Our viticulturalist Daniel Maerkl has worked wonders with the vines, especially in the Greytown vineyard, and we are anticipating a yield that is 50% bigger than we have ever had before.” More information is available at www.stableswine.co.za ENDS
*Photo*	*Caption*	*Photographer*	*Click to download the hi-res pic*
	The Stables Wine Estate Logo.
	The 350 year anniversary of the South African Wine Industry logo.
	KwaZulu-Natal wine pioneers The Stables Wine Estate share in the anniversary of the South African Wine Industry which began over 350 years ago at the Groot Constantia Wine Estate in the Western Cape.	Dave Macleod/ Gameplan Media
	Judy and Tiny van Niekerk of the Stables Wine Estate toast the 350 year anniversary of the formation of the South African Wine Industry.	Dave Macleod/ Gameplan Media
	The excellent summer weather conditions have resulted in The Stables Wine Estate expecting a record crop from the 2009 harvest which starts this week.	Dave Macleod/ Gameplan Media
For any further information, or if you cannot access the images, please contact: Gameplan Media (031) 764 3017 info@gameplanmedia.co.za