Firsts On All Fronts
Hartenberg Estate is proud to release Sacred Soil 2023, the first South African wine to carry Land to Market certification, grown on the country’s first scientifically verified regenerative wine farm. This is a wine born from living soil, farming that gives back, and a long-term commitment to the health of the land.
The name Sacred Soil says exactly what it means. At Hartenberg, the soil is the foundation of everything, carefully tended, scientifically monitored, and treated as a living system.
“At Hartenberg, we believe the secret is in our soil,” says owner Tanya Browne. “Sacred Soil 2023 is more than a wine, it reflects what regenerative farming can achieve. We see it in the health of our vineyards, taste it in the glass, and measure it through science.” Regenerative farming at Hartenberg is a daily practice shaped by observation, science, and care. Cover crops restore nutrients and improve soil health, while cattle, sheep, and Indian Runner ducks all play a role in supporting a balanced ecosystem and reducing the need for intervention.
In collaboration with Stellenbosch University, early findings suggest regeneratively farmed vineyards show fresher aromatics and more naturally balanced acidity, with research continuing across future vintages.
The real work happens underneath it.
Regenerative viticulture is how we farm to increase life in our soil, year after year.It is focused on rebuilding soil health, restoring ecosystems, and strengthening the natural systems that support the vineyard.
Rather than maintaining the land, the aim is to improve it over time, allowing each season to build on the last.Healthy soil supports healthy vines. Balanced vines produce better fruit. And better fruit leads to wine that reflects both place and process with clarity.
We focus on building living soil, not just feeding vines.
No shortcuts. No overuse of unnecessary processes. Just what the vineyard needs.
Biodiversity replaces intervention. Insects, birds and animals all play a role.
Every season improves the next. Healthier soil, stronger vines, better fruit.
Regenerative farming.
When the soil is healthy, the vine responds in kind.
Growth becomes more balanced, allowing the grapes to ripen at a steady pace without being forced. This results in fruit that carries clarity and definition, rather than heaviness or excess. The wines show natural structure, with freshness and precision that come from the vineyard rather than from adjustment in the cellar. It is an expression of place that feels complete on its own, without the need for correction.
A limited release shaped by how it is grown.
A wine shaped by living soils, expressive of place, and rooted in our ongoing commitment to the land.
THE WINE:
54% Cabernet Sauvignon
35% Merlot
11% Cabernet Franc
TASTING NOTE:
Layers of cassis, ripe plum, and dark berries unfold alongside notes of soft spice and gentle oak. Rich and velvety on the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced with fine tannins, elegant structure, and a lingering finish of vanilla and spice. Refined, expressive, and made to be savoured slowly.
FOOD SUGGESTIONS:
Pairs beautifully with slow-roasted lamb, grilled ribeye, or a mushroom and beef stew.
Regenerative farming.
Hartenberg’s partnership with Woolworths is built on a shared commitment to responsible sourcing and long-term sustainability. Their approach aligns closely with how the vineyard is farmed.
A focus on quality, environmental care, and improving systems over time, rather than taking shortcuts for short-term gain. It ensures that Sacred Soil is placed in an environment where the same level of care is applied from vineyard to shelf.
Protecting what surrounds the vines
Hartenberg’s relationship with WWF South Africa reflects a broader commitment to responsible land stewardship. The focus extends beyond the vineyard to the surrounding ecosystem, with efforts directed towards protecting biodiversity, restoring natural habitats, and maintaining balance across the farm.
It is a continuation of the same approach. Care for the soil, support the system around it, and allow the results to follow over time.