La Motte’s flora flourishes with Atlantic Fertilisers’ Bio Ganic – La Motte wine estate is owned by the Rupert family and has gained a reputation for producing high-quality wines. Except for the production of wine, La Motte is a popular and internationally acclaimed tourism destination.

Environmental management also plays an important role here at La Motte and is factored into the long-term strategy as well as the day-to-day management of the estate.  For Jaco Visser, Senior Farm Manager at La Motte, sustainability is a principle and a priority. He is passionate about conserving land and protecting the precious natural flora on the farm.

Sustainable fynbos production:

After reviewing the quality of La Motte’s vineyards approximately twelve years ago, it was decided that the vineyards not meeting the required standard should be uprooted and replaced with fynbos, the region’s natural vegetation that also produces essential oils. 

Today, 7 hectares are planted with Lavendine, Rose Geranium, Buchu and Cape Chamomile. All these plants are organically grown and cultivated.  The stems, leaves and flowers of the Rose Geranium are harvested twice a year while the Buchu, Cape Chamomile and the top flowers of the Lavendine are harvested only once a year. The 1kg of oil subtracted from each ton of plant material is highly concentrated and is used in the production of soaps and the Arômes de La Motte moisturisers.

Jaco explains that the farm mainly consists of sandy soils, which makes it essential to work organic material back into the soil to improve the soil structure. For this reason, a compost heap has been started for the vineyards, but for the fynbos, Jaco prefers to use Atlantic Fertilisers’ organic products, Bio Rock and Bio Ganic.  The plants in the greenhouse are established with Bio Rock – a composted, pelletised chicken manure product, enriched with soft rock phosphate.

Across South Africa, successful growers are using Bio Rock, especially for planting and production of commercial crops such as vineyards, vegetables, flowers, fruit trees and plants.  By mixing calculated amounts with the soil of the planting hole, a medium is created with safe concentrations of natural nutrients and humates that support root and crop development.

After establishment, Bio Ganic is applied which contributes to improving the soil fertility status, as well as providing nutrition to the microbial life present in the soil.

“Bio Ganic does not burn the roots of the plants at all and we have been using it on all the plants for several years, even on the Hanneli Rupert roses at the main entrance as well as in the restaurant’s vegetable garden.  It’s easy and safe to use and you can’t go wrong if Kirstenbosch also recommends it,” says Jaco.

The farm is a WWF conservation champion and was one of the first wine farms in South Africa to receive the prestigious ISO 14001 (International Standards Organisation) environmental management certification award. The main purpose of ISO 14001 is to help you control your organisation’s environmental impact.

Next time you are in Franschhoek make sure you pay a visit to La Motte Wine Estate, or alternatively visit their website to learn more about what they have to offer: https://www.la-motte.com/