Our Unique Coastal Vineyards
Stellar Winery, situated at Kys Halte just outside Vredendal in the Western Cape, borders Namaqualand. This area is famous for its spring flowers and it is the only semi-arid biosphere hotspot in the world.The coastal location of our vineyards contribute to the unique characteristics of our wines. Unlike other wineries in the Olifants River region, our vineyards are located closer to the AtlanticOcean and are constantly cooled by the sea breeze. The proximity of the vineyards in relation tothe Atlantic ocean is an enormously positive factor for the production of high-quality organic wine. The very dry climate minimises the potential for fungal disease and access to a good source of irrigation ensures crop sustainability. The natural vegetation surrounding our organic vineyards protects them from contamination.Our Koekenaap vineyards are located in one of the best regions to grow grapes. The terroir of the cool-climate Koekenaap area gives to our wines their unique character and helps us to produce fantastic quality grapes. Our viticulturist and winemaker focus on expressing the terroir to its full potential. Stellar Winery’s cellar sources and processes grapes from a number of independent farms. These farms stretch from Bulshoek Dam in the south to Koekenaap which is close to South Africa’s west coast.
The Stellar Winery Range
Stellar Winery is South Africa’s largest producer of fine, organic, fair trade wines and all our wines are vegan-friendly. We also produce no-added-sulphur wines and are the largest global producers in this niche category.Our large variety of ranges are tailored to different markets and offer our customers a wide selection of products to choose from.Innovation is one of our strengths and since our wines first appeared on the market in 2003 we have broken new ground in both winemaking and social development.
Socially Conscious & Organic
Our wines are certified organic by Ecocert SA, while our cellar and the farms that make up the Stellar Multi-Estate are certified for fair trade and Social Responsibility by Ecocert/IMO Fair for Life.
In 2004, we began our Fair Trade programme and over the years it has delivered a portion of the enterprise to its beneficiaries and kickstarted developmental initiatives that are aimed at improving the living- and working conditions of our employees.Stellar Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established to manage the development projects on the farms and in the communities where many of our employees live.
Our Promise
Organic Certification allows Stellar Organics to sell, label, and represent our products as organic. Any organic operation in violation of the USDA organic regulations is subject to enforcement actions, which can include financial penalties or suspension/revocation of their organic certificate. Read more
ECOCERT is an inspection and certification body. It’s specialized in the certification of organic agricultural products, such as Stellar Organics. ECOCERT is very involved in promoting organic farming and works with international institutions in supporting project development. By winning the confidence of professionals and consumers. Read more
Stellar’s Organic production respects natural systems and cycles. Biological and mechanical production processes and land-related production should be used to achieve sustainability, without having recourse to genetically modified organisms (GMOs). This is the principle which EU Organic follows. Read more
The Fair for Life Social & Fair Trade Certification Programme offers operators of socially responsible projects a solution for brand neutral third party inspection and certification in initial production, manufacturing and trading. It combines strict social and fair trade standards with adaptability to local conditions. The system is designed for both food and non-food commodities. Read more
HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point HACCP is an internationally recognized, science-based, food safety system that is used to help ensure the manufacture of safe food products. HACCP is designed to prevent, reduce or eliminate potential biological, chemical and physical food safety hazards, including those caused by cross-contamination. Read more
Stellar Agri
Stellar Agri is the farming arm of the Stellar Multi-Estate and Stellar Empowerment Trust (SET). SET owns 51% of Stellar Agri and has a 26% shareholding in Stellar Winery. Stellar Agri is a black-owned company with a 63.74% direct shareholding of the Stellar Empowerment Trust. The company farms with organic Fair Trade grapes on land leased from Stellar. It owns all vineyards as well as equipment, implements and infrastructure required to produce grapes of sufficient quality for the organic Fair Trade export market. The company farms for its own account, and all grapes are sold to Stellar Winery for processing at market-related prices.