Whilst many people treasure the journey up the coast to watch the whales basking and playing in the water just off the coast of Walker Bay, few people are aware of how at risk these large creatures are in our seas. Since 1990 there have been some 65 reported instances of whales becoming entangled in fishing gear along the coast of the Western Cape alone: of these, 22 have been completely or partly disentangled, but the majority cannot truly escape after entanglement. In an unknown but probably large proportion of these cases the animal will die as a result of the presence of the gear.
The owner of Whalehaven wines, Alberto Bottega, showed his support for the work done to help save these giant creatures of the sea as he handed over a cheque of R15,000 to Michael Meÿer of the South African Whale Disentanglement Network at the gala dinner held for international delegates attending the 17th Biannual Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals recently held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The special network was recently formed under the auspices of Marine and Coastal Management (Dept of Environment Affairs and Tourism) in association with the Dolphin Action and Protection Group following several incidences of adult and young whales suffering entanglement in the fishing gear deployed along our coastline.
Hermanus wine producer, Whalehaven, created a limited edition label - aptly named “Special Release” - consisting of 500 bottles of Viognier-Chardonnay and 500 bottles of a merlot-dominated Cape Blend for the occasion. The commemorative wine label with a Southern Right whale breaching was painted by artist Emese Kazar. The wine was snapped up by delegates, but whale-lovers and environmentalists can still support this cause by purchasing this Special Release from the Whalehaven winery at R50 per bottle.
Whalehaven Winery - originally named after the Walker Bay sanctuary for the Southern Right Whales along the coast - is situated at the gateway to the Hemel-en-Aarde wine route just behind the Village. The Special Release Viognier-Chardonnay is a fresh and crisp, un-wooded wine with hints of melon and white peach on the nose and the Special Release red blend brings together Merlot, Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon in a smooth and fruity wine with notes of wild cherries, dark chocolate and strawberry. Reserve your bottle and help make a difference in the fight to save our seas by calling 028 3161633 or emailing wine@whalehaven.co.za.
