Olive oil and upliftment

A wine estate in the Western Cape is creating a way for its farmworkers to better their skills and education through the creation of a new brand of olive oil.

Durbanville Hills wine estate has planted olives for upliftment projects

A bottle of the new Durbanville Hills olive oil

Durbanville Hills wine estate in the Western Cape makes truly brilliant wines, but now it is also branching out into olive oil – with direct benefits for the farm’s employees.

It’s all about a commitment to offering farmworkers and their families ways of enriching their lives, according to Durbanville Hills managing director Albert Gerber.

Income from sales goes to the Durbanville Hills Workers’ Trust. The trust was established in 2000, and several education and skills development projects have already been put in place.

The olive trees are thriving in the Mediterranean climate with its hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The groves face the ocean, 300m above sea level, cooled by an afternoon sea breeze.

The olive trees are thriving in the Mediterranean climate with its hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters.

The cultivars used are a blend of Mission, Leccino and Frontoio olives and the oil is produced in partnership with Durbanville Hill’s neighbour and award-winning olive oil producer, Hillcrest.

The olive oil is natural and unrefined, with a distinctive peppery aftertaste.

Olive trees thrive in the hot Mediterranean climate. Picture Chris Marais

Category: Responsible Tourism

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There is something thoroughly addictive about being in the wild. It had Johannesburg-born Julienne du Toit hooked from the first whiff of sweetveld at dawn. She became the environmental… Read more