Just when we believed that sense had prevailed, Peter May reported on Pinotage Club blogspot that Bellvue Estate is to be mined for clay by the South African mining company, Corobrik.

Bellvue Estate cellar

Dirkie Morkel is the fourth generation farmer on Bellvue farm which is situated in the Bottlery area between Stellenbosch and Kuilsriver. It was as far back as 1861 that the Morkels began to farm this land.  Some of the vines on the land that is to be mined are 56 year old Pinotage vines.

The Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs has given the go-ahead for the mining to take place. Dirkie Morkel is appealing against the decision and needs as much international and local help that he can get.

Emails can be sent to Corobrik and to the government at the following email addresses:

Department of Mineral and Energy Regional Manager Mr Sivuyile Mpakane sivuyile.mpakane@dme.gov.za

MD of the the mining company Corobrik Mr Dirk Meyerintmktg@corobrik.co.za

Western Cape Manager Mr. Christie van Niekerkchristie.vanniekerk@corobrik.com

I believe that those of us who live in the Western Cape should boycott Corobrik’s products and write to Mr Meyer telling him why.

Bricks can be bought any time but vines that have taken two generations to reach maturity are irreplaceable.