Cape Town wine producer, Neethlingshof Estate has found a way of eradicating the pest of mice by encouraging the return of owls to their vineyards.

Neethlingshof's magnificent avenue of stone pines

Over the years, modern farming techniques have discouraged the prevalence of owls and farmers have been reluctant to use chemical means to control them. Now farm management has noted that owls hunt by swooping on their prey from high positions so have erected tall owl posts where the mice cause the most damage. As a result the numbers of mice have decreased considerably.  Neethlingshof Estate is now linking the narrative of the return of the owls to wine marketing by naming a single-vineyard pinotage, The Owl Post.

A local wild cat, the caracal (rooikat), is also seen to be making a comeback. These beautiful mammals used to be prolific in the area until the middle of the last century when loss of habitat and natural prey reduced their numbers. There are indications that caracal have started breeding in the densely wooded areas around the granite hills on the farm possibly attracted by the large flocks of guinea fowl.

The flagship Bordeaux blend of the estate, Laurentius, is now named The Caracal to celebrate this victory for conservation.

Neethlingshof Estate is one of many Cape Town wine farms that are intent on conserving the unique Cape flora and fauna found is this part of South Africa.