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For the majority of the year the flowers from Cloof come in the form of Daisy Darling, our delicious blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Daisy – we’re assuming you’re on first name terms by now – refers, of course, to the reputed 1000 different flowering plants to be found in the greater Darling region. With its annual Wild Flower Show Darling can lay claim to being the spiritual centre of the Cape Floral Kingdom (CFK), which is home to more plant species than the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Recognising that the footprints of the CFK and the winelands were very similar, the wine industry several years ago launched the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI), with the initial aim of having the same land area of natural vegetation under conservation as is planted to vineyards. This goal was reached during the course of 2008. Membership of BWI has varying status levels, with Champion being the highest, which Cloof and neighbouring property Burghers Post achieved in 2006.

In terms of conservation activities, we are perpetually busy with an alien clearing programme, which is coupled to rehabilitation of areas that were previously cultivated. Our conservation areas are unique in that they link several distinct vegetation types, forming corridors from Swartland Granite Bulb Veld to Atlantis Sand Fynbos and Renosterveld. Paradoxically, the verges of South Africa's national roads are now the most reliable corridors for fauna and flora!

The best way, though, to experience all this is first hand, during flower season. And there truly isn’t anyone better than our conservation officer, Jacques van der Merwe, to lead you through the experience. He is offering “eco-drives” for groups of between three and ten people. He’ll show you the flowers, the various buck and other fauna we’ve reintroduced, as well as the extent of the areas where alien vegetation has been cleared.