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Spier's Growing For Good initiatives empower communities to make positive social and environmental change.

Ranging from art and entrepreneurship to regenerative farming and ecological restoration, these projects and partnerships are creating a ripple effect of lasting and meaningful impact.

By the numbers

Black and grey wastewater recycled

100%

Waste sent to landfill

3%

Spier’s organic pastures

132ha

Number of bulbs planted at Spier by our nursery team

1,000,000

Growing For Good Collaboration

LIVING SOILS COMMUNITY LEARNING FARM

Based at Spier, this learning and demonstration farm produces nutritious food using eco-friendly regenerative farming methods while empowering a new generation of farmers. Read more.

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Explore all our initiatives

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Teaching the value of waste

100% of our organic waste is transformed into organic, nutrient-rich fertiliser and more than 97% of our solid waste is recycled.

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Conserving wildlife through education

Spier supports Eagle Encounters by donating land, electricity and water for its facilities.

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Carbon & climate

Spier is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and nurturing healthy, carbon-rich soils.

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Spier Food Garden

In our food gardens, Megan McCarthy teaches members of disadvantaged local communities how to grow food using eco-friendly and regenerative techniques.

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Agents of change

Because each employee is an ambassador for Spier and its values, every new member of our team participates in a five-day training course that explores environmental and social challenges.

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Skills development

Spier is a participating employer in the Pinotage Youth Development Academy which seeks to educate and employ disadvantaged youth in the wine industry.

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Tree-preneurs

Living in some of the province’s most impoverished communities, Tree-preneurs are taught how to care for indigenous trees and plants.

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Nurturing nature

Our land is holistically farmed to create a diversified, balanced ecosystem with minimal impact on the environment.

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Pack for a purpose

Pack for a Purpose invites visitors to Spier to fill spare space in their luggage with much-needed books, stationery and other educational supplies for disadvantaged young students

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Living Soils Community Learning Farm

Based at Spier, this learning and demonstration farm produces nutritious food using eco-friendly regenerative farming methods while empowering a new generation of farmers.

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Art

A Living Tribute to Contemporary South African Art

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Reducing and reusing water

100% of Spier’s black and grey wastewater is recycled using a centralised wastewater treatment plant installed in 2007.

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An ethical supply chain

We ensure integrity throughout our supply chain by monitoring the agreed commitments in our Spier Supplier Ethical Code of Conduct, which includes compliance with all relevant labour, health and safety and environmental legislation.

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The Spier Nursery

The Spier Nursery was established to propagate and grow indigenous trees and plants that are specific to the region to re-introduce these onto the farm.

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Experiential Art

Experience interactive outdoor performances during Spier's annual art events.

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Living Arts Foundation

Housed in The Shed at Spier, the Living Arts Foundation (LAF) is a non-profit aiming to connect, uplift and empower the Lynedoch Valley’s communities through arts, creativity, physical movement and personal development.

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Enterprise Development

Spier helps entrepreneurs — many of the former employees — to launch and successfully run their own small businesses.

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Individual Learning Spend

Facilitating the personal development and wellbeing of our staff

FUTURE FOCUSED

Looking Ahead

As stewards of 620ha, we’re in it for the long haul. We believe in being good neighbours, in working together to regenerate the soil, restore the health of our rivers, and provide nourishment to our communities. Bringing about lasting positive change is not about quick fixes or going it alone. It requires creativity, collaboration and compassion. Our efforts today are about ensuring a future that is resilient, healthy and thriving for generations to come.

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Blog Stories

Read the latest news about our initiatives

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An Act of Faith – a new ceramics exhibition

09 June 2023

When you hear the word ‘ceramics’, you probably don’t think of magic. But working with this ...

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Spier Hotel guests warm up local little hearts

24 May 2023

At Spier, we're not just about wine; we're passionate about making a positive impact on our ...

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A true community learning farm

26 April 2023

As the Living Soils Community Learning Farm steps into its fifth year this March, we ...

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Spier Hotel guests raise over R44,000 for Tree-preneurs

26 May 2022

The 4855 guests who booked our recent Summer of ‘21 package – a celebration of Spier ...

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From seed to reality: A three year reflection of the Living Soils Community Learning Farm

18 May 2022

When the Living Soils Community Learning Farm was launched in March 2019, it had three ...

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Alternative Energy - the way to go

08 April 2022

As part of Spier’s commitment to a self-sufficient and sustainable future, we’re constantly ...

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Partnering with local farming contractor: Adams & Seuns

11 November 2021

For more than a decade, Spier has partnered with local farming contractor Adam & Seuns to ...

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Internships for life: Living Soils addressing youth unemployment and food security

03 November 2021

Three years ago we celebrated the launch of the Living Soils Community Learning farm in ...

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The Living Soils Community Learning Farm celebrates World Food Day

20 October 2021

In March 2019, we partnered with Woolworths, the Sustainability Institute and its ...

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Compostable Packaging for Spier Food Garden Produce

05 July 2021

With an abundance of fresh veg, salad greens and herbs harvested from the Spier Food ...

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The Best Is Yet To Come

30 April 2021

Spier’s viticulturist Bennie Liebenberg reflects on a slow and steady 2021 harvest, sharing ...

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Growing food and nurturing people

26 April 2021

Our food garden, first planted in 2013, was significantly expanded in 2020 under the ...

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Checkers partners with Farmer Angus to support black regenerative agriculture

08 January 2021

In a drive to upskill and empower farmworkers, regenerative livestock farmer Angus McIntosh ...

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Spier featured on CNN inside Africa, September 2020

26 September 2020

In 2019, CNN Inside Africa filmed at Spier Hotel & Wine Farm to showcase the farm as ...

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Spier one of three honourees in the WWF Conservation Leaders category in the 2020 Wine & Tourism Awards

25 September 2020

Spier's energy and water saving, ecological rehabilitation and support for community ...

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Spier celebrates the women growing food and trees

07 August 2020

This Women’s Month Spier is celebrating the women-led food- and tree-growing projects that ...

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Spier wins gold at 2020 Inspirational Africa Responsible Tourism Awards

07 April 2020

Spier's commitment to Growing for Good, a range of initiatives that empower communities to ...

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Spier, Woolworths and Sustainability Institute launch community learning farm

06 March 2019

Spier has partnered with the Woolworths Trust, Sustainability Institute and AgroEcology ...

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No more wasted water

08 April 2016

Consider wastewater. The name itself implies that it is of no use, it’s just waste. But in ...

Winemaking Philosophy

Play Winemaking Philosophy