Merlot Running Duck 2021 Stellar BIO

Pairs well with: grilled lamb, beef, hard aromatic cheeses.

Stellar Winery's popular Running Duck line is named after the Indian Runner ducks that roam the vineyards eating snails and other vine pests. Stellar has about 250 ducks and several other ducks that provide a fun and natural atmosphere in the cellar. The Indian Runner duck is used as a natural pest control and allows Stellar Winery to avoid pesticides and other harmful chemicals. These highly effective pest controllers are living proof that nature has a way of getting things done.

"Stellar Winery decided to use Indian Runner ducks in their organic farming because they consume snails, so we decided to release them into our vineyards to help with pest control," explains Klaas Coetzee, Head Winemaker, Production Manager. and General Quality Arbiter at Stellar Winery.

Stellar Winery's winemaking process and approach is different from other more conventional wine farms. Producers are only allowed to use compost, phosphate and potassium fertilizer derived from rocks. Klaas says the team is not allowed to use any chemical pesticides or herbicides for spraying, which are banned by the EU certification body Ecocert. Stellar Winery has also had to get creative with pest control, so they are using Indian Runner ducks to manage slugs in the vineyards. Organic farming is also more sustainable because it creates an ecosystem in the vineyard that is self-sustaining and self-regulating.

"Organic wine is not only healthier for your body, but it's also better for the environment because we use organic and responsible farming methods as opposed to conventional or outdated ones," Klaas explains.

All Stellar Winery wines are vegan-friendly, gluten-free, Fair for Life certified and made from organic grapes grown under beautiful African skies. Stellar's philosophy is based on the health and well-being of the land, the vineyards and the people who care for them.

Stellar organics is in many ways a quintessential South African project. With great improvisation and a pioneering spirit, a group emerged in a short time that now produces sophisticated wines at a technically high level. Stellar Winery was originally founded by four farmers and manager Willem Rossouw. The wineries are located in the hinterland of the West Coast, about 300 km north of Cape Town on the road to Namibia. In the mid-1990s there was a switch to organic farming and in 2003 Stellar was certified as the first organic vineyard in South Africa. The Fair Trade programme began in 2004. The winery sources organic grapes from farms that fall under the Stellar Multi-Estate. This entity is certified for Fair Trade by Ecocert Fair for Life.