Minor Hotels partner with Saving the Wild to launch wine collection in support of nature conservation | News
Minor Hotels is proud to announce a new partnership with Saving the Wild, a pioneering African-based conservation charity, with the launch of three ‘Saving the Wild’ wines to be served at various Minor Hotel properties across Africa. The wines are produced by Hoopenburg Wine Estate, an award-winning wine farm, and feature an art label that highlights the need to protect three important species targeted by illegal poaching.
Sip while you save – Save the wild wine
The conservation collection includes a Cabernet/Merlot blend, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Rosé. Hoopenburg Wine Estate in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa is fed by pure underground water, and its unique dry bush vine vineyards produce grapes of exceptional flavor and taste.
A percentage of proceeds from the Saving the Wild wine collection supports Saving the Wild’s work to advocate for specialist courts and better legislation for all endangered species.
Each bottle is a canvas of fine art photography, donated by award-winning nature photographers:
RHINO – Cabernet / Merlot – William Fortescue.
ELEPHANT – Sauvignon Blanc – James Lewin.
PANGOLIN – Rosé – Aaron Gekoski.
The fine-art photography is creatively enhanced with gold foil embossed with rhino horn, elephant tusks and pangolin scales – drawing attention to the characteristics for which these animals are illegally poached. Saving the Wild works across Africa to protect these and other endangered species.
With each glass, guests can learn, discover and engage with the conservation stories behind the wines as each bottle features a QR code that launches short film content produced by Saving the Wild.
Saving the Wild’s recently released short film Rhino: The Endgame, starring Dr. Jane Goodall, was released shortly after her death.
Saving the Wild produced the short film Kimana Tuskers, starring Craig, in collaboration with an Academy Award-winning team and narrated by actor Djimon Hounsou. Link here.
The organization’s impact is so remarkable that its story is now the inspiration for a feature film currently in development by Hollywood icon Margot Robbie and her production company LuckyChap Entertainment. Now that the script has been written, production is expected to begin in South Africa once casting has been completed.
Jamie Joseph, founder of Saving the Wild, says: “Meaningful legislative reform is critical to ending wildlife crime. The biggest challenge facing South Africa’s rhino crisis is the lack of legislation that truly deters poachers and specialist courts. Most offenders receive nothing more than small fines or weak prison sentences, meaning there is little incentive for them to stop. That’s why Saving the Wild is now focused on advocating for tougher legislation – for all endangered species – and this wine collection helps us raise money for this crucial mission.”
Joseph, born in Zimbabwe, says: “Anantara Stanley & Livingstone Hotel shows us what is possible when wildlife is truly protected. Spending time with the rangers and black rhinos at the private game reserve in Zimbabwe – it was inspiring to see these beautiful animals moving freely across the country. I am incredibly grateful to Minor Hotels for their continued commitment to conservation, around the world.”
Nico Vivier, Regional Director of Operations & Development for Minor Hotels Africa, says: “As Minor Hotels expands into more of Africa’s protected wilderness areas, we believe that protecting these ecosystems is our shared responsibility. Sustainability is at the heart of the Minor Hotels brand, making this conservation partnership a natural fit. Because exceptional food and drink is at the heart of great hospitality, we seized the opportunity to collaborate with Hoopenburg and Saving the Wild on an exclusive range of three wines, available in all Minor Hotels in Africa, which directly helps raise funding for vital conservation legislation.”
