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Parable wine grown on Robben Island, presented to Mandela
When seven ancient vines were discovered in the prison garden on Robben Island, the Weltevrede Aansporingstrust, an empowerment trust of winegrowers who for generations have worked the vines and made wine on Weltevrede Estate outside Bonnievale, volunteered to be the custodians of the vines. These vines grow where Nelson Mandela buried his handwritten manuscript of 'Long Walk to Freedom' in the prison garden.
This was no easy task. It involved many early morning trips to the island, hard labour, coping with difficult weather, rough seas and island birds that devoured two vintages. After three years of restoring the vineyard, the 2012 vintage eventually yielded a crop of 182 kg of grape.
The crop was taken to the winery at Weltevrede; the grapes counted, documented, analysed and cooled down, whereupon the winemaking process started.
Two wines were made - a sweet dessert wine, called The Parable and a Méthode Cap Classique Brut in magnums, called The Manuscript. Both these wines will only be sold at international charity auctions.
The Weltevrede Aansporingstrust presented the first bottle of The Parable to Nelson Mandela for his 94th birthday. The Manuscript is still in the making.
