South Africa > Olifants River Valley > Citrusdal > Six Hats

The Wines

Six Hats Chenin Blanc

Six Hats Cabernet Sauvignon

Six Hats Pinotage

Citrusdal (Citrus Valley) is a small agricultural town about 100 miles northeast of Cape Town. It is the Western Cape’s leading producer of citrus fruits. The town has just over 5000 residents, most of who work directly in the agricultural sector. Citrusdal is often referred to as the gateway to the Cederberg and the floral splendor of the Namaqualand region.

The Piekenierskloof cellar is in the heart of the town and was initially amalgamated as a co-operative in 1957. In 2007 the operation was re-structured under the guidance of Charles Back, a leading figure in the South African wine industry and owner of Fairview Winery, Goats du Roam Winery and Spice Route Winery. The company is now a collaborative partnership including a number of Fairtrade farmers, Charles Back and Mike Paul, who is a leading UK wine marketer. The incorporation of the Fairtrade farmers has allowed a large number of farm workers from the community to become partners in the business, as the funds generated through the Fairtrade levies go directly into the community.

Fairtrade (known in the USA as Fair Trade) is a system of product certification and regulation that aims to ensure that workers throughout the chain of production receive fair treatment with respect to wages, working conditions and participation. Faitrade operates through a range of stringent controls and requirements, resulting in certification for the producer or processor.

Piekenierskloof and therefore Six Hats has currently 4 Fair Trade farms involved; Bergendal Boerdery, Paardekop Boerdery, Rheeboksfontain and Saamstan Vineyards. Each farm has its own projects running depending on specific needs. Bergendal Boerdery for example, has so far completed the following projects: the building of a community hall, equipping the farm crèche and pre-school, purchasing sport equipment for the community, improving the housing on the farm as well as providing education bursaries and school fees for further education. This was achieved through utilizing the premiums from the Fair Trade wine grape production. To find out more about Fairtrade visit www.
http://www.fairtrade.org.za

The Six Hats range of Fairtrade wines was launched in 2009 and is one of a small, but growing range of South African Fairtrade Wines in the market. The Six Hats brand is built around a concept that seeks to highlight the various roles and responsibilities that are assumed by all parties involved in progressive and equitable wine farming. The six 'hats' are worn by both the farmer and the community and the results of these positive collaborations are borne out in the successes that have been seen on the farms to date. The wines in the Six Hats Fair Trade range are single varietals and are produced in a fresh, fruit-forward style that is characteristic of the region. The dedicated Fairtrade farmers provide the grapes from their carefully managed vineyards. Six Hats' viticulturalist works closely with the farmers through the growing season to ensure that the fruit produced is of the highest quality allowing the winemaker to craft wines with full
flavor and rewarding character.