?????Next time you drive along Bottelary Road outside Stellenbosch, keep an eye out: you may just catch a glimpse of cattle grazing among the vineyard rows at Hartenberg Wine Estate. It may be an unusual sight, but it reflects an important shift in global wine farming.
The animals are part of ReGenWine, a three-year research project led by Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) that is helping to bring greater scientific rigour to the growing international trend of regenerative viticulture.
The project, funded by South Africa Wine, is one of the most comprehensive efforts to date to test the potential of regenerative viticulture in practice.
Putting claims to the test
In agriculture worldwide, the regenerative approach is gaining traction in response to the twin pressures of climate change and ecological degradation.
In viticulture, there is no universally agreed definition of what counts as “regenerative" – but it generally involves farming in ways that improve soil health, promote biodiversity, reduce reliance on synthetic inputs, and potentially sequester carbon.
Yet despite growing interest, most claims about regenerative wine farming remain anecdotal. ReGenWine wants to change that.
“This is a proof-of-concept study," Prof Melané Vivier, Director of SU's South African Grape and Wine Research Institute (SAGWRI) and head of ReGenWine said at the launch of the project recently. “We're looking at how to work with nature rather than against it – and whether that can deliver measurable benefits for wine farmers."
Restoring life to the land
The main trial site is Hartenberg – a wine estate with deep roots and progressive ambitions. Established in 1692, it is one of South Africa's oldest wine farms, yet it has become a frontrunner in sustainability with innovative practices.
Hartenberg has gradually shifted its approach to farming over the past two decades, introducing multi-species cover crops, composting and biological pest control. But this transition really gained momentum in 2017 with the adoption of holistic grazing – integrating livestock into their vineyards.
Earlier this year, Hartenberg became the first wine estate in South Africa, and only the second globally, to be verified under the Ecological Outcome Verification (EOV) framework – an evidence-based standard for monitoring and improving soil and plant health.
“When we brought animals in, everything changed," said Wilhelm Joubert, Hartenberg's viticulturist. “We've seen the land come alive again – from the return of earthworms and dung beetles to improved soil structure and biodiversity."
However, he highlighted challenges as well. “It's romantic to have animals on the farm – but it's a 24/7 job. They need to be managed. You need to control grazing to get the most out of your cover crops."
Backing research for impact
South Africa Wine is financing the project and backing its potential impact. “For us, it's about relevance," Gerard Martin, the industry body's Executive for Research Development and Innovation, said.
“Everywhere I go these days, people are talking about sustainability. They're asking about regenerative farming and what it might mean for their winemaking and their business. This study will generate valuable insights to help the industry make more informed decisions."
How the model works
ReGenWine studies regenerative viticulture in a real-world setting, on a working farm:
- A mix of oats and various grass species is sown between vineyard rows as cover crops to protect the soil, retain moisture, suppress weeds and support biodiversity.
- After the grape harvest – and before new vine growth begins – cattle are brought in to graze the cover crops. This timing ensures they do not eat the vine leaves or grapes.
- As the animals move through the vineyard, their manure and urine replenish the soil – reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.
- This integrated approach supports soil health and vine performance, while also creating a circular benefit: the cattle gain weight and can be sold or used for meat products in the farm's restaurant, providing an additional income stream.
While Hartenberg is well-known for its striking Ankole cattle – a large-horned breed that has become part of its visual identity – the ReGenWine study uses Dexter cattle, a smaller and more manageable breed well suited to the tight layout and conditions of vineyards.
Five teams, one mission
The project builds on a two-year pre-trial begun at Hartenberg in 2022. Encouraging results prompted researchers to expand their study.
“It wasn't difficult to bring the teams together," Vivier said. “Many of us were already working on aspects of this, but no single person or discipline can cover all of it. That is why this is such a collaborative project – and that is a strength."
The project is structured around five interdependent and multidisciplinary work packages (WPs), each led by a senior academic and supported by postgraduate students from different faculties.
WP1: Soil system – Led by Prof Cathy Clarke and co-led by Dr Lawrence Munjonji (Department of Soil Science), this team assesses carbon levels, microbial activity, soil structure, and water retention.
“On the physical side, we're mainly looking at soil compaction," Munjonji said. “Some believe that introducing cattle to vineyards causes compaction, others disagree. We want to test this and provide evidence either way."
WP2: Grapevine to wine system – Headed by Viticulture and Oenology lecturer Dr Erna Blancquaert, with Vivier as co-leader, this group is tracking vine growth, berry ripening (in viticulture, a “berry" refers to an individual grape), and juice composition using field measurements and remote sensing. The goal is to determine whether regenerative practices influence vine balance and wine quality.
“I completed my BSc last year," Dylan Endeacott said “Now, for my MSc the next two years, I will be analysing how livestock integration affects both vine and wine." He already made wine from Hartenberg grapes – during the pre-trial last year – “and it went well," he told the launch audience with a smile.
SU is the only university in South Africa that offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Viticulture and Oenology.
WP3: Cover crop and animal system – Under the leadership of Dr Brink van Zyl and Prof Pieter Swanepoel (chairs of Animal Sciences and Agronomy respectively), this unit explores livestock integration. “Vineyards are not usually set up to accommodate livestock," Van Zyl said. “During the pre-trial, Wilhelm had quite the time keeping the animals in their blocks – they're herding animals, they want to be with their friends!"
To improve compatibility with vineyard conditions, the large-horned Ankole cattle used previously have been supplemented by the smaller, more manageable Dexter breed. They will be deployed in pairs, and researchers will regularly measure the test herd of 24 cattle for dry matter intake, weight gain and nutrient return to the soil.
WP4: Economic and environmental circularity – With Prof Eric Mungatana (Agricultural Economics) at the helm and Prof Annie Chimphango (Chemical Engineering) as co-lead, this work package models input-output flows across four vineyard configurations, calculates return on investment, and evaluates life cycle impacts.
“As engineers, we look at systems, which explains why we're involved," Dr Erik Wolfaardt, a postdoctoral researcher supporting the modelling, said. “This project is a complex process with many moving parts."
WP5: Project and knowledge coordination – Led by Julia Harper in the office of the Dean of AgriSciences, this package ensures that data sets are curated, shared and ethically managed, and that results are disseminated through regular team meetings and industry engagement.
Laying the groundwork
For all its practical promise, ReGenWine is fundamentally about scientific evidence.
“We do not expect to answer everything in one study," Vivier said. “But we do hope to provide a solid base that others can build on."
“It's also about positioning," added Martin. “We're showing that South Africa isn't just following global trends – we can deliver world-class outcomes when we work together."
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Desmond Thompson is a freelance journalist.
CAPTIONS:
TOP PICTURE: Cattle grazing on cover crops in the vineyards at Hartenberg Wine Estate. PICTURE: SUPPLIED
MIDDLE: Viticulturalist Wilhelm Joubert with one of the Dexter cattle used in the vineyards at Hartenberg Wine Estate. PICTURE: HENK OETS
BOTTOM: Some of the researchers and industry partners involved in the ReGenWine project, a major study to test the viability of regenerative viticulture. PICTURE: HENK OETS
