They say a glass of wine is good for you...
6 February 2008, 14:25
Pretoria - Winemaking is an occupation usually left to humans but this has changed with a Knysna elephant using its weight to stamps grapes at the Knysna Elephant Park, the Herald Online reported on Wednesday.
Harry, as the elephant is known, will have a symbolic job stamping some of the grapes which will be used to make wines marketed as Boplaas Elephant Rose, Boplaas Elephant Chardonnay and later Boplaas Elephant Cabernet.
The owner of Boplaas wineries in Calitzdorp, Karel Nel, and his friend Ian Withers, who owns the elephant park, came up with the idea one day in the Karoo.
"We were talking and after a few glasses of wine, as is usually the case, the best ideas started to flow. We thought it would be a good idea. A percentage of the proceeds from the wine sales will be used for conservation," he said.
The first chardonnays should be in the shops within eight weeks.
Ian's wife Lizette, who also works at the elephant park, said the plan was to channel the funds through an established environmental organisation.
She said Harry had been the first elephant on the reserve, which opened its doors in 1994.
He is 22 years old, stands 3,2m tall and weighs four tons. - Sapa
Harry, as the elephant is known, will have a symbolic job stamping some of the grapes which will be used to make wines marketed as Boplaas Elephant Rose, Boplaas Elephant Chardonnay and later Boplaas Elephant Cabernet.
The owner of Boplaas wineries in Calitzdorp, Karel Nel, and his friend Ian Withers, who owns the elephant park, came up with the idea one day in the Karoo.
"We were talking and after a few glasses of wine, as is usually the case, the best ideas started to flow. We thought it would be a good idea. A percentage of the proceeds from the wine sales will be used for conservation," he said.
The first chardonnays should be in the shops within eight weeks.
Ian's wife Lizette, who also works at the elephant park, said the plan was to channel the funds through an established environmental organisation.
She said Harry had been the first elephant on the reserve, which opened its doors in 1994.
He is 22 years old, stands 3,2m tall and weighs four tons. - Sapa
Pretoria
