Creating an artisan wine requires craftsmanship and care in all aspects. Whalehaven artisan winery makes its mark by collaborating with calligrapher Andrew Van Der Merwe to create an extraordinary piece of calligraphy that was incorporated into the Conservation Coast labels and then further interpreting it into a significant expression as land art. The work that Andrew meticulously crafts is indicative of the ethos of Whalehaven Conservation Coast: a triumph of nature. Conservation Coast celebrates the stretch of pristine Cape South Coast from False Bay to Cape Agulhas, where a number of coastal and offshore conservancy areas offer sanctuary to indigenous fynbos flora and visiting marine life.
Andrew was a natural choice for this partnership. A renowned typographer, he specializes in the traditional art and technique of lettering and calligraphy. Revered by fellow calligraphers, he holds a great sentiment for tradition, an appreciation of the abstract form and symbol and a passion for the written word.
“We tried to capture the raw and unspoilt nature on this idyllic stretch of coast,” says Silvana Bottega of Conservation Coast. “Through working with Andrew to create sand-art on the magnificent stretches of beach in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve we hope to raise awareness for the area. There are so many aspects of theWhale Coast that go unseen and it is really one of the most striking landscapes in the world. Many people default to the Garden Route, but the potential for nature tourism near Hermanus is incredible and is growing.”
The mother and baby whale are the icons of Whalehaven Winery that is an award-winning boutique winery situated on the Whale Coast.
