In our spring issue, editor Nelia Andrag reflects on ground-breaking research and ventures that are putting Stellenbosch right up there with the bright and the bold.
This spring issue of Stellenbosch Visio has ‘growth’ written in bold all over it. And no, I don’t mean budding vines, the translucent green of new oak leaves and wildflowers. I’m talking about a technological revolution where fresh shoots are being nurtured into international game-changers. In a quiet corner of the university campus, LaunchLab is leading the charge in fields like diagnostics, agri-biotech and health- tech (p.77). Thanks to this incubator, a company like CubeSpace is already transforming the global satellite industry and is on track to becoming Africa’s first university spinout unicorn, a startup valued at more than a billion dollars.
Stellenbosch people seem to have this uncanny ability to stay grounded while reaching for the stars. Perhaps it’s thanks to the natural beauty that surrounds us. Something we often take for granted. But count on Garden Town in October (p. 111) to reawaken our senses, and on Flowers in the Foyer (p.120) to bring the enchantment of flowers inside our homes with their spontaneous bunches and bouquets.
In the rich tapestry of Stellenbosch our wine estates play a vital role, often weaving together nature, wine and art. At Tokara (p. 86), where Marco Cianfanelli’s grapevine-inspired sculpture eloquently tells the tale of winemaking, Tokara’s fynbos garden and olive groves form the perfect background to our fashion and cover shoot (p.38) – our heartfelt thanks for hosting us.
Spring is also the perfect season for enjoying wine in the open air. “In an al fresco setting, wine sings back at you, its subtle colours flirting, its flavours showing off the finest nuances,” writes Emile Joubert in a special feature on the coolest wines and scenic spots where to raise your glass (p. 88).
As much as our town is about wine, it is also about food, with Stellenbosch restaurants topping the charts in annual restaurant awards. Marana Brand savoured culinary greatness in four award-winning local restaurants, and after reading her story (p. 30) you will follow suit.
Life in Stellenbosch comes with a built-in sense of adventure for hiking our mountainsides. But why not venture further afield? Richard Holmes did just that and followed the annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles over the plains of Africa (p. 72). As he wrote about a herd of wildebeest crossing the Mara River, straight into the jaws of crocodiles: “It was nature, red in tooth and claw, and it lived up to every expectation I had.”
Jy kan natuurlik ook in die voetspore van bekroonde skrywer Kirby van der Merwe volg vir ’n onvergeetlike ervaring in Indonesië – of saam met hom in nostalgie oor ou motors versink (p. 128).
Die verlede stap eintlik oral saam in Stellenbosch, of dit nou is om in te loer by die dorp se eie “lighuis” (p. 118) of om met trots kennis te neem van die Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof se imponerende verlede en hede en die prestasies van Bloemhoffers (p.104) – dink hier aan onder meer die wêreldbekende kunstenaar Marlene Dumas wie se skildery Miss January pas teen ’n rekordbedrag verkoop is.
Die Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees (p. 116) is reeds ook ’n instelling op Stellenbosch. Die feestema vanjaar is “Deel”, en in die woorde van feesdirekteur Saartjie Botha: “Ons is nie besig met wiskunde nie, om te deel en te verklein nie. Die Woordfees se deel maak meer, maak heel, vermenigvuldig.”
Inderdaad. Ons almal wat deel, vermenigvuldig en maak heel. Mag Stellenbosch se strate en harte hierdie lente gevul wees met die beloftes van groei, potensiaal en hoop.
