The first winemakers IN SOUTH AFRICA
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Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck played an important role in the establishment of South Africa as a wine country. But how did that happen at the time?
he history of the Cape vine is closely intertwined with the history of colonial South Africa. In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck was commissioned by the United Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, or VOC in Dutch) to establish a trading post and refreshment point for food and water for the VOC fleet at the Cape of Good Hope. In 1656 he planted the first grapevines in the Compagnie Gardens. It is said that one of the first vines can still be admired in Heritage Square in Cape Town. On 2 February 1659, a proud Van Riebeeck wrote in his diary: Today, praise the Lord, wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes.
Groot Constantia in the old days
“TODAY, PRAISE THE LORD, WINE WAS PRESSED FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM CAPE GRAPES”
The perfect climate The arrival in 1679 of Simon van der Stel as the first governor of the Cape of Good Hope was of great significance for the further expansion of Cape wine growing. He was interested in botany, planting vineyards and distilling liqueurs, and can therefore be considered one of the founders of South African viticulture. He founded Groot Constantia, a small green wine region near Cape Town, and produced sweet wines there that gained name and fame. The Cape’s impressive mountain ridges provide a beautiful dramatic backdrop for perhaps the most spectacular wine regions in the world. The vineyards are located in the valleys and on the
Buitenverwachting, one of the oldest estates in Constantia
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