Cape Town - Accommodation - South Africa - Helderzicht Cottage

Winelands

Jan van Riebeeck first planted vines in the Cape in 1655. A Dutch governor, Simon van der Stel became governor of the Cape in 1679 and was an enthusiastic wine maker. Upon discovering the fertile Wineland valleys, he encouraged the planting of vines and passed on his wine-making expertise to early settlers.

As a result of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, 150 French Huguenots Protestants decided to seek a better life and immigrate to the Cape between 1688 and 1690. They imported their knowledge of grape growing and wine-making and were given land in the Franschhoek area [French Corner] to cultivate.

Willem Adriaan van der Stel succeeded his father as governor of the Cape in 1699. Known for being a villain, which eventually led to his exile, he was also passionate about farming grapes. His farm, Vergelegen, is the origin of the present town of Somerset West and its wine route.

Adam Tas from Stellenbosch married a rich widow, thereby becoming part owner of a farm near Stellenbosch. In an effort to get richer, he sent a secret petition to the King of Holland about Van der Stel’s illegal actions. Tas’s petition was rejected and he was imprisoned by van der Stel and his farm given to Jan Cornelis, who called it Libertas ("liberty").

Phylloxera, a root louse, infested the Cape vineyards in 1885 causing a major disaster. A final cure came from Europe, who was suffering the same problem. Vitis vinifera was grafted onto American rootstock, which is resistant to Phylloxera.

The Cape vineyards were replanted with this rootstock and in 1904 large surpluses were produced.

The resulting drop in prices led to the creation of Co-operative wineries, of which Helderberg Koöperatiewe Wynmakery in Somerset West was the first.

Later the KWV, Co-operative Winegrowers' Association, was created in 1918. Today the KWV represent about 5000 winegrowers and offer their members a number of services to ensure the optimal use of their annual harvest.