| History of Knorhoek |
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| The Heritage of Knorhoek
Wine Estate Stellenbosch |
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As early as 1694 farmers recognised the
potential of the fertile foothills of the
Simonsberg mountain. By 1793 the legendary
Martin Melck had acquired most of this land and
it was probably he who changed the name from the
original Kleygat (Clay-hole) to Knorhoek, called
in a contemporary document 'de plaats waar de
leeuwen knorren' - the place where lions growl.
This gives one an indication of how wild the
environment was at that time. Feline predators
scaled the high kraal walls at night and preyed
on domestic livestock. The Cape Mountain lion
became extinct by the late 1700's, caracal are
occasionally seen on the farm and leopard
sightings still occur in the higher reaches of
the surrounding mountains - hence the use of the
leopard on the Knorhoek estate wine labels.
Melck's daughter inherited Knorhoek and her son,
Jan Andries Beyers was the first of many
generations to farm here. A devastating
phylloxera plague forced most farmers in the
area to sell, but by an interesting quirk of
fate, Knorhoek went back into the family.
In 1887 JGB van Niekerk bought a neighbouring
farm and chanced to marry the
great-granddaughter of Beyers, the original
Knorhoek patriarch. She convinced him to buy
back Knorhoek, and now four generations later,
the Van Niekerks have created a fine balance
between producing excellent wines and conserving
a little of the wild spirit of the past.
A visit to the family cemetery behind the
guesthouse makes for
interesting reflection on a colourful past.
… And Present
Today the Van Niekerk brothers are the 5th
generation to own and work this beautiful farm.
Following in the footsteps of their father,
Hannes, who was awarded the prestigious Smuts
Trophy for his wines, they continue the long and
honourable family tradition of winemaking.
James, in charge of the vineyards, and Hansie,
responsible for winemaking and marketing,
together with their wives Carol and Ingrid, form
a vibrant young team, passionate about wines and
delighted to share their heritage with visitors
and guests.
Situated in peaceful gardens, with a tempting
rock pool and rustic outdoor lapa, the
3-star guesthouse
spoils guests with traditional Cape hospitality
and fine food. Knorhoek is a popular venue for
weddings, conferences and
other functions.
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| Conservation Initiative |
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Knorhoek proudly
supports the
Biodiversity &
Wine Initiative.
The BWI is a pioneering partnership
between the South African wine industry
and the conservation sector.
The vision is to protect and conserve
our unique natural heritage within the
Cape Winelands – an outstanding place
with iconic species whilst maintaining
living, productive landscapes.
More info
on the BWI |
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