In 1688, the first French Huguenots came to the Cape, escaping religious persecution in France. The Dutch government of the day granted the Huguenots land in the area then known as Oliphantshoek. The Huguenots were instrumental in improving the Cape's wine industry, bringing with them a level of knowledge of viticulture and winemaking which the Dutch did not possess.
Paulina's Drift was sold to Pieter de Villiers, under the name Zandrift. On 15th October 1813, a portion of the farm (the present Rickety Bridge) changed ownership to one Hendrick Lodewicus Pepler, and on 9th February 1829 to his widow, Elizabeth Catharina de Villiers - under the name Paulina's Dal. She extended the farm and had 40,000 vines planted, producing grapes for wine and brandy.
The significance of Paulina comes to light when we examine how land was managed in the 19th century in what is now known as the Cape Winelands. During my journey to Rickety Bridge, it was explained to us that ownership of farms in Oliphantshoek (Franschhoek) was not strictly hereditary; ownership was usually in favour of those most capable to run the estate to the benefit of the broader community, as each of the few farms at the time was vital for providing food for the settler population. As such, if a farm owner were to die, and his son was rather a deadbeat, the farm would most likely be given over to a member of the community more valued for their administrative ability. The significance of Paulina is that she was chosen as the most capable person to continue management of the farm in a time known to be of disadvantage to women regarding proper appraisal of their skills. One may assume that she must have shown greater administrative ability than was generally required, so as to thwart any prejudice against her. This leads us to recognize her contribution to the South African wine industry as one which, through the example she set, has come to reinforce and contribute to the fortitude of our South African women in wine.
Thank you Paulina!
A part of our brand new content system!
In the week leading up to Women's Day we at wine.co.za are pioneering a brand new style of content just for you. With intriguing curated content designed to pique your interest in South African wine, coupled with an overarching theme for each week and a specific style for each week day, we're bringing you the content you love in an exciting new way. The first week of August is themed after Women's Day, this week we're celebrating the women of the SA wine industry, with the hashtag #WomeninWine. Each day of the week also has it's own purpose and corresponding hashtag.
- On Mondays we celebrate someone making waves in the industry with #VinoPeople, this is usually in the form of an interview.
- Tuesdays are for learning, with #LearnAboutWine, where we seek out something 'soft' for new enthusiasts and something 'hard' for our lovers of all things technical.
- Wednesday is about getting out and visiting a new winery, and thus we have #VisitAWinery, where we will be exploring new and established estates to kickstart your interest!
- Thursdays have us yearning for the weekend, and what better way to do that than to have a look at upcoming wine events? #Winehappenings has us examining the awesome lineup for the weekend and beyond, so you can start planning early!
- Fridays are for wine tasting and #Tastefriday will continue to serve that role on our Instagram as we taste the finest of the winelands in a proper Friday fashion.
- And finally, Saturday's are for our Shop, with #WineSale, where we bring you the hottest new deals on fine wine, with delivery in South Africa absolutely free! Care for Cab Sauv but unsure on a favourite? Try our 'Taste of Cabernet Sauvignon' Taste-pack and enjoy six of the best from wineries across SA. Or have a favourite winery in mind? Indulge in a Taste-pack of your favourite winery and share the good times and wines, with friends!