Napoleon’s troops had a charming custom when marching through the Burgundy wine region en route to battle or to quell some bout of frequent Gallic civil unrest: they would salute the famed Le Montrachet vineyards as they passed, out of respect for what those vines meant to the French wine culture. And to France itself.
As a current pacifist and former member of the South African Defence Force, saluting no longer forms part of my daily repertoire. Yet here in the Cape, there are certain wine farms and vineyards demanding a quiet reverence, a moment of dreamy introspection, and deserved respect every time they appear along the road.
Groot Constantia and Klein Constantia, where the Cape’s wine story began in 1685, are two such places. Then there’s La Motte and L’Ormarins in the Franschhoek Valley. In Stellenbosch, names like Muratie, Rust en Vrede, and Meerlust stand out as historic beacons – not only for helping to establish South Africa’s reputation for wine quality, but also for shaping the unique cultural and historical legacy of Cape wine.
This legacy matters as much for a wine nation as the ability to produce high-quality wines in diverse styles from varied soils and climates. Culture and heritage – built over centuries of dedication to the vine and to winemaking – are prized national assets, essential for building a wine country’s image, reputation, and identity. Without those three, any wine country is little more than an uninspired zero.
One historic Cape wine estate I’ve always quietly saluted for its cultural and oenological legacy is one you don’t easily spot from the road – but always know it’s there. Vergenoegd Löw sits tucked away near the busy route in and out of Stellenbosch, just off the N2 highway. It’s not visible at first glance, but its presence is felt – just like the enduring prestige of its wines and its identity as a historical landmark of Stellenbosch.
Vergenoegd Löw’s roots trace back to 1696. It’s a true Cape gem, complete with a grand manor house dating from 1773 – though recent discussions suggest it might even date to 1713. Vines were planted and wine was made here as early as the VOC (Dutch East India Company) era, but its real fame arrived with the Faure family, who settled here in 1820.
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