Two years ago, on 7 April 2024, gale-force winds of up to 139 km/h carried a fierce fire onto Blaauwklippen Wine Estate. Within hours, the historic Manor House, the Jonkershuis, and the Cathedral were lost to the flames.
Established in 1682, Blaauwklippen is South Africa’s oldest wine farm and the first registered company in the Cape Winelands. The destruction of these Cape Dutch treasures was a profound loss – not only for the estate, but for the country’s living heritage. No lives were lost. Thanks to the swift action of Blaauwklippen’s Disaster Management team, staff, local firefighters and neighbouring farms, every guest and team member was safely evacuated.
This month on the second anniversary, we reflect on what was carefully rebuilt under the strictest heritage guidelines. Every brick, every detail, and every line was faithfully preserved to honour the past, thoughtfully reconstructed for the present, and built to endure for future generations. On 1 February 2026, Blaauwklippen Manor officially reopened, reintroducing five-star accommodation to the estate. Guided by heritage architects and master craftsmen, original materials – including centuries-old bricks and fragments of Delft porcelain – were conserved and reinstated. Acclaimed designer Francois du Plessis created interiors that blend classic Cape Dutch elegance with a fresh, colourful touch inspired by the Stellenbosch Mountains.
The restored Manor House and Jonkershuis now offer 11 luxurious rooms and suites, once again welcoming travellers to the tree-lined avenue and courtyard that have served as a beacon of hospitality since the 1700s. Then. The estate that welcomed carriage travellers between Cape Town and Stellenbosch. Now. Faithfully rebuilt with the same dedication to excellence. Forever. Ready for the next generations to experience South Africa’s oldest wine farm. “Blaauwklippen has stood for resilience, enterprise, and hospitality for over three centuries,” says Roelof van den Berg, CEO of Blaauwklippen. “This is not just about restoring buildings – it is about preserving a sense of place for the future.”
Today, as we look upon these graceful buildings once more welcoming guests beneath the Stellenbosch Mountains, we celebrate not only their return, but the promise they carry: that Blaauwklippen, South Africa’s oldest wine farm, will continue to offer its timeless warmth, its world-class wines, and its enduring sense of place to generations yet to come. This is more than restoration – it is renewal, it is resilience, and it is the next proud chapter in a legacy that will live on.
Then. Now. Forever.