However, with curious irony, the fate of Allesverloren has since been an unusually happy one. By 1806, Allesverloren's owners had already harvested the estate's first wines, and since the estate passed into the hands of the Malan family in 1872, Allesverloren has gone from strength to strength. The estate has increased to 227 hectares and is still making wines of renown.

Diemersdal wines are the perfect expression of the distinct terroir of the Durbanville Wine Valley, one of the oldest wine regions in the Cape. The diverse soils and slopes provide the optimum conditions for making premium- quality wines with prominent varietal character. The dry land vineyards develop concentrated flavours, uniformly ripened by the cooling sea-breezes from the Atlantic Ocean.

Dieu Donne – dating back to 1855 - is a delightful haven of peace and tranquility in the most beautiful valley in South Africa: the picturesque and world renowned wine producing enclave of Franschhoek.

Dieu Donne is situated high on the steep southwest facing slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains. Here the sun is tempered, ensuring slow ripening of our grapes. And thanks to cool summer conditions and Dieu Donne's unique soil strata of Hutton and Clovelly from weathered granite with a rocky top soil, found only in this corner of the Valley, the vines do not show excessive vigour, nor do they over-produce. This exceptional terroir gives Dieu Donne wines their special character.

The view from Dieu Donne is well-known among those who wish to identify the famous landmarks of Franschhoek, watch the sun setting over the Simonsberg Mountains, or just love enjoying a glass of wine during a picnic at this scenic spot.

They would then load their wagons, span their oxen and set off to Cape Town to barter their produce, mainly fresh fruit and vegetables, to the sailors and travellers who had spent many months at sea.

Kanonkop is a fourth generation family estate, which was originally purchased by JW Sauer, a cabinet member in the parliament of the Union of South Africa. His son Paul Oliver Sauer, also a cabinet minister, took over the reins from his father and in 1968 was joined by Springbok rugby great Jan “Boland” Coetzee.

Mary Sauer, daughter of Paul Sauer, inherited the Estate. She married Jannie Krige, a rugby administrator at the University of Stellenbosch, who took early retirement and together with Coetzee made the first estate bottled wines in 1973.

Beyers Truter joined the estate in 1980 with the departure of Coetzee, and together with Johann and Paul, sons of Mary and Jannie, continued the traditions developed on this highly prized estate. More recently Beeslaar, who joined the team in 2002, has taken over from Beyers and continues the good work passed down from generation to generation.

The restored and stately Manor House is set amid magnificently landscaped gardens. The house is one of the oldest and most important, architecturally speaking, in the Paarl region.

The front gable of this manor house was destroyed in a fire in 1823, hence the rebuild date of 1825 on the front gable. At the end of 1977 the Engelbrecht family took residence on Rust en Vrede. The family and their ancestors have been grape growers since the early 1700’s and by moving to Rust en Vrede, became wine producers for the first time. In 1978 R&V produced its first wines of the modern era. Jannie Engelbrecht made these wines and then appointed Kevin Arnold as cellar master of Rust en Vrede.

In 30 years Rust en Vrede has had only two appointed winemakers, namely; Kevin Arnold and Louis Strydom. In 2007 Coenie Snyman was appointed winemaker responsible for Rust en Vrede but as part of a bigger team. Louis Strydom is still very much involved in the winemaking ventures of the company. The company and the estate is now headed up by Jean Engelbrecht who amongst others is also in partnership with Ernie Els at their co- founded venture called Engelbrecht Els Vineyards. At Rust en Vrede they produce only 20.000 cases of wine per year of which 65% is exported to more than 30 countries around the world.

Rust en Vrede is a remarkable example of exquisite landscaping. At home and abroad, this unassuming Stellenbosch Estate has made a name for itself far beyond its modest, but infinitely charming, 55 hectares.

Dewaldt obtained his Diploma in Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College in 1996 after which he started working at Rust and Vrede in Stellenbosch, during which time he also completed a harvest at Dry Creek Vineyards in California. He then joined Avondale Cellar in Paarl in 1998 (since inception) and started with Saronsberg in October 2003, strongly believing in its unique terroir and the philosophy of its people.

The Winemaker Jan Boland Coetezee: "Stellenbosch has always inspired me. It’s where I was educated, learned the great game of rugby, started a family and made many friends. It is also where I have come to fulfill my passion and fascination for the noble art of winemaking. It all began in 1980 when I purchased the farm Vriesenhof in the Paradyskloof Valley. Together with my team, I set about cultivating plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinotage and Pinot Noir. Today, these plantings produce three very diverse ranges of wine under the labels of Vriesenhof, Talana Hill and Paradyskloof. "