Morgenhof lies on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch. A full range of wine styles are produced here, under the dynamic and highly experienced ownership of Anne Cointreau (Anne can trace her family involvement with the wine industry to 1210). Cointreau bought the estate in 1993, recognising the potential of the vineyards and of the country post-Apartheid. Since that time Morgenhof Estate has been completely renovated and today is one of the most visited in the Western Cape, with an enviable reputation for quality wine production. Morgenhof was granted ‘Estate’ status in 1998.
Jacques Cilliers, who joined the company in 2003, became chief winemaker at the 2005 harvest and now works alongside consultant Martin Meinert, previously of Vergelegen Wine Estate. The Estate Range and Vineyard Range reds and whites are all produced from estate-grown fruit.
The Western Cape offers huge potential for producing interesting and uniquely South African wines. Morgenhof was one of the first to produce a more serious style of Chenin Blanc. Made from blocks of Chenin planted in the early 1960s, this is a concentrated wine, rich and lingering. Morgenhof’s other focus is its Premiere Selection red, a Bordeaux style blend made from the estate’s best fruit. The percentages of Cabernet and Merlot in the blend change each year, depending on the character of the vintage in question. This wine has now been relaunched as The Morgenhof Estate and the 2004 vintage has been winning fans amongst customers and journalists alike in the UK. We do have a very small amount of the 2001 left, but it is like gold dust! |
