Visit Muratie Wine Estate For An Extraordinary Cape Winelands Experience

ONE OF THE MOST AUTHENTIC TREASURES OF THE CAPE WINELANDS

There are enchanting places where one can escape life’s hustle and bustle, and Muratie is one of those magical treasures. Hidden away in the exquisite Knorhoek valley in the premium Simonsberg wine ward, with a perfect view of Table Mountain, Muratie, established in 1685, is as old as history itself.

A visit to the historic estate reveals a piece of history where time has largely stood still, where the unique old-world ambience is almost tangible. Guarded over by magnificent ancient oak trees, the passion for preserving the estate’s rich, centuries-old heritage is captured in every nook and cranny of this family farm, every corner exuding a sense of time gone by. Wherever you are on the estate you cannot help being moved by a sense of the many generations who came before. Beautiful old Cape Dutch buildings, crumbling statues, antique wine-making equipment, the enchanting tasting room with cobwebs hugging the tartaric textured walls, stained glass windows and art, and memoirs and belongings of previous owners are all set in a secret garden, a lush green haven of peace and tranquillity.

Passionate guardians of Muratie's prized heritage, the Melck family - Annatjie Melck, her sons, Rijk and Anton, and daughters Annelise and Charla - is committed to preserving the essence of a bygone era - upholding the age-old traditions of the farm, safeguarding the historic buildings, relics and memoirs, and acknowledging all those who came before.

Muratie is one of the oldest farms in South Africa, rich in history and heritage. And with this age comes a myriad fascinating tales of the many extraordinary characters from the farm’s colourful past. On arrival at Muratie, one of the first things you come across is a white gabled memorial celebrating all the previous owners through the decades.

AT MURATIE EVERY WINE TELLS A STORY

Even the Muratie wines reflect a tangible sense of time suspended, with the estate’s wines named after these intriguing personalities from the past who moulded Muratie as we know it today, each wine with its own charming story described on the back label. Says Rijk Melck, “When you sip on our wines you are tasting history for yourself.”

“Our flagship white and red blends are named Laurens Campher and Ansela van der Caab, honouring the first owner of Muratie and the remarkable love affair between him and the slave girl Ansela who eventually became his wife. The oak tree she planted to bless their marriage still stands on Muratie, as does a small white house, their first home, built for them by Laurens, which today houses the MOK Gallery. Our Laurens Campher is a judiciously oaked unique white blend combining predominantly Chenin Blanc, with Sauvignon Blanc, Verdehlo and Viognier. Our Ansela van de Caab, our Bordeaux-style red blend, has been honoured with a 5-star rating in the 2021 Platter’s SA Wine Guide - Ansela’s third Platter’s 5-star rating to date.
Our Pinot Noir honours George Paul Canitz, famous artist and charismatic bon vivant who planted Pinot Noir at Muratie in 1927 and became the very first Pinot producer in South Africa. Most of the art in the Muratie cellar was painted by George Canitz. His art studio, which he built with bricks made on the farm, still stands today, on a terrace next to the tasting centre, and his ‘Kneipzimmer’ at Muratie bears testament to the merry parties that took place regularly in this quaint drinking den. It was here that Canitz’s many guests were invited to share his favourite Muratie wines and cover the roof and walls with paintings and writings.
We honoured Martin Melck, our legendary forefather who established Muratie’s Melck legacy in the 1700’s, by naming both our Cabernet Sauvignons after him.
Both of our Shiraz wines pay tribute to my late father Ronne Melck, a larger-than-life personality with an incredibly finely tuned palate and boundless passion for wine. He was a South African wine industry legend and a seventh-generation direct descendant of Martin Melck, who turned a 30-year-long dream into reality when he brought Muratie back into the Melck fold in 1987. Tragically my father’s untimely passing in September 1995 came too soon for him to fulfil his vision for Muratie.
Our Merlot is named after George Canitz’s fiercely independent daughter, Alberta Annemarie, who, upon her father’s death in 1959, became one of the first female wine farm owners in the country. She ran the farm on her own until she sold Muratie to my father Ronnie in 1987. She fiercely protected Muratie’s legacy, keeping the farm unchanged, and my dad agreed to do the same.
Our Lady Alice Rosé Cap Classique celebrates Lady Alice Stanford, who, as the wife of a senator who bought Muratie in 1909, was a high society hostess of note adept at turning every event into a dance party.
Our popular Cape Vintage pays homage to the estate’s legendary Ben Prins, winemaker at Muratie from 1957 until 1987. Affectionately known as Barefoot Ben, his trademark was his bare feet.
Our seductive fortified dessert wine made from Hanepoot grapes (Muscat d’Alexandrie) is called Amber Forever. During the 1940s, when Muratie was owned by George Paul Canitz, the novel Forever Amber was published by Kathleen Winsor. Set in seventeenth-century England, it told the story of the orphan Amber St Clare, who rose through the ranks of British society by sleeping with increasingly influential men. Canitz insisted that his fortified sweet wine was named after this fictitious character, but the truth is that the renowned painter and worshipper of wine, women and song had an Amber of his own. She was his model and muse and her picture hangs in the Muratie cellar to this day. ‘To happy days and glorious nights, Forever Amber,’ was his famous toast.
Our Chardonnay was renamed Isabella in recognition of our eldest daughter. We have subsequently also released an Isabella Chardonnay Family Reserve, a limited release produced from exceptional fruit.”

Visit the Muratie website for a full list of all the Muratie wines, all of which can be purchased at the estate, online at www.muratie.co.za/wine/buy-wine/ and nationally at leading wine retailers.

OLD WINEMAKING TRADITIONS BLENDED WITH MODERN METHODS – CREATING WORLD-CLASS WINES

The revival and preservation of heritage also extends to the way Muratie produce their wines, with respect for age-old traditions in the vineyards and the 200-year-old gabled cellar. Grapes are still hand-picked and hand-sorted to select only the best. The Muratie wines are made as naturally and traditionally as possible, with natural ferment and gentle pressing.

Blending the best of traditional and modern methods, they employ a combination of classic open fermenters and stainless-steel tanks in the fermentation process. After fermentation, the wine is matured in French oak barrels until the winemaking team discerns that it has reached it optimum moment to go to bottle. Under the creative hands of Rijk and winemaker Hattingh de Villiers, Muratie has become a serious and respected player on the world wine stage, producing a range of classic highly acclaimed wines.

A CULTURE OF FOOD AT MURATIE

When Ronnie and Annatjie Melck moved into the Muratie Manor House, they infused new life into the old homestead, establishing their culture of food and wine. There was hardly ever an empty seat at their immense dining room table. There would always be music, the wine would flow, the kitchen would be a hive of activity, and the aroma of food would infuse the cheerful ambience.

Annatjie Melck, chatelaine of Muratie and a well-known Stellenbosch personality, is a true food person. Determined to uphold the food culture of Stellenbosch and the Winelands, she, together with like-minded friends, founded the famous Stellenbosch Wine and Food Festival, and the iconic landmark, Oom Samie se Winkel, in Dorp Street. She also authored the highly acclaimed ‘Koljander’ where she showcases over 100 recipes interwoven with her life’s journey from the plains of the Great Karoo to Muratie.

Muratie’s popular Farm Kitchen Restaurant embodies the Melck’s food and wine culture. Rijk’s wife, Kim, an accomplished cook, working closely with her mother-in-law Annatjie, oversees the preparation of this authentic farm lunch, using fresh ingredients from Muratie’s organic vegetable garden as well as specialty foods. Muratie also has a wonderful range of their very own homemade goodies available at the tasting room: jams, marmalades, bee-friendly honey, fudge, toffee, nougat, peanut butter cookies and more.

Rijk and Kim Melck with their precious Saartjie

A MULTITUDE OF LIFESTYLE OFFERINGS FOR EVERYONE AT MURATIE

The story of Muratie Wine Estate is reason enough to pay a visit to this historic farm, but there’s also an abundance of events and activities at the estate that keep visitors returning.

Wine tasting and wine and chocolate pairings in the enchanting tasting room
Authentic farm breakfasts and lunches at the Muratie Farm Kitchen
Wine, food and music festivals for the whole family
Amazing trails/events for mountain biking and trail running including a brand-new trail centre
Exhibitions of contemporary art and culture at the MOK Gallery located in Ansela van de Caab’s house, dating back to 1685
Accommodation in George Paul Canitz’s original art studio
Event curation in an exquisite marquee with panoramic views, or on Muratie’s verdant terraces beneath the ancient oak trees. The Muratie Canvas offers a stylish blank slate to create the event of a lifetime.