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50ste Reünie

Die Gedenkwynpak

Pieter van Zyl

In November 2022 is Frank Meaker deur die PRG Klas van 1973 Reüniereëlingskomitee (RK) getaak om die samestelling van ‘n prestige gedenkwynpak (6 x 750ml) te koordineer, ter herdenking van ons 50ste Reunie jaar in Maart 2023. 

Frank het uitgereik na van ons voorste PRG Old Boys-wynmakers en ses uitsoekwynlandgoedere/wynkelders het positief gereageer op ons uitnodiging: Meerlust, Kanonkop, Simonsig, Mooiplaas, Bosman Family Vineyards en Alto. Die wyne is aangekoop van die produsente en verkoop aan die manne teen R900 per gedenkpak. Die kleinhandelwaarde van die ses wyne in die pak is R 1,670.

Die RK het goed besef dat die produsente dikwels genader word vir borgskappe en skenkings aan gemeenskapsorganisasies tydens spesiale geleenthede en fondsinsamelings. Derhalwe was ons aanslag nie om skenkings of donasies te vra nie, maar om die wyne aan te koop van die produsente teen R100 plus BTW per bottel, maar met die versoek dat dit een van hulle gehaltewyne van eie keuse moet wees – ‘n bietjie voorbarig van ons, maar ons het ons beroep op die wynmakers se eie trots as PRG Old Boys. 

Al ses verskaffers het uitstekend met die RK saamgewerk, sodat ons die volgende prestige wyne aan ons Klas van 1973 beskikbaar kon maak – ons het ook ons spesiale 1973-2023 Reunie herdenkingsplakker op die bottels aangebring (sien foto):

Long recognized for producing world-class wines, Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the traditional dedication to the art of winemaking continues under the guidance of our classmate Hannes Myburgh (PRG 1973), 8th generation custodian of this seventeenth-century national monument. Meerlust, with its historic manor house, classic wine cellar, family cemetery, dovecote and bird sanctuary is situated fifteen kilometres south of Stellenbosch, with the blue crescent of False Bay a mere five kilometres away. Wines are only made from grapes grown on the Estate, which is uniquely positioned for the production of wines with exceptional complexity and character.

Kanonkop is a 4th generation family-owned wine estate, which has been handed down from generation to generation and is now in the hands of brothers Johann Krige (PRG 1970) and Paul Krige. The first wines bearing the Kanonkop label were produced in 1973 – coincidently our Matric year. The year 1973 was when Kanonkop’s contention for a place in the annals of South African wine greatness began, just three years before the death of the man to whom the wine estate owes everything it has achieved and all the recognition it has attained: Paul Sauer. At Kanonkop, it is the spirit and presence of brothers Johann and Paul Krige that today undoubtedly live through the wines. As the custodians of Paul Sauer’s legacy, it is his grandsons who oversee the estate’s daily operations.

Simonsig Wine Estate is synonymous with the history of the South African wine industry, the Stellenbosch wine region, and the Malan family name. These elements are intertwined in this family-owned farm, where the late Frans Malan produced the first bottle of Kaapse Vonkel, South Africaʼs first Méthode Cap Classique made in the classic bottle-fermented style. He is also honoured for co-founding the thriving Stellenbosch Wine Route, a first in its time. Today, Frans Malan’s legacy lives on through his sons, Francois (PRG 1974) and Johan (PRG 1976), and their children and grandchildren.

Mooiplaas Wine Estate and Private Nature Reserve boast a pristine natural beauty. Owned and managed by brothers Tielman Roos (PRG 1974) and Louis Roos (PRG 1976), the Mooiplaas vineyards lie on steep slopes of ancient mineral rich soils in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch, overlooking Cape Town. Mooiplaas is a historic and traditional working wine estate, bought by Nicolaas Roos in 1963. He was joined by his two sons Tielman, viticulturist, (1980) and Louis, winemaker (1983). The history of the farm dates back to 1806, with the manor house on the estate – a national monument – an impressive example of Cape Dutch architecture. In 1995 Mooiplaas established a Private Nature Reserve, dedicating 70 hectares to the conservation of endangered Fynbos species. Tielman and Louis produce a range of environmentally friendly wines rooted in tradition and artisan techniques to reflect the unique terroir.

The Bosman Family of Bosman Family Vineyards have been vine growers in Wellington for eight generations. The very first Bosman to arrive at the Cape of Good Hope was Hermanus Lambertus Bosman in 1707. He became the “sieketrooster” for the Drakenstein community, starting a tradition of care that has been passed down the generations. In 2007, 8th generation Petrus Bosman (PRG 1999) returned to the long-held family dream and released the first wines from their newly renovated 270-year-old cellar. Today, the descendants of Hermanus Bosman are proud custodians of his legacy devoted to responsible, handcrafted winemaking. Bosman Family Vineyards is not only a wine producer. The cellar is part of Bosman Adama, an organisation that includes a plant improvement facility, which plays a major role in propagating new, healthy vines; and a vine nursery supplying “stokkies” to grape farmers across the country. This also means that there is sufficient work year round for everyone on the farm, from the nursery, to the vineyards, to the cellar.

Alto Wine Estate is a farm with a rich history, befitting its status as one of the icon estates of the Western Cape winelands. The first title deeds date back to 1693, but it was only in 1919 that the farm was given over entirely to vineyard. That was thanks to the foresight of the farmer Manie Malan who, together with his father, Hennie, recognised that the property’s unique aspect, soils and slopes were ideal for crafting full-bodied red wines. The Malans nurtured and expanded these vineyards for four decades, before selling the property to Piet du Toit in 1959. In 1983 Piet retired, handing the honour of Alto winemaker to his son Hempies du Toit (PRG 1971), a man as famous for his exploits on the rugby field as in the wine cellar. With the turn of the century came a new winemaker in Schalk van der Westhuizen (PRG 1970), who further cemented Alto’s reputation in South Africa and abroad. In 2015 he continued the Alto tradition of passing the baton down through the generations, with his son Bertho van der Westhuizen (PRG 1998) becoming only the fifth winemaker in Alto’s long history.

Vir ons as die Klas van 1973 was die “goue herdenking” van ons Matriekjaar ‘n besondere gebeurtenis en die deelname van hierdie PRG Old Boys wynmakers en landgoedeienaars by wyse van die ses gehaltewyne het vir ons Klas van 1973 iets baie spesiaal beteken. Ons het min twyfel dat dit ook ‘n geleentheid was waartydens hierdie uitsoek wynhandelsmerke onder die 1973 Manne gepromoveer is, wat hopelik in die toekoms by wyse van verdere produk verkope vir ons deelnemende produsente dit ook die moeite werd was om aan ons projek deel te neem.

Ons het twee van die gedenkwynpakke teruggehou, wat tydens ons reüniedinee opgeveil is deur Johan Bouwer.  Johan het gewoeker met die aanbiedinge en kon daarin slaag om ‘n bedrag van R 60,300 in te samel, danksy ruimhartige bydraes van Dillie Malherbe, Eddie de Villiers, Niel du Bois, Jean-Marie Questiaux, Harry Erasmus, Gaika Cillié, Francois Cillié, Danie Davin, Boksie de Clercq, Dirk Loots en Kobie Schonken. Die opbrengs gaan grotendeels aangewend gaan word as ‘n donasie aan die ondersteuningsfonds van Ernst (‘Pof’) Louw, wat tans behandeling ontvang vir kanker. 

Ons wil dus elkeen van ons ses deelnemende wynlandgoedere van harte bedank vir hulle ruimhartige deelname aan ons 2023 Reunie en spesifiek ook aan ons prestige gedenkwynpak projek. Dit word opreg waardeer.

SEMPER SPLENDIDIOR