De Meye Wine estate

De Meye takes its name from the De Meye river in Holland, the birthplace of the first Myburgh who sailed to South Africa to farm in 1665. Five generations later, the Myburgh family still works this 100-hectare estate in Muldersvlei on the Stellenbosch Wine Route, nurturing a legacy of authenticity that stretches back more than three centuries.

For much of its history, the farm operated as a cattle property and grape supplier, selling fruit to larger producers rather than making its own wine. That changed in 1997 when the family made the decision to transition from bulk grape sales to crafting wine under the De Meye label. The shift required restoring the estate's historic buildings and equipping a cellar for small-batch production. It was a leap of faith for a farming family, but one that has been rewarded with a reputation for honest, terroir-driven wines made with minimal intervention.

Today, winemaker Liam du Plessis is at the heart of De Meye. He is hands-on, thoughtful and quietly passionate about letting the land speak through the wine. His approach is considered and minimal-interventionist, allowing the fruit to shine while preserving the character of this small family farm. De Meye produces just a few thousand cases per year, with every wine grown, made and bottled on the property.

The red varietals grown on the estate include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz, while Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc make up the white plantings. The Cabernet Franc has become something of a quiet star, reflecting the cool-clay soils of Muldersvlei with herbaceous elegance and fine-grained tannins. The unwooded Chardonnay is a fresh, honest expression of the variety without oak influence.

Dining is part of the De Meye experience. The Table at De Meye is a restaurant on the estate serving seasonal, farm-inspired cuisine paired with the estate wines. It has become a destination in its own right for visitors seeking a relaxed meal in a working wine farm setting.

De Meye is the kind of estate that rewards curiosity over expectation -- a quiet, family-run property where the wines are personal, the welcome is genuine, and the Stellenbosch terroir speaks clearly through every bottle.