Morgenhof Wine Estate

The story of Morgenhof begins not on the slopes of the Simonsberg, but in the turmoil of seventeenth-century France. In 1685, Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes, stripping Protestant Huguenots of their religious freedoms. Thousands fled, and among them were families who would eventually settle at the Cape of Good Hope. By 1692, French Huguenot settlers had established the farm that would become Morgenhof — 'morning court' — on the western slopes of the Simonsberg mountain outside Stellenbosch. For over three centuries, the estate changed hands and weathered the cycles of Cape agriculture, but its terroir remained constant: deep, well-drained Tukulu and Hutton soils on north-facing Simonsberg slopes, with altitude and aspect combining to produce fruit of structure and elegance.

The modern chapter of Morgenhof opened in 1993 when Anne Cointreau purchased the estate. Anne was no stranger to the wine world. Her family's involvement in French viticulture and spirits stretched back to 1272; her great-grandfather Adolphe created the Cointreau orange liqueur, and her grandfather produced the Remy Martin brand of Cognac. She brought this deep French heritage to the Cape, investing in the cellar, replanting vineyards, and assembling a winemaking team that would elevate Morgenhof to international recognition.

Under Cointreau's stewardship, Morgenhof was granted estate status in 1998, with seventy-eight hectares under vine across the 213-hectare property. The cellar produced roughly 35,000 cases annually, and the wines — particularly the Bordeaux-inspired red blends and the barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc from venerable old vineyards — earned critical acclaim and a loyal following. The Morgenhof Estate Red, a blend dominated by Merlot and Cabernet in an elegant, mineral style, became the flagship wine, reflecting both the Simonsberg terroir and Cointreau's Bordeaux sensibilities.

The portfolio extended to a fresh Sauvignon Blanc, a revered Merlot, a vibrant Pinotage, and Cap Classique sparkling wines — the last a natural fit for an estate with such strong French connections. The Italian restaurant on the estate, Bella Mia, offered Mediterranean-inspired dining against the backdrop of the Simonsberg and manicured gardens, reinforcing Morgenhof's reputation as a complete wine tourism destination.

In August 2021, after nearly three decades under Cointreau ownership, Morgenhof's 329-year history entered a new chapter when the estate was auctioned for R52.25 million to a European investor. The sale marked the first time the property had ever been sold at auction. While the new ownership has brought fresh investment and energy, the foundations that Anne Cointreau laid — the replanted vineyards, the cellar infrastructure, and the estate's international reputation — remain the bedrock of Morgenhof's identity.

Today, Morgenhof continues to produce wines that bridge old-world elegance with new-world fruit, honouring both its Huguenot origins and its French custodian's legacy.