1701: The Birth of Bellevue: From Mystery to Legacy
Bellevue Wine Estate is not just about exceptional vintages—it’s a story woven through centuries of history, resilience, and winemaking mastery. Our journey began in 1701, when a seemingly ordinary land grant set the stage for a rich and complex legacy.
A Mysterious Beginning: The Story of Houd den Mond
On October 5, 1701, a blacksmith named Christoffel Groenewald (or Christoph Grünewaldt in his native Prussia) was granted a piece of land in the Bottelary Hills by Willem Adriaan van der Stel, then-governor of the Cape. The land, which already had a house, was formally recorded under the unusual name Houd den Mond—Dutch for “Keep Your Mouth Shut.”
Why such a cryptic name? Historians believe it hints at a deeper, possibly secretive agreement. Groenewald was a trusted supplier of ironwork to Van der Stel, whose rule was later tainted by accusations of corruption and nepotism. It’s possible that the land grant was part of a political favour, ensuring Groenewald’s silence in exchange for prosperity.
A Farm in the Shadows (1707–1714)
In 1707, Groenewald transferred Houd den Mond to Coenraad Boom for 400 guilders. Boom had been a successful farmer, but strangely, his fortunes seemed to vanish overnight. According to official records, his livestock and vineyards disappeared completely. Then, in 1714, Groenewald repurchased the farm for 800 guilders—double the price.
Historians suspect that Boom was simply a proxy, holding the land on Groenewald’s behalf to shield him from financial scrutiny—possibly tax evasion or an effort to distance himself from Van der Stel’s downfall. This period remains one of Houd den Mond’s greatest mysteries.
A Century of Growth: The 1700s Unfold
After Groenewald’s passing, Houd den Mond saw a rapid succession of owners, many of them of German descent, reflecting a wave of European immigrants at the Cape. Among them was Jan Carstensz, a hunter and farmer who, with his wife Catharina van As, expanded the estate’s agricultural output. Interestingly, Catharina remained a key figure in Houd den Mond’s history for more than three decades, owning and repurchasing the farm multiple times between 1727 and 1757.
By the mid-1700s, the farm changed hands frequently, often between German settlers who were involved in the Cape’s early wine and spirits trade. Notable owners included:
- Johannes Plat (1757–1764): A German immigrant who expanded the farm.
- Johan Caspar Holtman (1764): A shoemaker by trade, he held the land for just six months before passing it to another German farmer.
- Jan Smook (1764 – 1767): A successful investor in Cape Town’s alcohol industry, he and a few fellow German immigrants dominated the Cape’s alcohol retail trade.
A Rising Star in Winemaking (Late 1700s)
As the 18th century progressed, Houd den Mond was increasingly recognised for its vineyard potential. The farm’s fertile soils and unique location made it ideal for grape cultivation, and successive owners began focusing more on wine production.
One of the most intriguing figures from this period was Daniel Ferdinand Immelman, who acquired Houd den Mond in 1788. A Cape-born explorer and adventurer, Immelman had travelled into the untamed interior of Southern Africa with Swedish naturalist Anders Sparrman, collecting plant and wildlife specimens. After years of exploration, he settled at Houd den Mond, expanding its vineyards and constructing the homestead that still stands today, its gable proudly marked with the year 1803.
Immelman’s ownership marked the transition of Houd den Mond into a true winemaking estate, setting the stage for the property’s next evolution—and its eventual transformation into Bellevue.
The Road to Bellevue (Early 1800s)
By the turn of the 19th century, the estate had undergone dramatic changes. Under Johannes Mechau (who took ownership in 1816), the land expanded to include Houd den Beck, a large grazing area supporting livestock and further vineyard development. Mechau, a butcher-turned-winemaker, solidified the estate’s reputation in viticulture, a focus that only grew stronger with subsequent owners.
Then, in the mid-1800s, a pivotal moment arrived: the name Bellevue appeared for the first time. This marked the farm’s transition from a mysterious, colonial-era estate into a premier wine farm, a reputation that would only grow with time.
From a cryptic land grant in 1701 to a flourishing winemaking estate by the early 1800s, Bellevue’s journey is a story of intrigue, resilience, and craftsmanship. Today, as custodians of this rich heritage, we continue to honour the pioneering spirit that made Bellevue what it is today—a legacy built on the soil of history, cultivated for the future.
