1953

A Contribution To South African Heritage

P.K. Morkel started farming at Bellevue in 1940, initially maintaining dairy cows, Merino sheep, and guavas. His true passion, however, was wine. Vineyards of Chenin Blanc, Cinsault, Shiraz, Pedro, Riesling, and Clairette Blanche were grown back then. In 1951, he was encouraged to plant Pinotage by Stellenbosch Agricultural College and SFW. By 1953, he had established one of South Africa’s first commercial Pinotage vineyards. The vines planted then, are still in production today.