Situated on the Stellenbosch Wine Route, sprawling over the Bottelary Hills between Stellenbosch and Kuils River, Zevenwacht Estate has strong viticultural roots penetrating deep into the historic past of South Africa. Now comprising some 350 hectares, the property was originally two separate farms, Langverwacht and Zevenfontein.

Langverwacht was allocated in 1712 to Jean le Roux of Normandy, one of the French Huguenot wine farmers who fled from France in 1688. Also known as Jan le Roes, he and his wife, Marie de Haas, remained at Langverwacht with their eleven children until their deaths in 1752 and 1751 respectively.

The neighboring property, Zevenfontein, was granted in 1793 to Daniel Bosman who built a cottage there, at the head of a small picturesque valley. He already owned De Kuilen, a property of 112 morgen on which he built the

Die Kuilen U-shaped house, later known as Leeuwenhof.

In 1799, Langverwacht and Zevenfontein were purchased by wealthy landowner, Pietrus Johannes Hiebner, who, in 1800, enlarged Bosman's cottage into a T-shaped house and added the beautiful neo-classical front gable. Two flat-roofed wings one of which is the kitchen were later added to the base of the T, so changing the Zevenfontein homestead into an H-shape.

The original kitchen should have been situated at the end of the back wing but no traces of a fireplace can be found there. Perhaps the house had an outside kitchen since the foundations of a small outbuilding at the back of the house are still visible. The main bo-en-onderdeur is original and has a fine surround of fluted pilasters with
Prince of Wales feathers at the top and a classical architrave. The windows are circa 1860 and have inside shutters. The end gables are of the unusual stepped variety. The stoep in front of the house has end seats. A werf wall runs below the house, gently undulating over the uneven ground.

In 1829 Pieter de Waal purchased Langverwacht and later also Zevenfontein. In 1870 his son Adriaan purchased both farms from his father. Following the discovery of tin some 33 years later, he sold Langverwacht to a mining syndicate in 1903.  By 1918, mining operations had ceased when insufficient value could be realised from the mine and the land was restore to farming.

During the early 1900’s Zevenfontein was purchased by James Barclay Lithgow a stock broker from Johannesburg. Following the death of his widow, Pat, in the early 1960’s the property was passed on to his two surviving children Donald and Jean. They were joined by partners, Jack & Hildegarde Watson, Rhodesian tobacco farmers and Willie Walls. Jack Watson took over as Manager of the farm greatly improving the quality of the vineyards, as well as starting tobacco farming. The grapes were sold to the KWV.

Previous owner, Cape Town architect, Gilbert Colyn, descendant of the old Cape Colijn family, purchased Zevenfontein and Langverwacht in 1979, uniting them under the new name of Zevenwacht. He started to restore both the vineyards and the Manor House, a National Monument, which were in a sad state of neglect. He also
built a new cellar (in 1982). The first vintage wine was produced in the cellar in
1983.

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The present owners, the Johnson Family purchased Zevenwacht in 1992. They have committed themselves to a programme of development to realise Zevenwacht's rich potential.

 

Since mid 1992 major changes and developments have taken place.

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• Manor House restored to its classic beauty.

 

• New tasting centre with views in to the maturation cellar.

 

• Development of Alfresco Function Centre and the Lapa.

 

• Day Spa facility.

 

• Erection and improvement of all farm worker's accommodation.

 

• Creche/Community Hall built.

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• 3 New dams.

 

• The 14 suite Country Inn and state of the art Auditorium Conference Centre was opened in August 1996.

 

• The modernisation and improvement of the cellar during 1996.

 

• The erection of the Cheesery, with production commencing in July 1997.

 

• The addition to the Country Inn of the Vineyard Cottages in December 1996 and the Chalet in August 1997.

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From the highest vantage point there is a magnificent, panoramic view of Table Bay on the one side, and the whole of False Bay on the other. Perhaps the greatest asset of Zevenwacht is its cool micro-climate. Most of its soils
which vary from decomposed Granite, Hutton and Clovelly soils are situated on the gentle slopes of the Bottelary Hills facing South, South East and South West, which overlook Table Bay, Table Mountain and the False Bay panorama. Varying in altitude from 150 meters up to 350 meters above sea level, the vineyards are cooled by the
Summer Southerly breezes from False Bay which is only some 15 km from the Estate.

The cellar, partly underground was built during 1982 and completed in time for the 1983 harvest.

The cellar is 60m x 30m in overall area on 2,5 levels. The upper level consists of the wine making and tank cellar.

It also houses the winemaker's office and laboratory. The intermediate level is the maturing and vat cellar which is partly underground and the lower level houses the bottling plant, labelling and bottle storage activities.

The capacity of the cellar is large enough to handle the present quota of 800 tons to produce some 70 000 cases

of wine. It has an eventual capacity to produce more than 100 000 cases annually.

Hagen Viljoen is the Cellar Master, assisted by winemaker Charles Lourens. With the enthusiasm of the staff and the caring and dedicated attitude of the management, Zevenwacht is currently one of the leading wine producers.