An iconic reference among fine South African wines, Kanonkop Wine Estate is a family-run estate whose origins date back to the early 20th century.
The name Kanonkop Wine Estate refers to the famous hillock (kop) on Simonsberg Mountain. It was from this spot that a cannon shot (Kanon) was fired to announce the arrival of sailing ships to Table Bay in the 17th and 18th centuries. The cannon shot gave local farmers time to go to the port, located 50 kilometres away, where they could sell their fruit and vegetables.
The first wines from the estate were made in 1973 under the leadership of Paul Sauer, a politician who was part of the South African parliament for 41 consecutive years (1929-1970). The grandson of Hendrik Cloete, owner of Groot Constantia, a famous South African wine estate, Paul Sauer developed a passion for these glorious lands and for viticulture from an early age.
Although the history of this estate is recent, the wines of Kanonkop Wine Estate rival the finest Bordeaux Grands Crus with their refinement and aromatic richness. Aged between 27 and 66 years old, these exceptional vineyards enhance the nuances and identity of grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.
Two brothers, Johann and Paul Krige, uphold their never-ending quest for excellence and strive to offer an authentic expression of the great terroirs of Stellenbosch, the emblematic appellation of the Western Cape region, which has been the signature of Kanonkop Wine Estate for four generations.
