The current owner, Niel de Waal, is a 12th generation South African, whose ancestors include some of the original pioneers who arrived from Europe at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652.

The De Waals have been successful wine farmers for many generations and settled in the Voor-Paardeberg area in 1877, where Niel's grandfather was the proud winner of the Genl Smuts Trophy in 1927.

It was never Niel's intention to become a full time farmer and after university he joined Rembrandt Group. During his business career he came to the erroneous conclusion that farming must be very profitable and in 1980 he took over the responsibility for the farm from his brother and appointed a farm manager. He's still waiting for his farming activities to become "very profitable", but over the years a beautiful and personally rewarding farming business was built up. He retired as a Director of BAT SA in 2007 and he and Rentia now divide their time between their home in the Strand and the farm.

Willem de Waal, our General Manager, graduated from the Cape Town International Hotel Management School before studying Management Accounting at the University of Stellenbosch. After extensive experience in the business world he joined the family business in 2009 to live his dream of being surrounded by nature (and pets!). He is married to Elizabeth and their first child, a girl, was born in January 2010.

En hoewel Willem se pa 'n Boishaaier was, is hy 'n oud-Gimmie! Hoe's daai vir opwinding ...