Boschendal

Boschendal is a wine estate in South Africa. It is located in the Western Cape Province about 55 kilometers east of Cape Town between the wines of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, was established in 1685 as one of the first estates in Franschhoek Valley.

1715, the property of Abraham de Villiers was purchased. The de Villiers family was part of the 250 Huguenot refugees who settled in the late 17th century on the Cape. The de Villiers family originally came from Champagne. They were recruited by the Dutch East India Company because of their experience in the wine and came in May 1689 at the Cape. Abraham's brother Jacques bought the property in 1717, which received its H-shaped mansion in 1812, an outstanding example of Cape Dutch architecture. The property remained until 1879 owned by the de Villiers family.

Eight years later bought the mining magnate and later prime minister of the Cape Boschendal Cecil Rhodes. After Rhodes ' death in 1902, the De Beers Mining Company introduced the estate for 40 years, before it was sold to Sir Abe Bailey and then to a Syndicate. As an Anglo -American company took over the estate in 1969, it was decided to revive the wine through the import of high-quality vines again. The old Boschendal complex was restored by the architect Gawie Fagan and his wife Gwen Fagan put a rose garden according to old plans to.

Today, Boschendal is an important wine producers and with its historical buildings ( a portion is maintained as a museum ) and gardens, and the restaurant a tourist attraction.