Bloemendal for sale

Bloemendal, one of South Africa’s oldest and most celebrated wine estates is for sale for around R130m (US$16.7m)

Bloemendal, on the outskirts of Cape Town, grows a variety of grapes including Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinotage, Merlot, Malbec, Semillon and Chardonnay with the wines exported across the world.

The 300-year-old, 239ha estate is situated in the Durbanville area and overlooks Stellenbosch, False Bay, Table Bay and Table Mountain. Around 150ha is under vine.

Its current owner, Jackie Coetzee, whose family have owned it for more than 100 years, wants to ‘move on to another form of life’, said Jonathan Smiedt, chief executive of ClareMart Auction Group which is running the sale on February 27.

As well as the wine-making business, the estate comprises two Cape-style homesteads, two restaurants, vehicles, stock, equipment and 16 labourers’ cottages. They will not be obliged to keep on existing staff.

Smiedt said it was unusual for such an established estate, ‘in a stunning setting’, with a worldwide reputation and an interesting history should come up for sale.

He said parts of the estate could be developed for housing, subject to local planning permission. It is valued at R130m, but no reserve price has been set.

The estate originally supplied produce to the Dutch East India Company ships on their way to the Spice Islands.

Written by Ian Evans in Cape Town