Five decades of Meerlust winemakers in the Meerlust cellar - from left: Wim Truter, Giorgio Dalla Cia, Altus Treurnicht, Chris Williams.
Meerlust Estate, globally recognised as one of South Africa’s leading premium wineries, this year celebrates 50 years of wine production under its own label.
Despite having a history of viticulture and winemaking dating back to 1693, the first bottled Meerlust wine – Cabernet Sauvignon – was only made in 1975 under auspices of Nico Myburgh, the seventh generation Myburgh to own and manage Meerlust, which is today in the hands of his son Hannes.
The Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1975 introduced this Stellenbosch property to the South African and international wine market as a formidable Cape wine estate encapsulating a long, rich history under the Myburgh family since 1756, as well as establishing the foundation for Meerlust’s reputation of excellence in winemaking. The latter had been the vision of Nico Myburgh, who inherited Meerlust from his father in 1959.
Although vines had been cultivated and wine made on Meerlust since it was first established by German agri-businessman Henning Huising, the grapes grown throughout the centuries were high-yielding white and red varieties used for making innocuous wines for bulk-sales to early wine-traders and later to local co-operatives. Nico Myburgh, however, inherited Meerlust with a vision of changing the trajectory of Myburgh family farm by reimagining it as a quality wine estate, initially focussed on the making of fine red wines from Bordeaux grape varieties.
This ambition received further impetus when Nico visited the Bordeaux wine region in 1967, noticing various similarities between the low elevations, moist maritime breezes and soil types Meerlust’s geography shared with certain parts of Bordeaux. Back in South Africa Nico set about replanting the old Meerlust vines of Chenin Blanc, Cinsault and Sémillon with Cabernet Sauvignon, and in the early 1970s Meerlust was home to some of South Africa’s first Merlot and Cabernet Franc vineyards.
The maiden Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1975 had already proven itself as a wine of exceptional quality before its release in 1978. As a young pre-bottled wine this Cabernet Sauvignon was awarded a gold medal at the 1975 Stellenbosch Regional Wine Show, as well as winning the trophy for overall Champion Young Red Wine at the South African Championship Wine Show held in the same year.
To celebrate this milestone, Meerlust will release the Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 vintage under a special 50 year commemorative label. The exceptional 2021 vintage was awarded 95 points by Tim Atkin MW, and makes for a wine worth cellaring for up to 20 years.
R490 per bottle in Gift Tin, and wine club members qualify for a discounted price of R441.
Available to ship from 15 May 2025.
Free shipping for all orders of R3 000 or more.
Click HERE to buy our wines.
Our tasting room is open to receive visitors from Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 17h00, and on Saturdays and public holidays from 10h00 to 15h00.
For bookings, please email tasting@meerlust.co.za.
