Brief history of Koelenhof Winery since 1941

Koelenhof Winery is a renowned wine-producing estate located in the picturesque Stellenbosch region of South Africa. With a rich history dating back several decades, the winery has become synonymous with exceptional quality wines and a commitment to sustainable winemaking practices.

The story of Koelenhof Winery begins in 1941 when a group of visionary grape growers recognized the potential of the fertile soils and favorable climate in the Stellenbosch area. They formed a cooperative and appointed Pieter Hugo De Vries as the first manager and winemaker of Koelenhof. With his expertise and passion for winemaking, De Vries played a crucial role in establishing the winery and setting it on a path to success.

Under De Vries' guidance, Koelenhof Winery flourished. The cooperative steadily grew in size and reputation, thanks to the dedication and hard work of its members. De Vries was instrumental in implementing modern winemaking techniques and ensuring that the wines produced at Koelenhof were of exceptional quality.

In 1982, the second generation of the De Vries family took the helm of Koelenhof Winery. Wilhelm Carl Linder De Vries, affectionately known as Helmie, assumed the role of manager. Helmie, joined his father in 1969 after his studies in accounting at Stellenbosch University.  He had a deep passion for winemaking. To further enhance his knowledge and skills, he was sent to Germany to undergo a specialized winemaking course. Armed with this additional expertise, Helmie continued his father's legacy of excellence and further expanded the winery's operations.

Helmie's focus on quality and innovation propelled Koelenhof Winery to new heights. His background in accounting also allowed him to effectively manage the financial aspects of the business, ensuring its continued growth and success.

Under De Vries' guidance, Koelenhof Winery flourished. The cooperative steadily grew in size and reputation, thanks to the dedication and hard work of its members. De Vries was instrumental in implementing modern winemaking techniques and ensuring that the wines produced at Koelenhof were of exceptional quality.

In the next generation, Andrew Smit de Vries, Helmie's son, took over as manager in 2007. Andrew joined his father at the company in Desember 1996. Like his father, Andrew also studied accounting at Stellenbosch University. However, his passion for winemaking led him to pursue a career in the wine industry. Andrew obtained a diploma in winemaking from the Cape Wine Academy and gained valuable experience by making wine for seven years before assuming the leadership role at Koelenhof.

Andrew's diverse background in accounting and winemaking brought a unique perspective to the winery. He combined his financial acumen with his winemaking expertise to drive Koelenhof's continued success. Under Andrew's leadership, the winery embraced sustainable farming practices and expanded its portfolio of exceptional wines.

General Managers since 1941

  • Pieter Hugo De Vries

    1941 - 1981

  • Wilhelm Carl Linder De Vries (Helmie)

    1982 - 2006

  • Andrew Smit de Vries

    Dec 2006 - Present

Koelenhof Winery boasts different wine brands, each with its own distinct character and style. Among these brands, the Stellenbosch 1679 range stands as the flagship of the winery. This prestigious range has garnered widespread acclaim and has been honored with numerous top wine awards worldwide. The Stellenbosch 1679 wines reflect the heritage and terroir of the Stellenbosch region, showcasing the unique qualities that make South African wines renowned around the world.

Other ranges of bottled wine represent the devotion and pleasure of winemaking in the cellar.  The Koelenhof range represents the contemporary easy drinking wines and include the two flagship wines namely Koelenhoffer (off-dry Sauvignon Blanc) and semi-sweet Pinotage Rosé.  The Koelenbosch range represents the finer cultivars and old favourites such as Merlot, Pinotage, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. The design is elegant and classical.  Simonsbosch wines we produce especially for the Chinese market and also the recent Stellenbosch Gold range that include a Coffee Pinotage.

The grape harvest being pressed per annum has increased to an astonishing 17 000 tons.  Since the first years of existence the production and selling of bulk wine was the main aim.  In 1974 the first wine was bottled under Koelenhof’s own label, but only sold to members and buyers from the cellar door.  Today the Koelenhof label is available to the public, trade and overseas market.

We can proudly say that both bottled and bulk wine is made with care and attention.  Bulk wine has been distributed to the wine industry successfully for many years and we have good relations with companies and distinctive wineries in this regard.  This has been our focus for many years although winemakers Nicholas Husselman and Handré Visagie have proved their bottled wine to be of distinctive quality and these labels have been acknowledged in the industry in recent years.  

Koelenhof Wine Cellar provides a comprehensive range of services to the wine industry. We make our facilities available on a contract basis, to producers who do not have their own facilities required for wine making.

So, if you happen to be a budding wine producer and want to start making wine, but lack the capital to establish your own processing facility, you can contract Koelenhof to do it for you. We offer both small and established producers the resources required to make and store wine in optimal conditions.

Today, Koelenhof Winery continues to uphold its commitment to producing exceptional wines and promoting sustainable winemaking practices. With the De Vries family's guidance, the winery remains dedicated to crafting outstanding wines that captivate wine enthusiasts globally. As a testament to their ongoing pursuit of excellence, Koelenhof Winery's Stellenbosch 1679 range continues to shine, solidifying the winery's reputation as a producer of world-class wines.