The prestigious Neethlingshof  Estate lies in the very heart of the Cape winelands. Flanked by the Bottelary Hills and Papegaaiberg Mountain near Stellenbosch and overlooking False Bay, this beautiful, historic farm offers not only breathtaking scenery, but also a taste of traditional Cape culture blended with the best influences of Africa and Europe.

An impressive archway of pine trees leads to the historic Neethlingshof manor house. The manor house was built in 1914 and is now a national monument, with its unique character carefully preserved.

The history of Neethlingshof Estate spans a period of more than 300 years. In 1692 Willem Barend Lubbe, a German settler, began farming the site he had been granted by Simon van der Stel. He named the farm De Wolwedans, which means 'The Dance of Wolves', because he mistook the packs of jackals which roamed the countryside in those early days of European settlement for wolves.

After Lubbe, the farm belonged to the Marais family, who built the wine cellar and the manor house in 1802 and 1814 respectively. Their son-in-law, Marthinus Neethling, earned himself the nickname, "Lord Neethling", because he "played the lord" by assuming airs of importance and authority. It was in Neethling's time that the farm was renamed Neethlingshof. Already at that time, the estate was enjoying the reputation of being one of the top wine farms in the area.

The Neethlings' daughter married Jacobus Louw and the farm remained in the Louw family for the next 100 years. In 1963 Jannie Momberg bought the estate. Gys van der Westhuizen, who had farmed for the Louw family since 1950, continued to run the farm for the Mombergs. In 1973 Schalk van der Westhuizen took over from his father as manager and winemaker. Financier Hans-J Schreiber bought Neethlingshof from the Momberg family in 1985. Since his acquisition of the Estate, major renovations and improvements have taken place, including an extensive vineyard-replanting program.

Neethlingshof was bought in 1999 by Lusan Holdings (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between Distell and Hans-J Schreiber. The joint venture is responsible for the farming activities and the production of the wine, markets and sells its products exclusively through Distell.

How To Get There

From Cape Town to Stellenbosch via the N2
When travelling on the N2 highway from Cape Town in the direction of Somerset West, proceed past the Cape Town International Airport and take the Stellenbosch R310 off-ramp from the N2. Also referred to as Baden Powell Drive (Exit 33 Helderberg). At the stop street on the bridge, turn left to Stellenbosch. Travel along the R310 to Stellenbosch for approximately 13 kilometres until you come to to the M12 T-junction. At the T-junction, turn left towards Kuilsriver (R44). The Neethlingshof entrance is about 300 metres away on the right. The 14 flag poles, a fountain and an impressive archway of pine trees are all landmarks visible from the R44 road.