| A cultural project of Distillers Corporation |
STELLENRYCK WIJN MUSEUM |
Dorp Street, Stellenbosch Tel: +27-21-8883588 |
|||||||||||
The CollectionThe history of wine is as old as the history of man.The making and enjoyment of wine through the ages have evolved a rich cultural heritage. Several items reflecting this culture form part of the collection in the Stellenryck Wijn Museum. The making of wine through the ages is illustrated by way of numerous implements . The primary role the wine press played in this process is symbolised by the imposing late 18th century German press in front of the museum. Inside, many examples of wine-making implements have found a last place of honour in the cellar where noble wines mature in age-old casks. As is the case with the mellowing of wine, articles used in this art were refined to works of art in their own right. From ancient times there are the rare Israeli wine jug of the 8th- 7th century B.C., and excellent examples of wine amphorae which were used for storing and transporting wine at the time of the Greek and Roman civilisations. The utensils of everyday use in silver, glass and ceramics show great craftsmanship, outstanding examples being the 16th century Scandinavian silver beaker, the Japanese porcelain ewer from the dynasty of Manji-Ten Wa (16th century Arita) and attractive examples of early English and European glass. Finely engraved glass goblets from the time of the V.O.C. and glass handmade at the Old Cape with characteristic fernleaf motif supplement the unique collection of Constantia wines -- some bottles still bearing their original labels. The oldest bottle dates from 1791 -- the golden era in the South African history of wine which made Groot Constantia famous around the world. The BuildingThe building which houses the Stellenryck Wijn Museum is the cellar of the original homestead that belonged to Lambertus Fick and later the Kriges -- one of the oldest and most esteemed Stellenbosch families. The entire building complex, of which the residence has been turned into an art gallery, dates from the latter half of the 18th century. During 1971 it was skilfully restored after it had been proclaimed a National Monument in 1970. Cape Wine"Today, praise be to God, wine was made for the first time from Cape grapes, namely from the new most fresh from the vat..." thus wrote Jan van Riebeeck, founder of the settlement at the Cape, in his Journal on February 2, 1659, seven years after he had landed on these shores. The first vines were imported from France and the Rhine region where wine-making had been a tradition for centuries, dating back to the earliest civilisations. Already in the time of Simon van der Stel quality wines were produced at the Cape. The famous Constantia wines were praised by personalities such as Napoleon, Bismarck, King Louis Phillipe of France, King Frederick of Prussia, Alexandre Dumas, Jane Austen, Baudelaire and Longfellow. The history of Stellenbosch, the oldest town in South Africa, is closely interwoven with the development of viticulture in this country. Simon van der Stel, who founded the town in 1679, used his knowledge of wine-growing and production with remarkable success under the new conditions experienced at the Cape. In 1688 the French Hugenots arrived. Their knowledge and experience further contributed to the impressive development of our viticulture. The South African Wine industry as a whole has since progressed to such an extent that today, the standard of our wines is acclaimed throughout the world. In our own country, we find an ever-increasing appreciation of our quality wines and interest in this tradition, which already forms an important part of our cultural heritage. Much pioneering work has been done in this regard and the Stellenryck Wijn Museum is the contribution of Distillers Corporation towards enriching this tradition. Visiting Hours
|
Italian oak wine-wagon, dated 1850- 1870
""g"Grape Harvest" - Meissen porcelain group, (1860 - 1870)
|
||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||
