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Dreyfus, Ashby & Co. Main Office 630 3rd Ave Adminstration 50 Avon Meadow Lane |
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HISTORY The Story Of Plaisir De Merle
The farm dates back to 1687, when the Huguenot Charles Marais and his family were grated land by Simon van der Stel. They names the farm Le Plessis Marly after the small village from which they had come, and encouraged by the fertile soil and abundant streams, they planted crops which soon flourished. Sadly, by the time the official land grand was signed in 1693, Charles had passed away, his son Claude assuming responsibility for the farm. By the mid 18th century, the farm, then owned by Claude's grandson Jacob
began to prosper on earnest. Between 1805 and 1830, Daniel Hugo, inspired by his own family tradition of winemaking, focused activity on the 60,000 vines and the cellar, which annually produced some 43 leaguers of wine (approximately 31,000 litres). The old gabled wine cellar, dated 1831 can still be seen today. Eight generations of Marais's and Hugo's lovingly nurtured Le Plessis Marly, but when the modern farm was acquired by Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery in 1964, Plaisir de Merle was a neglected shadow if its formers self. The vines were old and the vineyards gave low yields, but SFW recognized in it the potential once again to become a model farm. Today it is one of the largest wine farms in the Cape, covering 974 hectares and is world renowned for its exclusive range of wines, designed to find favour with the most discerning palate.
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The
story of Plaisir de Merle is the story of exceptional people who helped
to create a proud viticultural and vinicultural tradition.
