June is a special heritage month in Muratie Wine Estate’s history books. It is the month in which Ansela van de Caab was emancipated from slavery, gaining her freedom to marry Laurens Campher and becoming one of the first owners of Muratie.
The remarkable story of Ansela is written into South African folklore as an icon of the struggle against the horrors of slavery at the Cape in the late 17th century.
Born in the slave quarters at the Castle of Good Hope, the little girl only had a Christian name, her surname being “Van de Caab’ (Dutch for “of the Cape”) as was the case with all slaves born at the Cape at the time.
The first owner of Muratie, which was named De Driesprong at the time, was a young German soldier in the service of the Dutch East India Company called Laurens Campher. He met Ansela at the castle and fell in love with her.
During their 14-year courtship, Laurens frequently walked the 64 km to Cape Town and back, a three-day trip, to see his beloved Ansela. During this time three children were born to them, and Laurens’ one wish in life was to see his family set free from slavery and brought home to Muratie.
His dream came true in 1695, when Ansela was christened in the castle on 19 June and emancipated on 28 June. She and her children were finally able to leave behind a dark past when Laurens arrived to take his family to their new home.
The oak tree Ansela planted to bless their marriage still stands on the wine farm today, as does a small white house, their first home, built by Laurens.
“At Muratie, our heritage is at the heart of everything we do,” says Rijk Melck, current custodian of the historic farm. “Our passion for preserving our rich, centuries-old heritage is captured in every nook and cranny of the farm, and all our wines are named after the extraordinary characters from the past who moulded Muratie as we know it today. We paid tribute to the story of Ansela and Laurens by naming our award-winning flagship wines in their honour – our Ansela van de Caab (a Bordeaux-style red blend) and Laurens Campher (a unique predominantly Chenin Blanc blended white).
“To mark 329 years since Ansela’s emancipation, we have some special June celebratory offers for you in the Muratie restaurant and Tasting Room. Winter in the winelands has a special allure, so please do take the time to visit us this month. You will be greeted on arrival by Ansela’s magnificent ancient oak tree that guards our Tasting Room, and you can pay tribute to Muratie’s first owners when you visit their home which now houses the MOK Gallery.
“Then relax in our Farm Kitchen and enjoy soul-nourishing heritage cuisine and winter warmer wines in front of a crackling fireplace. You won’t want to miss our special June celebratory offer – our legendary slow-cooked lamb shank served with a glass of Ansela for R300. And pop into our Tasting Room on your way out and take home a celebratory six-bottle mixed case of Ansela van de Caab and Laurens Campher for a special price of R2 000.”
Muratie, established in the beautiful Knorhoek Valley north of Stellenbosch in 1685, is one of the oldest farms in South Africa, rich in history and heritage. A visit to the historic estate, guarded over by magnificent ancient oak trees, reveals a piece of history where time has largely stood still, where the unique old-world ambience is almost tangible. Thanks to the Melck family’s passionate guardianship, Muratie is a haven of heritage.
Visit www.muratie.co.za or call 021 865 2330 for more information on all the farm’s offerings.
