Monday 26 August was International Dog Day, a special day dedicated to celebrating man’s best friend.
The Melck family, owners of Muratie Wine Estate, took the opportunity to pay tribute to all the beloved dogs of Muratie, past and present, who have enriched their lives over many years, and continue to do so, with unconditional love, comfort, guardianship, loyalty, friendship and joy.
A visit to the historic estate, an authentic treasure, would not be complete without a warm welcome from one of the Melcks’ stately German Shepherds guarding the premises, reposing gracefully alongside the white memorial gable beneath the ancient oak trees.
Friends of Muratie and visitors to the estate know well that the Muratie animals are part of the very fabric of the farm. In addition to the delightfully named canine crew, Frank Zappa, Axel Rose and Sid Vicious come as no surprise given Rijk Melck’s love of rock music, the roaming resident ducks, geese, chickens and the alpacas, Pirate and Kennedy, all adding their own unique charm to the family farm.
Just as the legacy of the past custodians of Muratie over the centuries lives on at Muratie, so too the beloved dogs of Muratie who have “crossed the rainbow bridge” are honoured in memoriam.
Muratie is enchanting place where one can escape the hustle and bustle for a while and enter another world. Hidden away in the exquisite Knorhoek Valley at the foot of the Simonsberg, the farm is as old as history itself, where the unique old-world ambience is almost tangible and centuries-rich warm country hospitality is unparalleled.
Beautiful old Cape Dutch buildings guarded over by ancient oak trees, crumbling statues, antique wine-making equipment, and the enchanting tasting room with its famous cobwebs, stained glass and art, are all set in a secret garden, a lush green haven of peace and tranquillity.
Over many decades, visitors have been captivated and palpably moved by the immense depth of the heart and soul of this historic estate. The passion for preserving the estate’s rich, centuries-old heritage is captured in every nook and cranny of this family farm.
Even the Muratie wines reflect a tangible sense of time suspended, with the estate’s wines named after extraordinary characters from the past who moulded the estate as we know it today, each wine with its own charming story described on the back label.
Muratie is a unique and magical environment where visitors enjoy the warmest welcome, legendary wines, honest farm food, outdoor activities, wine, food and music events, art exhibitions and more.
For more information, visit www.muratie.co.za.
