Bellevue, the estate behind the world’s first bottled Pinotage sold to the public, continues to uphold a century of heritage with every vintage. To rediscover Bellevue Wine Estate is to taste more than just the wine. It is tasting history, honouring the pioneers and joining a journey that is still unfolding.
Bellevue’s winemaking legacy was unlocked in 1820 by Johannes Julius Mechau who built the original cellar on the Estate. After he passed away in 1835, Pieter Krige (PK) Morkel expanded the winery in 1943. Bellevue’s story is one of bold decisions and forward thinking. When in 1953 P.K. Morkel couldn’t find Gamay vines, he embraced a pioneering South African cultivar: Pinotage. This decision not only shaped Bellevue’s identity, but also contributed to the global recognition of Pinotage as a uniquely South African variety.
South Africa’s rich winemaking history will never be forgotten – preserved and built on by each generation. And so Bellevue rises again, reinvigorated under new ownership. Once known for supplying bulk wine and prized fruit to some of the Western Cape’s most renowned producers, Bellevue now crafts wines under the cellar’s labels that shine with virtue.
Bellevue has undertaken a significant journey of renewal over the past year – a transformation driven not only by the desire for growth, but also by a commitment to build on the legacy. This evolution has touched every aspect of the process, from the wines, to the label presentations, through to the restoration of the historic buildings on the estate where the wines are showcased.
The focus has shifted towards minimal intervention and quality. The philosophy is to work in harmony with nature. Carefully integrated farming methods ensure that Bellevue succeeds in the nurturing and protection of some of the oldest vineyards in South Africa.
The wines are fruit-driven and complex, showing purity of fruit borne from good viticultural practises. Each cultivar has specific needs regarding the soil, the terroir. Close attention is given to the exact location where each cultivar is planted. The goal is to produce site-specific wines, reflecting the individual character of each vineyard.
Bellevue’s new labels are contemporary interpretations of the proud heritage, crafted to honour the old while introducing the new. As for the restorations, the full experience can only be appreciated by visiting the estate.
The effort behind this rebirth is no less than the labour of those who first broke the earth for Pinotage. Hands pruning, minds shaping and hearts committed to excellence – all working to ensure Bellevue’s name is not only remembered, but reimagined.
Article by Inge Venter of Bellevue