Background

Louiesenhof was part of the farm Koopmanskloof which belonged to my father W S Smit (senior). The deed to the farm Koopmanskloof was issued in 1701. The Cape Dutch Homestead on Koopmanskloof was built in 1801.

My great grandfather bought Koopmanskloof in 1896. He farmed with wheat, cattle and grapes. Records in an inventory of around 1860 indicate that Koopmanskloof also distilled brandy in those early days, making it one of the very early Cape distilleries. My father started farming on Koopmanskloof in 1948 and increased the farm acreage to 640 hectares under vines. This made it the biggest wine producing estate in South-Africa.

In 1993, I purchased the portion of Koopmanskloof now called Louiesenhof from my father. We then formed a trust involving Watergang Farm, Louiesenhof Small Holding and the Watergang Cellar. After purchasing Louiesenhof I immediately started with a soil analysis of the farm to be able to replant the slopes bordering the Papegaaiberg and running over to Devon Valley, with top quality cultivars in the most ideal soil types.

The original cellar on the farm is rented out and therefore I installed another smaller cellar, especially for the production of quality Louiesenhof wines. Louiesenhof bottled wines were launched on the South African market in August 1996. We are a member of the Stellenbosch Wine Route, the South African Brandy Route and also the South African Exporters Association.


Louiesenhof
021 865 2632