After the hardships of the Second World War, a group of visionary wine farmers, steeped in the winemaking traditions introduced to the valley by the Huguenot families, joined forces to provide the area’s wine farmers with the facilities and expertise to produce quality wines on a larger and sustainable scale. Because of this collective effort, Simonsvlei was founded in 1945. The name Simonsvlei originates from the founder of the South African wine Industry, Simon van der Stel, and from the area’s vlei (wetlands) landscape. Simon van der Stel was the Cape Governor representing the Dutch government during the 17th century. This far-sighted gentleman selected this unique location, because he realized soon enough that the area’s cool microclimate was ideal for producing quality grapes. He must have realized too that the prevailing winds blowing across the vlei or wetland would naturally cool the cellar and the wine in the barrels – ideal conditions for making quality wines!