OVERVIEW
The Estate
The historic Meerlust complex, consisting of the Manor House, dovecot, cellar and tasting room was declared a National Monument in 1987.
The Manor House
The historic home of the Myburgh family, the manor house on Meerlust was built in two distinct stages. The first, being built by the Estate’s first owner, Henning Huising, as his family home. The home that Henning built was completed before his death in 1713, and consisted of what is now the back portion of the house that includes the lounge, dining room and kitchen.
The Myburgh’s, after purchasing the farm in 1756, continued to build on to the house adding a second or front T-section to the home, which was completed in 1776, as indicated by the date on the front door of the house.
This two-phase build of the Cape Dutch styled manor house makes it completely unique in its shape.
The Dovecot
The Dovecote, also known as Pigeon Loft, is likely to have been built by the original owner of the farm, Henning Huising (1649 – 1713), the two side courts, with their unusual volute mouldings were added later.
The Tasting Room
Originally the dairy on Meerlust, where the cows were milked and the cans of milk were stored. The tasting room is an eclectic mix of old and new, with bright and vibrant pop art on white-washed stone walls of the historic building.
The Cellar Complex
Meerlust’s stately Cellar reveals a wealth of architectural detail – built by 1776, and consists of the Cape Dutch Wine cellar and the original wagon house.
Beautifully restored by well-known Cape Town architect Revel Fox in 1974, with the installation of new pressing and cellar equipment, the cellar’s design is a mellifluous balance between the traditional historic and the functionally modern.
Both time-honoured and modern techniques are applied to achieve the potential of the vineyards and soils, ensuring that each bottle bears the hallmark of Meerlust Estate wine. The wines are all made exclusively from grapes grown on the Estate.
