DeMorgenzon, ‘the morning sun,’ named because it is the first part of the Stellenboschkloof valley to see the sun due to its South East facing aspects. The gentle morning sunlight, close proximity to both False Bay and Table Bay, and mid slope vineyards all result in cooler ripening conditions, ideally suited to the production of highly perfumed and delicately structured wines. The first vines in the Stellenbosch Hills were planted during the early 1700s as the mild climate is ideally suited to the production of quality grapes. In 2003, Wendy and Hylton Appelbaum bought DeMorgenzon and the property has since been transformed into one of the Cape’s leading estates.
De Morgenzon are totally committed to excellence and focus on wines which express their unique terroir and fruit within a classic structure. Firm believers in the positive effects of melodic sound energy on plant growth, they have instituted a vitimusicology programme, whereby Baroque music is played twenty-four hours a day through strategically placed speakers in the vineyards and cellar. The mathematical rhythm unique to this music translates into wines of exquisite balance, elegance and complexity.
Planted on slopes that get good exposure to the morning sun, but benefitting from southerly ocean breezes, DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay grapes ripen with a beautiful combination of ripeness and freshness.