Towards the end of the Stellenboschkloof road, immediately before the grand entrances to both De Morgenzon and Jordan, is the unassuming signage for Canettevallei. What lies beyond is a humble wine and lavender farm owned by the equally modest Daniël de Waal and his wife, Ingrid.
The de Waal family have made wine for nine generations – six of them on the farm in the kloof, known as Uiterwyk, which was acquired by their ancestors back in 1864. Canettevallei itself dates to 1682 and once formed part of the Ou Kaapse Hardepad which historically connected Cape Town to the hinterland.
Riddled with ancient stone artefacts, this Single Vineyard flourishes side by side with Acheulean tools, dating back over 40,000 – 100,000 years. That is where the name ‘Oukliprant’ is derived from, meaning ‘old stone ridge’. The vineyard benefits from a cool microclimate, with deep, weathered granite soils.