Van Niekerk Vintners (VNV) was born in the heart of the beautiful Overberg in 2019, a perfect setting to pay tribute to the family history. The Van Niekerks have been farming in the area for generations and Albert and Anmar are honoured to continue the tradition as a husband and wife winemaking team.
In 1671 the first van Niekerk set foot in the Cape of Good Hope. Cornelis van Niekerk, an 11-year-old Dutch boy, arrived with nothing more than the clothes on his back. Years later, now a prosperous farmer, Cornelis and eight others took a stance against the Cape’s corrupt governor by refusing to sell their wine to the dishonest regime. Instead, they sold directly to passing ships at a much fairer price. This landed them in a Mauritian jail where Cornelis passed away – unjustly branded as one of “The 9 Rebellious Vrijboeren”.
The Rebellie was inspired by this 17th-century ancestor.