At Muratie, situated in the Knorhoek Valley north of Stellenbosch, the passion for preserving the estate’s rich heritage and the intriguing human stories woven into the very fabric of its centuries old history, are captured in every nook and cranny of this family farm, where the unique old-world ambience is almost tangible. Even the wines reflect a tangible sense of time suspended.
The Melck family honoured the estate’s fascinating history by naming all Muratie’s Iconic Wines after extraordinary characters from the farm’s colourful past, each with its own enchanting story described on the back label. And there are a myriad stories reaching as far back as the 17th century, making Muratie one of the oldest wineries in the Cape Winelands.
Two of Muratie’s Iconic Wines, their flagship white blend, Laurens Campher, and flagship red blend, Ansela van de Caab, honour an extraordinary love story from the estate’s captivating past.
The remarkable story of Ansela is written into South African folklore as an icon of the struggle against the horrors of slavery at the Cape in the late 17th century. Born in the slave quarters at the Castle, this little slave girl only had a Christian name, her surname being “van de Caab”, Dutch for “of the Cape”, as was the case with all slaves born at the Cape at the time.
The first owner of Muratie, a passionate and determined young German soldier called Laurens Campher, met Ansela at the Castle and fell in love with her. During their 14 year courtship, Laurens frequently walked the 64 kilometres to Cape Town and back, a three day trip, to see his beloved Ansela.
When she was eventually emancipated, Ansela returned as Laurens’ wife, with their three children, to Muratie.
The oak tree Ansela planted to bless their marriage still stands on Muratie today, as does a small white house, their first home, built for them by Laurens.