ABOUT THE WINELANDS welcomes Deidre Taylor, the Sales and Marketing Manager for Kanonkop Wine Estate which is situated in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Kanonkop is a 4th generation family-owned estate, which has been handed down from generation to generation and is now in the hands of brothers Paul and Johann Krige.
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About Kanonkop
The name Kanonkop is derived from a hillock (kop) on the Simonsberg mountain above the estate from where, during the 17th and 18th centuries, a cannon (kanon) was fired to announce the arrival of sailing ships entering Table Bay. The roar of the cannon would be the signal to local farmers, who were waiting to make the 50-kilometer journey to the harbour, to load up their wagons with fresh fruit and vegetables to barter their produce.
KANONKOP, where the big guns roar!
Kanonkop Wines
The first wines bearing the Kanonkop label were produced in 1973, just just three years before the death of Paul Sauer who was instrumental in what Kanonkop has achieved today and beyond. Kanonkop pride themselves in the consistency of their wine over the years.
At Kanonkop, it is the spirit and presence of brothers Johann and Paul Krige that undoubtedly live through the wines. As the custodians of Paul Sauer’s legacy, it is his grandsons who oversee the estate’s daily operations.
The Winemakers
Jan “Boland” Coetzee joined the farm in November 1968. Jan was a South African rugby player who represented both Western Province and South Africa. After some years at Kanonkop, Jan Coetzee in 1980 headed to Burgundy in France.
Beyers Truter became Kanonkop’s third winemaker and arrived at the farm ahead of the 1981 vintage. Beyers attained a status that no other winemaker anywhere in the world can lay claim to: the Prince of Pinotage. In 1991, Beyers was awarded Best Winemaker in the World.
In 2002, Abrie Beeslaar, the current winemaker, joined Kanonkop and took over the reigns in 2003. In 2008, 2015 and 2017, Abrie received the International Wine and Spirit Competitions award for International Winemaker of the Year. In 2018, Abrie also became the first South African winemaker to see one of his wines, the Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015 – receive a perfect 100-point score from British Master of Wine Tim Atkin.
The Wines
Kanonkop produces two ranges – Kanonkop and Kadette. Amongst all the fine red wines made in Stellenbosch and elsewhere in the Cape today, Kanonkop is consistently at the top of lists compiled by critics, judges, collectors and buyers.
BUY KANONKOP WINES HERE
ESTATE RANGE
- Wines made in a complex, age-worthy style for extended maturation
- Grapes originate solely from older vineyards on the Kanonkop Estate
- Manual punch-downs during fermentation
- Matured in new French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months
KADETTE RANGE
- Wines made in a softer, fruit forward style for earlier consumption
- Grapes originate from dedicated contract growers in the Stellenbosch region
- Automated punch-downs during fermentation
- Matured in older French oak barrels for 12 months
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