Family winery Warwick Estate is managed by Michael Ratcliffe, a representative of the third generation of the family. The farm, founded in 1771, was known as "De Goede Sucses" until 1902. After the Boer War, which ended in 1902, the farm was bought by the commanding officer of the Warwickshire Regiment, Colonel William Alexander Gordon, and renamed it the Warwick Estate.
On April 1, 1964, the farm was acquired by Stan Ratcliffe, who was actively searching for the best terroir in the Western Cape. After planting the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines, he and his wife Norma were amazed at the potential of the farm. For several years, the winemakers of neighboring farms have been buying up the entire harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon. Norma, who was interested in wine production, studied the wine-making craft, and at the family council it was decided to produce wines with her own hands.
In 1984, the first vintage "La Femme Bleu" ("Blue Lady") was released, and in 1986 — "Trilogy" — one of the flagship wines of the wine region of South Africa.
The area of the winery occupies 110 hectares, of which 56 hectares are occupied for planting vines. About 40% of the vineyard area is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon vines, 20% — Sauvignon Blanc and 16% — Pinotage. The rest of the area is reserved for Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Shiraz. The emblem of the winery is a wedding vase "Warwick", which symbolizes the greatness of a woman and tells about the love of a Jeweler and Princess Kunigunda. According to legend, the princess was supposed to marry a prince from another kingdom. But she fell in love with a young blacksmith, which infuriated the king-father. He threw the Jeweler into prison, and Kunigunda, unable to stand the anguish, pined away every day and became weaker. Then the king said: "If your blacksmith makes a cup from which two can drink at the same time, you will get married."
The jeweler, inspired by the love of Cunegonde, created a real masterpiece. The skirt of the beautiful girl was at the same time a bowl, and in her hands, raised above her head, she held a second rotating bowl. The king fulfilled his promise and the lovers got married.
Since then, the wedding cup symbolizes love, happiness and good luck.
On April 1, 1964, the farm was acquired by Stan Ratcliffe, who was actively searching for the best terroir in the Western Cape. After planting the first Cabernet Sauvignon vines, he and his wife Norma were amazed at the potential of the farm. For several years, the winemakers of neighboring farms have been buying up the entire harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon. Norma, who was interested in wine production, studied the wine-making craft, and at the family council it was decided to produce wines with her own hands.
In 1984, the first vintage "La Femme Bleu" ("Blue Lady") was released, and in 1986 — "Trilogy" — one of the flagship wines of the wine region of South Africa.
The area of the winery occupies 110 hectares, of which 56 hectares are occupied for planting vines. About 40% of the vineyard area is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon vines, 20% — Sauvignon Blanc and 16% — Pinotage. The rest of the area is reserved for Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Shiraz. The emblem of the winery is a wedding vase "Warwick", which symbolizes the greatness of a woman and tells about the love of a Jeweler and Princess Kunigunda. According to legend, the princess was supposed to marry a prince from another kingdom. But she fell in love with a young blacksmith, which infuriated the king-father. He threw the Jeweler into prison, and Kunigunda, unable to stand the anguish, pined away every day and became weaker. Then the king said: "If your blacksmith makes a cup from which two can drink at the same time, you will get married."
The jeweler, inspired by the love of Cunegonde, created a real masterpiece. The skirt of the beautiful girl was at the same time a bowl, and in her hands, raised above her head, she held a second rotating bowl. The king fulfilled his promise and the lovers got married.
Since then, the wedding cup symbolizes love, happiness and good luck.
