Company Description

As early as 1694 farmers recognised the potential of the fertile foothills of the Simonsberg mountain. By 1793 the legendary Martin Melck had acquired most of this land and it was probably he who changed the name from the original Kleygat (Clay-hole) to Knorhoek, called in a contemporary document 'de plaats waar de leeuwen knorren' - the place where lions growl. This gives one an indication of how wild the environment was at that time. Feline predators scaled the high kraal walls at night and preyed on domestic livestock. The Cape Mountain lion became extinct by the late 1700's, caracal are occasionally seen on the farm and leopard sightings still occur in the higher reaches of the surrounding mountains - hence the use of the leopard on the Knorhoek Estate wine labels.