Excelsior Estate Unclaimed

Koos de Wet was a direct descendant of Jacobus de Wet, the first member of the family to arrive in South Africa. Jacobus, who was an official of the Dutch East India Company landed in Cape Town in 1697 and made planting vines a priority. He bought a large farm in Stellenbosch and later earned the distinction of being one of the first wine makers in Cape Town and the Southern hemisphere. Most of the de Wet family eventually settled in the Worcester area but after a family disagreement (he fell in love with his brother’s fiancé!) Koos de Wet came to the Robertson area and established himself at Excelsior Estate. He later divided his farm between his sons who went on to breed horses and plant vineyards. The third brother, Jacobus Stephanus (known as Kowie) inherited Excelsior and, in addition to producing wine, soon became one of the most successful ostrich breeders in the Robertson district.