Our family estate, Morgenster, lies in the heart of the Helderberg, on the foothills of the mountains where eagles carve through the sky and owls roost in trees close to the Manor House. It’s the setting of our Bertrand family story.
“Every good story starts with a great protagonist.”
Long ago, an Italian man fell in love with South Africa and the Cape Winelands. In 1992, he retired from his textile career, moved to South Africa, and bought Morgenster – a farm with a rich history that dates back 300 years. That was Giulio Bertrand, our founder, father and grandfather.
“Where there is quality, there is no compromise”.
Armed with this motto, Giulio set out to create excellence – world class Bordeaux-style wines and the highest quality extra virgin olive oils that South Africa had ever seen. Morgenster’s soil and proximity to the ocean made it the perfect spot for both of these to flourish. He called in the help of world-renowned Pierre Lurton of Château Cheval Blanc and Château d’Yquem in Bordeaux to perfect the wine. Then, in partnership with the Olive Oil Institute in Perugia, he imported 17 specially selected olive varieties. From there, he paved the way for South Africa’s olive oil culture as we know it today. While it is part of Italian culture to produce fine wines and olives together, the concept was an innovation in South Africa at that time.
“The start of a new era.”
Today, it’s mother and daughter team, Federica and Vittoria, that carry on the legacy of excellence that their father and grandfather started decades ago. With their inherited passion for wine and olive oil, they’re inspired to not only celebrate their farm’s history, but to push it into a new era of innovation. Our estate, it’s part of us.
