Early_history Oude_Molen_Distillery

1 history

1.1 rené santhagens
1.2 oude molen
1.3 impact on industry
1.4 new chapter

early history
rené santhagens

founder rené santhagens

the distillery started rené van eibergen santhagens, born in batavia in 1864 wealthy dutch parents. adventurer, explorer, cavalry officer , chemical engineer.

he became passionate wine , brandy after stay in france on estate of marquis de pellerin latouche in cognac. here fell in love marquis daughter, jeanne de pellerin de la fouche, whom later married.

in 1897, answered advertisement brandy maker in south africa. sammy marks had obtained concession former president paul kruger erect distillery @ eerste fabrieken . ensure production top notch distillery had advertised position cognac makers. santhagens arrived on goldfields of witwatersrand, laden own curvaceous alembic charentairs copper pot stills him france. distillery success, production halted during english war, , abandoned in 1902 after war when concession revoked lord milner.

in 1903 moved cape town , shortly afterwards jeanne, wife-to-be, arrived father, marquis. time had convinced of farmers of area methods superior. santhagens bought old wine farm called oude molen in stellenbosch, in shadow of papegaaiberg. in time, santhagens revamped simple, single storey tin-roofed house double-storey mansion thatched roof , gable. fashionable couple became prominent figures in stellenbosch , cape society.

oude molen

oude molen emblem , motto in stellenbosch

at oude molen santhagens started production of light hermitage , french brandies in 1910 , became first man make brandy in south africa according age-old french traditions. french motto read touchant toujours le ( hitting target ). emblem shield depicting parrot pierced arrow. both emblem , motto still grace original manor house in stellenbosch , oude molen distillery in elgin.

the story behind crest less blood thirsty seems. apparently, in times gone by, citizens of stellenbosch held annual pageant in honour of founder, simon van der stel. feature of pageant competition marksmen. target painted wooden parrot , competition took place @ foot of hill oude molen manor house stood. hill became known papegaaiberg (parrot mountain).

impact on industry

his commitment cognac method of distillation , maturation gained him national reputation superior brandy. santhagens instrumental in framing legislation became wine , sprits act of 1924, promulgated criteria brandy distillation, including permissible additives , fermentation processes. clever businessman was, happened @ time act came effect, person whom had supply of brandy met criteria of act, , point there no stopping him. after death in 1937, name lives on in industry due influence on industry: copper pot stills in use modelled on his, , through act became law in south africa local brandy include spirit distilled grapes.

a new chapter

at end of 2006, oude molen distillery moved present location @ grabouw. urban expansion @ original site, , fact madame santhagens had sold business, had continued run 10 years after husband s death, led cessation of distillery business there. important fact elgin valley suited brandy production, because of cool , misty climate. area becoming famous production of fine wines.

the current cellarmaster @ oude molen, dave acker, had established distillery there after family-owned, edward snell company, bought controlling interest in company millions of rands spent on upgrading facility. dave acker still shareholder of company.