In 1864, Adriaan de Waal, who farmed on Langverwacht/Zevenwacht in Kuilsrivier, discovered the metal tin on his farm. Following this discovery, Adriaan acquired mining rights which increased the value of his property tremendously. He decided to sell the farm and having done so, divided the income from the sale between himself and his children. Tielman de Waal, acquired the farm Uiterwyk on the opposite side of the hill of Zevenwacht.

When Tielman's eldest son, Pieter, joined his father on the farm, Tielman decided that he was still too young to retire. He divided the farm into two parts, giving a section, that today is known as Jordan Wines and De Morgenzon, to Pieter as his inheritance.

Charl Theron (CT) de Waal, the second oldest son, was very keen on becoming a winemaker. However in those days, you had to be the owner of a farm with a cellar to be able to work as a winemaker. And since his father wasn't going to retire soon, his only option was to study winemaking, become a lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch and then make wine in the experimental cellar of that institution. And that is just what he did!

Later when CT's father decided to retire, CT was offered the farm Uiterwyk as an inheritance. He waived this offer, since he had a very good position at the university. This decision led to CT later becoming the first winemaker to produce a Pinotage wine.

Prof. Abraham Perold, viticulturist at the University of Stellenbosch, created Pinotage in 1925 when he crossed Pinot Noir with Hermitage. After 16 years he had populated enough vines to produce sufficient grapes for an experimental barrel of Pinotage wine!

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In 1941 Prof. Perold needed a winemaker to make the first Pinotage wine for him. CT de Waal, a winemaker and wine taster of note at the University of Stellenbosch, and a colleague and friend of Perold, was an obvious choice.

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This is how CT de Waal became the first winemaker to vinify Pinotage, making him a pioneer of world wine history!