In 1864, Adriaan de Waal—who farmed at Langverwacht ( and also Zevenwacht) in Kuilsrivier—discovered deposits of tin on his land. This remarkable find enabled him to secure lucrative mining rights, greatly increasing the value of his property. After selling the farm, he divided the proceeds between himself and his children. His son, Tielman de Waal, used his share to acquire the farm Uiterwyk, situated on the opposite side of the hill from Zevenwacht.

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When Tielman’s eldest son, Pieter, joined him on the farm, Tielman felt he was still too young to retire. Instead, he divided Uiterwyk into two portions, granting Pieter the section that today encompasses Jordan Wines and De Morgenzon as his inheritance.

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Charl Theron (CT) de Waal, the second eldest son, was deeply passionate about becoming a winemaker. At the time, however, one could only practise winemaking if one owned a farm equipped with a cellar. Since his father had no intention of retiring soon, CT’s only viable path was to study oenology, take up a lecturing post at the University of Stellenbosch, and make wine in the university’s experimental cellar. And that is exactly what he did.

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Years later, when Tielman ultimately retired, CT was offered Uiterwyk as his inheritance. He declined, choosing instead to remain in his esteemed academic position—a decision that would eventually lead him to become the first winemaker ever to produce a Pinotage wine.

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Pinotage itself was created in 1925 by Professor Abraham Perold, viticulturist at the University of Stellenbosch, who crossed Pinot Noir with Hermitage (Cinsault). It took sixteen years before he had established enough vines to produce sufficient fruit for an experimental barrel of Pinotage.

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In 1941, when Prof. Perold needed a winemaker to craft this inaugural barrel, CT de Waal—highly regarded as both winemaker and wine taster, and a close colleague and friend—was the natural choice.

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And so, CT de Waal became the first winemaker to vinify Pinotage, securing his place as a pioneer in the history of world wine.