Die wynmakerfamilie van Zonnebloem, Simondium, 1915-1963

Abstract

Die verhaal van Zonnebloem wyn wentel om Marie Furter-Crouse en die drie manlike wynmakers van Zonnebloem-plaas: haar pa, Willem Furter wat haar die kuns van wynmaak geleer het, haar swaer, John de Villiers, en haar eggenoot, Maurice Crouse, sowel as Stellenbosch Boerewynmakery (SBW). Sedert 1920 is Zonnebloem-wyn na Londen uitgevoer en teen 1947 was Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon en Zonnebloem Riesling in Suid-Afrika sowel as Europa bekend as gehaltewyne. John de Villiers was die eerste wynmaker wat bekend geword het as die "Wynkoning van Suid-Afrika". SBW het sedert 1930 nou betrokke geraak by die wynmakers van Zonnebloem en in die laat 1940's het dié maatskappy Zonnebloem-wyn vir John de Villiers gebotteleer, geëtiketteer en bemark. Kort na sy dood in 1948 het SBW die naam Zonnebloem as handelsmerk geregistreer sonder om die familie daaroor in te lig. Die veranderinge gedurende die 1950's in die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf, die internasionale boikotte, asook stygende produksiekoste het Crouse gedwing om sy wynmakery te staak. Die plaas Zonnebloem is in 2003 verkoop.

The story of Zonnebloem wine revolves round Marie Furter-Crouse and the three male winemakers of Zonnebloem farm: her father, Willem Furter who taught her the art of wine-making, her brother-in-law, John de Villiers, and her husband, Maurice Crouse, as well as Stellenbosch Farmersâ?? Winery (SFW). Since 1920 Zonnebloem wine was exported to London and by 1947 the excellent Zonnebloem Riesling and Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon were renowned in South Africa and Europe for their quality. John de Villiers was the first winemaker to become known as the "Wine King of South Africa". From 1930 SFW became deeply involved with the wine-makers of Zonnebloem and by the 1940's the company bottled, labelled and marketed Zonnebloem wine for John de Villiers. Shortly after his death in 1948, SFW registered the name Zonnebloem as its trade mark without informing the family. The changes which took place in the South African wine industry during the 1950â??s, international boycotts, as well as the ever increasing production costs, forced Crouse to stop making wine. Zonnebloem farm was sold in 2003.