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History
During 1859 the first member of the De Wet clan began
clearing the veld of the Little Karoo in today’s Robertson/Ashton area to
create pasturage. By the end of the nineteenth century his three sons had
shown their resourcefulness by breeding horses and growing vines on this
land. The youngest brother, Jacobus Stephanus (Kowie), soon became one of
the most successful ostrich breeders in the Robertson district on his farm
Excelsior.
As ostrich plumes were the essence of haute couture at the
time, the affluence of the trade was soon reflected in the “feather palace”
architectural style. Kowie de Wet built during this time, producing an
enormous farmhouse on Excelsior with the characteristic elegance of the
Victorian era, embellished with impressive chimneys and Cape Dutch gables, a
style known as Cape Revival. Here the De Wets lived and swanked with ornate
European furniture and various forms of entertainment including dances,
later also featuring regularly on the calendar of the Cape Hunt and Polo
Club.
As the age of mechanization rolled in, the invention of
the motorcar brought the fashion of ostrich feather millinery to a grinding
halt. Voluptuous bonnets and boas were replaced by well tucked in scarves
and tight fitting hats for jaunting around in the new speedy vehicles. With
the collapse of the ostrich feather industry, Kowie and his son Oscar again
resorted to breeding horses and vines, and Excelsior was one of the few
farms which was not declared insolvent at the time.
Today the farm has been planted with noble cultivars like
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The
wines are successfully sold locally and abroad.
The Manor House
The original home has been extensively restored to its
former glory. The guesthouse now offers nine luxury en suite bedrooms. The
spacious rooms provided adequate internal space for renovation without
altering the external façade. Thus the tranquil proportions of the exterior
have been retained, with the original wooden window frames and gables all
intact from a century ago.
Many old trees grace the garden and these have been
maintained. The northern side now offers a refuge of tranquillity with
fragrant old roses and a rose labyrinth to restore one’s soul. The south
side of the house opens onto a wooden deck surrounding a deep blue swimming
pool. This elevated but secluded deck offers a breathtaking panoramic view
of the vineyards, the Langeberg, splendid sunsets and generally the
‘kingdom’ of this fertile valley.
Attractions in the Robertson area
Die oude Markhuis
R62 Motor Museum
Robertson Art Gallery
Dassieshoek Nature Reserve
Klaas Voogs Game Reserve
Birds Paradise
Klipdrift
Wine Tours
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If you have ever felt the need to experience a palace in
the Breede River Valley,
Excelsior opens its doors to you.
Wine and dine
Enjoy scrumptious breakfasts before going on excursions
for the day, or order lunch and lounge at the pool. For the more active, you
can enjoy fishing, and swimming in the dam across the road, walks through
the vineyards or why not take a donkey cart ride to one of the 6 wine
tasting facilities within walking distance for the bold.
After a long day dinners will be served on request in
either the dining room or out on the deck.
The De Wets look forward to welcoming you to share in the
tranquillity of their farm and the old-time splendour of the feather palace
of Excelsior.
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