Farm History

Het Vlock Casteel (Môrester) lies at the foot of Kasteelberg (“Castle Mountain”), in the fertile Riebeek Valley. The land was first cultivated by Adriaan Johannes (Attie) Vlok in 1958. He was a true visionary and saw the full potential of the Valley, but at that stage water was scarce and very few permanent crops were being planted.

The Riebeek Valley has a Mediterranean type climate, with long hot summers (+35⁰C) and short cold winters (seldom under 10⁰C and no frost). The winter rains are however not substantial enough to sustain agricultural practices throughout the dry season.

To overcome some of these obstacles, Attie Vlok and Baila Bruwer of Dagbreek Farm, envisioned a water scheme, and in 1972 this dream was fulfilled when the Berg River Water Scheme was born. This scheme provides water to at least 13 farms in the Valley, including Riebeek Cellars.

“Water brought prosperity to the Riebeek Valley”- Kobus Bruwer (Son of Baila Bruwer, present owner of Dagbreek Farm) In the early 1980’s the farm produced only table and wine grapes, but before the end of the decade, the farm had diversified and in addition to the vineyards, were peaches, nectarines and citrus fruit. Since the 1990’s further crop varieties were added, including plums and olive groves.

Up to 95% of the fruit grown on the farm is for the export market through Capespan, with local sales being shipped under the Kasteelberg label.

All of the olives grown on the farm are handpicked and processed locally.