Zonnebloem
Crafted by Tradition, Perfected by Women
Elegant Wines from Zonnebloem
Zonnebloem's history dates back to 1692, when Willem van der Merwe was granted land in Simondium near Paarl by Governor Simon van der Stel. In 1856, the estate owner, Petrus Jacobus Malherbe, divided the property between his two sons, Daniël Francois and Willem Andries. Willem named his portion Zonnebloem, meaning sunflower.
In 1893, the Furter family bought the estate, and Marie Furter became South Africa's first female winemaker, winning numerous trophies at the Cape Wine Show and other competitions.
In 1947, Distell took over the brand. Today, Zonnebloem wines come from selected vineyards in Stellenbosch and continue to be crafted by talented female winemakers, led by head winemaker Elize Coeetze, white winemaker Kelly-Marie Jacobs, and red wine specialist Bonny van Niekerk.