They have established the age of the wines from looking back on photos in the Archives in Cape Town. Planted in circa 1930 but dated 1938 based off an aerial photograph of the farm then, SAWIS (SA Wine Information Service) has certified the vines now to be the oldest vineyard in W O Cape Town. The vineyard is also registered with the Old Vine Project.

The Muscat of Alexandria grapes are considered to be from ancient vines, dating back to at least 100 BC. Wine experts believe it is one of the oldest genetically unmodified vines still in existence. The grape originated in North Africa and the name is derived from its association with the Ancient Egyptians who used the grape for wine making. Hence the connection to the city of Alexandria in Egypt.

Although there are no records, it is generally accepted that Muscat ‘d Alexandria was one of the four grape varieties that Jan van Riebeeck planted at the Cape of Good Hope in 1655. The others were Chenin Blanc, Semillon and Muscat d’ Frontignan.

There are 25 vines and Rosa Kruger from the Old Vines Project, assisted in 2023 to prune them to perfection! And the vines performed accordingly to give a good harvest in 2024.

The grapes are protected with bird netting from visitors and birds and the bunches will be picked when the grapes are fully ripe.

A small handpress will be used to very gentle press all the juice from this small harvest of just a few hundred kilograms in February 2025. The wine will be a very limited release.

Meerendal was one of the first five founder producers to join the Old Vine project when it was formally started in 2016. The Heritage Block Pinotage at Meerendal was planted in 1955, and it is the oldest Pinotage vineyard in the WO Cape Town district. The first wine made from this single vineyard was in 2005, when the vineyard was 50 years old.