The name Kanonkop is derived from a kopje (hillock), from which a cannon was fired in the 17th Century, to alert farmers in outlying areas that sailing ships plying the waters between Europe and the Far East had entered Table Bay for a stopover at Cape Town.

They would then load their wagons, span their oxen and set off to Cape Town to barter their produce, mainly fresh fruit and vegetables, to the sailors and travellers who had spent many months at sea.

Kanonkop is a fourth generation family estate, which was originally purchased by JW Sauer, a cabinet member in the parliament of the Union of South Africa. His son Paul Oliver Sauer, also a cabinet minister, took over the reins from his father and in 1968 was joined by Springbok rugby great Jan “Boland” Coetzee.

Mary Sauer, daughter of Paul Sauer, inherited the Estate. She married Jannie Krige, a rugby administrator at the University of Stellenbosch, who took early retirement and together with Coetzee made the first estate bottled wines in 1973.

Beyers Truter joined the estate in 1980 with the departure of Coetzee, and together with Johann and Paul, sons of Mary and Jannie, continued the traditions developed on this highly prized estate. More recently Beeslaar, who joined the team in 2002, has taken over from Beyers and continues the good work passed down from generation to generation.