The charm and fascination of Fort Simon originates in the unusual stone architecture of the tasting room and cellar, which was inspired by Namibian stone houses and medieval European castles. This unique venue opened its cellar to the public for the first time on 22 August 1998.

The estate has 61 hectares under vineyards, spread over a variety of slopes which are cooled by the prevailing sea breezes. These conditions, combined with various soil types have made it possible to produce an unusual cross-section of wines.

Winemaker Marinus Bredell, employs a natural approach to produce New World style Fort Simon wines, and the estate offers a promising range of both reds and whites. The cellar is housed in the Fort Simon castle, from which the range takes its name.

Visitors are invited to experience the medieval charm of Fort Anna, a romantic stone building, complete with moat and suspension bridge, and the venue for Fort Simon wine tastings and sales.

In 1961 Dr Simon Uys and his wife Anna, bought the then called Houmoed, in the Bottelary Hills near Stellenbosch. When the two initiated the development, the farm was mostly wild brush with a few rows of old vines.

It wasn't until the 1970's that the serious planting of grape vines began under the guidance of, then called, Distillers Corporation. New clone material was selected to suit the various slopes and microclimate.

During this time, Simon, a retired medical doctor from Namibia, built an entertainment area for guests. Influenced by the German architecture of Namibia, he collected rocks from the farm and built a fort complete with a cannon and a draw-bridge. Christened Fort Anna, it now houses the tasting room.

Today Renier, a second generation Uys, and Simon's son, is the viticulturist, and the winemaking is left in the capable hands of Marinus Bredell.

Situated between 170 and 370 metres above sea level with cool sea breezes from False Bay and Table Bay, 61 hectares are planted under vines. The wide variety of slopes and soil types produce a large spectrum of grape characters that are a winemakers dream.Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and
Viognier are planted on the higher slopes in weathered soils. The Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec are planted in the lower, warmer areas.

A perfect marriage between old and new, Renier set the cellar in another larger fort, and with his brother Petrus, named it Fort Simon. The cellar enhances the gothic theme on the outside, but inside the state of the art cellar has an open floor plan with everything on one level for access and better monitoring. Two thirds of the maturation cellar is filled with 300 litre French oak barrels. A new underground maturation cellar is underway.