The Blomendahl History

1185, the first record

The Blomendahl family's agricultural tradition in Europe dates back to 1185, the year of the first certified mention of the Blomendahl family farm, which the family runs to this day. Over the centuries the name flowed through many forms, Blommentall, Blumenthal, Blomendale, before returning to the original: Blomendahl. It means, roughly, "valley of flowers", a farmer's name for farming people.

Distilling in the blood

Wine and spirits entered the family story generations ago. FJ Blomendahl watched his grandfather distill as a child; by 18 he was trading wine, and by 1993 the family had taken over the historic Kohlhoff house (est. 1882) with its Peace-of-Westphalia-era liqueur recipes, including the guardianship of the Alter Schwede tradition of 1648.

2003, the Cape chapter

In 2003 the family brought its craft from Germany to South Africa, founding Blomendahl Vineyards in the cool-climate Elgin valley. Our symbol, the feather, originates from our very first wine cellar in South Africa, where we worked under the constant watchful eye of the owls in the rafters. In 2009 a 1000L still arrived on the farm 'Basco', and the German distilling tradition took root in Cape soil: grappa, brandy, and eventually the award-winning range you see today.

Today Blomendahl produces wines and spirits in Germany and South Africa, one family, two continents, and a trophy shelf that keeps growing. The full year-by-year story is on our timeline.