Cloete, Hendrik
Hendrik Cloete, born in 1725 and a descendant of German immigrants, was one of the most famous wine growers in the world. He took over the Groot Constantia winery in South Africa in 1778 and made the wines from there world famous. Even before that, Hendrik Cloete was a successful winemaker with wineries in Stellenbosch and Robertson. In Constantia, he first had the vineyards repaired and developed the farm into the most modern winery in South Africa. He quickly planted numerous vines and caused a worldwide sensation with his sweet wines. European royalty and great personalities raved about his wines. Hendrik Cloetes Muskatweit also became the first cultivated wine of the New World.