* Read more about the 1981 floods.
18 September
1953
11 Farmers that delivered their grapes to the old “Sonskyn Winery” gather to form the “Sentrale Koöperatiewe Wynmakery Beperk”. The building, machinery and grounds are purchased from Robertson Distillery for the amount of ₤13 000 and a 13 year contract for 1 000 leaguer wine is signed with it.
11 December
1953
The Registrar of Co-operative Associations issues a Certificate of Registration to the “Sentrale Koöperatiewe Wynmakery Beperk”, but the name is rejected shortly after.
22 January
1954
Members of the Co-op meet to deliberate the name and decide on Roodezandt.
9 February
1954
The first set of financial statements are prepared by Theron, Humphrey & Fick Chartered Accountants.
14 February
1954
This marks the start of the first harvest for Roodezandt and a total of 1 800 tons of grapes are delivered in the first year. The cultivars are mostly Palomino, Hermitage, Muscadel, Sultana & Kanaan.
18 February
1954
The first Braai function is held for the member farmers, along with their wives and 5 guests with their companions. The costs of the function amount to ₤8-9-3 for the alcoholic beverages (Grand Hotel), ₤1-13-0 for Crown cooldrinks and ₤4-17-6 for the meat (N. Pinto).
24 February
1954
The name is officially changed and a certificate of the name change is issued by the Registrar of Co-operative Associations.
2 February
1956
An executive decision is made prohibiting white and red grapes from being transported together.
1958
Mr. Poultney receives compensation of ₤150 for the year for his work as winemaker.
1960
Mr. Strachan builds space for 1 600 leaguer wine at a cost of ₤7 231 (R14 462.00).
1962
By recommendation of Mr. Gert Nieuwoudt, Roodezandt installs a 25 Hp refrigeration unit at a cost of R4 550-00.
17 June
1963
The Board of Directors receive their first compensation amounting to R2 per meeting.
1965
A 3 000 leaguer steel tank and a 30 Ton weighbridge is installed for a total of R25 050.00.
26 June
1966
William Frank ``Robbie`` Roberts is appointed to the position of Cellar Manager with a salary totalling R280 per month. His wife Marion is appointed as weighbridge assistant in 1967. For her work at the cellar she receives payment to the amount of R4-50 per day.
1968
As a trail, Roodezandt implements the Hauni South Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd offloading technique during harvest. This method requires grapes to be offloaded by way of a suction hose. The speculated advantages of this method include improved productivity, laboursaving operations and cost-effectiveness due to it not requiring specialised infrastructure. The trail however proves unsuccessful and traditional delivery methods live to fight another day.
1972
Messrs. Pierre Venter and Abé Kriel visits Roodezandt to discuss the cellar’s first cultivar guideline and recommends the following cultivars: Muscadel, Bukettraube, Steen (Chenin Blanc), Chenel, Raisin blanc, Claret Blanc and Saint Emilion.
5 November
1976
Roodezandt writes a letter of thanks to the Stellenbosch Boerewynmakery (SBW) for bonuses of R2 per hectolitre that was paid for 90 hectolitres of Muscadel delivered.
23 - 25 January
1981
Floods hit large parts of the South Western Cape in what is mostly known in years to come as the Laingsburg flood. In Robertson the heavy rainfall caused the Breederiver and Vinkriver to join forces and overflow their banks. After the flood water subsides Mr. Phillip du Toit delivers 28,760 Tons of Chenin Blanc grapes that used to be under a meter of water to Roodezandt. Botrytis fungus did its job and under winemaker Christie Steytler Roodezandt produces the 1981 Le Grand dé Luge Noble Late Harvest.
1991
For the 30th year of existence of 1 Parachute Battalion Roodezandt is tasked with producing a range of specially labelled wines including Demi Sec Sparkling Wine, Late Harvest and Cabernet Sauvignon for their celebrations.
1996 – 1999
``Who said that you cannot produce red wine in the Robertson area?” Mr. Bennie Howard (MC) uttered these words at the Veritas Gala when Roodezandt’s 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon was crowned with a gold medal. These words were repeated in 1999, again at the Veritas Gala, when Roodezandt’s 1998 Balthazar Classic Cabernet Sauvignon were crowned with a gold medal.
1999
Cave Prevé De Balthazar, a small private cellar in the heart of Roodezandt’s premises, is created to produce wines in smaller volumes for those wanting something a little different.
The small cellar is named after Balthazar Kloppers, a long serving Chairman of the Board of Directors and the first grapes are pressed during the 2000 harvest.
2001
A new logo is introduced to replace the original “house” logo.
2001
The 2001 Balthazar Classic Cabernet Sauvignon receives a silver medal at the International Wine and Spirits competition in London.
2002
Roodezandt receives the highest accolade for any South African Winery when our 2002 Sauvignon Blanc wins the General Smuts Trophy for the best wine at the 2002 South African Young Wine Show.
2003
Roodezandt celebrates its 50th year of existence!
3 June
2006
Roodezandt takes part in the 3rd annual Wacky Wine Weekend and makes history by having a swimming pool filled with red wine and combining it with a treasure hunt of sorts.
First prize is nothing less than a diamond. What follows is years of wine dive fun with an assortment of gemstones being won.
2008
Less than ten years down the line Roodezandt changes its logo again and ushers in a new image for the cellar.
26 February
2011
Roodezandt forms part of the first Hands on Harvest festival's Amazing Race
2011
Disaster strikes when metal fatigue of the bolts of one of Roodezandt’s tanks cause around 20 000L of red wine to flow out of cellar and into Voortrekker Road.
2012
Growing pressure on Roodezandt's existing facilities lead to the installation of a new receiving bin, Pera press, wine tanks and Roto fermenters.
2013
Roodezandt starts building a new cellar to serve as both a storage and cooling facility with a total capacity of 3 million litres.
2 November
2013
Strong winds blow one of the tanks meant to be installed in our new cellar building off of the truck en route to Robertson
2014
Roodezandt cellar worker Gerrie Grootboom is crowned SA Cellar Worker of the Year beating approximately 200 contenders for the title.
2015 - 2018
Over the course of three years a filter press and two additional grape presses are installed to speed up the overall flow of products through the different stages of the winemaking process.
27 February
2019
We break our own grape intake record for the second time in one season with a grape intake of 1 251 Tons in one day.
2 April
2019
Preparations for the dismantling and demolition of 20 Constitution Street, Roodezandt's old ``Cellar house``, begins. This will make space for a new cellar building that will, for the time being, be half filled with new stainless steel tanks.
10 April
2019
The Executive Committees of both Roodezandt and McGregor Co-ops meet to discuss the possibility and probability of an amalgamation.
11 September
2019
The combined Board of Directors from both Co-operative cellars sign a Cooperation Agreement for the 2020 harvest irrespective of the final decision.
14 November
2019
The member farmers of both Roodezandt and McGregor Co-operative Wineries meet separately to vote on the proposed amalgamation. The votes are counted by independent officials and a result of 95+% in favour of amalgamating is achieved.
30 September
2020
Roodezandt (RF) (Pty) Ltd is officially registered with the Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission.
3 November
2020
The first AGM of Roodezandt (RF) (Pty) Ltd is held and a new Board of Directors, Chairman, Vice-chairman and Executive Committee is appointed to usher us into the future.
8 February
2021
This marks the start of the first official harvest as Roodezandt (RF) (Pty) Ltd under the new logo designed to represent the identities of both the historical Roodezandt and McGregor Co-ops.