MORNé JONKER, WINEMAKER WITH A PASSION

Soon after Morné Jonker completed his degree in viticulture at Elsenburg Winemaker's College in the Western Cape he did the typical student thing.  And that was to pack his bags and put whatever distance geographically possible between himself and the classroom.  But as with all things else he does, he took the sensible approach.  His vacation was spent working on a vineyard in the South of France.

After his brief stint in Europe he returned to his roots in the Klein Karoo where his father had several farming interests.  Morné was well aware of the fact that the region inland of the Outeniqua Mountain range was not new to grape farming but he was also of the notion that it would have to be something very special if it would fulfil his dream.

For Morné there were certain conditions and rules that would have to apply if his vision was to bear the kind of fruit he deemed essential.  One was his irrefutable love and passion for the grape plant Vitus vinifera and another was his love and passion for his Klein Karoo.  If Morné were to plant a single seedling of any of the grape varietals in Karoo soil he would have to find the perfect soil and climate to produce a world- renowned collection of wine. 

 

A gift straight from the Indian Ocean…

In the early 90’s winemaker Morné Jonker began to take a closer look at Schoonberg, one of several family farms scattered throughout the Klein Karoo.  Nestled in the picturesque Langkloof valley near Uniondale the sprawling 460 hectares of family land spread out and up against a north-facing slope of the Outeniqua Mountains.  Again he was drawn to the magnificent peak of Duiwelskop, a familiar landmark that rises above the fertile soil like an untiring sentinel.  Draping the mountain peak was a tablecloth-like cloud.  Morné knew that the white shroud he was looking at was the effect of evaporation from the surface of the warm Indian Ocean hardly 15 kilometres away, as the crow might fly.

For inhabitants of the valley this phenomenon is a common sight during the “dog days of summer”.  The water vapour is carried up into the atmosphere by convection currents and then, finding just the right conditions for condensation at the approximate altitude of Duiwelskop peak, cloud formation suddenly appears, seemingly out of thin air.  On the inland side of the mountain a dry and thirsty Karoo air sucks up the welcome moisture as it enters the valley rim.  The cloud now takes on the appearance of a phantom waterfall as cool moist air spills into the valley below.  Where the gift from the ocean comes into contact with the parched Karoo air, the illusion of liquid water vanishes as if by an act of magic.  Minutes later the fields in the valley below are awash with cool, moist and life-sustaining air.

Already familiar with the soil and all else that would make the perfect vineyard at Schoonberg, Morné knew that the ocean-cooled air that sustains this beautiful valley would become one of the key elements in accomplishing his goals and dreams for the vineyards that would soon grace the majestic slopes of Schoonberg.