Nestled into the gentle slopes of the Bottelary Hills outside Stellenbosch, a castle guards all that is precious in its kingdom. On this 80 hectares of land full, succulent, intense and luscious wines are produced under the Fort Simon label since 1998. Fort Simon offers more than a range of wines that whisper of sun and soil and the seasons. It also offers the history of its buildings, unusual architecture, a second generation farming team and a venue for special occasions. In 1961 Dr Simon Uys and his wife Anna, bought the then called Houmoed, in the Bottelary Hills. When the two initiated the development, the farm was mostly wild brush with a few rows of old vines. It was not 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 viticulturist and the wine making is left in the capable hands of Marinus Bredell. "Our wine style is between new world and old world and due to the winemaking process, we do not release our wines right away."