Johannes Forrer

Johannes Forrer was born in Haarlem 1897. As a young boy emigrated with his mother and younger brother aboard the SS Galicia to South Africa in 1901. His father already emigrated earlier to set up a home for his family in Paarl.

Johannes, "Jo" and his brother Herman make life-long friends at school which lead to establishing their roots in a new country, language and culture. The boys were always busy and involved in their father's business; painting and interior decoration. Wall paper was popular and their specialty.

Herman was sent to Geisenheim, Germany to study wine making. On his return to South Africa, the family started a winery in the Paarl district. Herman was the wine maker and Jo took care of distribution. There were a number of outlets: Loop Street, Cape Town and also in District 6. By this time Jo was married and they had two sons. Herman remained a batchelor though there was stories of a romance whilst he was a student in Germany.

During their time in Cape Town, they lived in Sea Point's 2nd Beach area and was friends with some well-known people of the time: Andre de Villiers, Pop Belton, N.P. van Wyk-Louw, Uys Krige etc. Later the family bought "Lebanon", the previous home of a Persian Prince. Lebanon is located by Bantry Bay.

WWII brought difficult times, though Forrer Brothers did well. They even produced wine and spirits for the Allied Forces under contract. By the end or the war, Jo's health deteriorated and it was recommended to seek a dryer climate. The family sold the house in Bantry Bay and relocated to Namibia, then called South-West Africa and settled in the Rehoboth district. Jo managed a general store, wife Ann manged the local hotel and son Herman the garage. By 1946, Jo sold his interests in Rehoboth and returned to the Cape where they settled in Lynedoch, near Stellenbosch. Jo was wine maker again.

Later in life Jo and Ann settled in the Ceres district where he passed away at age 80 in 1978.