Johannes Albertus Myburgh

Johannes Albertus Myburgh ll, 3rd generation Myburgh wine master at Meerlust from 1814 - 1826. This also earmarked the British rule period, meaning lots of expansion, and added profits. He marries Magdalena Maria Roux aged 19 on 15 May 1796. She is grand daughter of the famous Paul Roux, a French Huguenot, a well respected South African family.

Johannes inherited 101 slaves from his father Philippus. The wine trade at the time was booming, and added supplies were sent to St. Helena island, where Napoleon had been exiled. The British garrison stationed there needed added food supplies, and of course wine was high on the quartermaster's list..... Much wine came from Constantia, however supplies were not enough to fulfill the added needs at the Colony. By 1823 - 1824 Meerlust's wagons were making 3 or 4 journeys across the Cape flats delivering wine in Cape Town. BY 1825 Johannes was delivering about 25 leaguers of wine to Cape Town. Now a widower he was also on the 'Heemraad' in Stellenbosch for some years, wanting to be excused in 1823, as written in a letter to the governor Lord Charles Somerset., who had sympathized with him, and excused Johannes from this duty. Lord Somerset resigned from office in 1826, under a cloud of disapprobation ...

Napoleon died in 1821, and after this time the garrison at St Helena returned to Britain. There were in the meantime many calls in farmers to improve their wines. this not done by all. In 1825 the export of wines to Britain reached a record 670 gallons. During this period Europe was improving wines, and Britain reduced the import tariffs on European wines, so this made easier to do trade in Europe, rather than the Cape, as their price became more competitive. Johannes Myburgh did not keep records, so Meerlust's losses are not known. The opgaaf of 1825 on Meerlust omitted various figures such as number of vines, nor the quantity of wine or brandy stored in the cellars.

Johannes was to die at the age of 57 in 1828. his eldest son, Philippus Albertus, then 32 years old, was the heir of Meerlust.

1. # MEERLUST - 300 YEARS OF HOSPITALITY - Phillida Brooke Simonds ... 2003 .