Bellevue Estate has been owned by the Morkel family since 1861 when it
was purchased by Dirk Cloete Morkel. He was primarily a sheep and cattle
farmer, but established some vineyards. In 1900 his son, also Dirk
Cloete, took over the reigns and followed in the footsteps of his
father. His eldest son, Pieter Krige Morkel, fondly known as P.K. and a
well-known character in the Stellenbosch agricultural community, did
groundbreaking work in the establishment of vineyards on Bellevue and
was ultimately responsible for the conversion of Bellevue to a wine
estate.
In 1943 under the leadership of P.K. the original cellar
was expanded. In 1966, P.K’s younger brother, Danie Morkel took over
from him and his son Dirkie, the present owner joined him in 1978.
Dirkie upgraded the existing cellar in 1998 to a modern, productive
quality-driven cellar. Bellevue’s present owner and viticulturist,
Dirkie Morkel is the fourth generation on the farm.