The timeline

Jan van Riebeeck records the first wine made from Cape grapes. thedrinksbusiness.com

First brandy distilled at the Cape, aboard the Dutch ship De Pijl in Table Bay. mg.co.za

Constantia land granted to Governor Simon van der Stel (Groot Constantia). en.wikipedia.org

Henning Huising settles Meerlust. meerlust.co.za

Willem Adriaan van der Stel settles Vergelegen. en.wikipedia.org

VOC grants the Nederburg farm in Paarl to Philippus Wolvaart. wineland.co.za

Jan van Ryn arrives at the Cape; Van Ryn's brandy lineage starts. sabrandy.co.za

Charles Glass establishes the Castle Brewery, Johannesburg; James Sedgwick buys the Wellington distillery site. breweryhistory.com

South African Breweries formed, headquartered at the Castle Brewery; Castle Lager launched under SAB. sab.co.za

SAB becomes the first industrial company listed on the JSE. breweryhistory.com

Van Ryn's distillery established at Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch. sa-venues.com

Castle Milk Stout launched (August); Lion Lager first brewed in honour of Anders Ohlsson. zythophile.co.uk

KWV founded as a wine farmers' co-operative. kwv.co.za

KWV Act gives KWV statutory powers. kwv.co.za

William Charles Winshaw founds Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery. en.wikipedia.org

KWV bottles its first commercial brandy, for export to the UK. kwv.co.za

SFW launches Tassenberg. winemag.co.za

First Klipdrift brandy distilled at Robertson. en.wikipedia.org

Anton Rupert forms Distillers Corporation. en.wikipedia.org

Castle Brewing (SAB) buys Ohlsson's Cape Breweries; SFW lists on the JSE. en.wikipedia.org

SFW launches Lieberstein, later the world's best-selling branded wine of its era. wineland.co.za

The 1928 ban on black South Africans buying 'European' liquor such as bottled beer is lifted. zythophile.co.uk

Wine of Origin scheme takes effect (initiated by KWV in 1972). kwv.co.za

First Nederburg Auction; SAB launches Hansa Pilsener. wineland.co.za

Three Ships whisky launched. fr1day.co.za

Mitchell's Brewery opens in Knysna (often called SA's first microbrewery); Amarula marula spirit launched. mg.co.za

Klein Constantia makes its first Vin de Constance (released 1990). decanter.com

Liquor Products Act 60 of 1989 enacted; Amarula Cream launched (September). archive.gazettes.africa

Liquor Products Act regulations published (GN R1433 of 1990). source.acts.co.za

Distell's predecessor launches Savanna Dry (May). en.wikipedia.org

KWV converts from co-operative to company. kwv.co.za

SFW and Distillers Corporation merge to form Distell. en.wikipedia.org

SAB buys Miller Brewing and becomes SABMiller. breweryhistory.com

Bain's Cape Mountain, SA's first single grain whisky, launched. en.wikipedia.org

Three Ships 5 Year Old named World's Best Blended Whisky (World Whiskies Awards). en.wikipedia.org

Bain's Cape Mountain named World's Best Grain Whisky (World Whiskies Awards). en.wikipedia.org

Hope on Hopkins opens as Cape Town's first licensed small-batch distillery. lionessesofafrica.com

Pot still brandy bottled after 31 December 2013 must be 100% pot still (three-year minimum maturation, 340-litre oak casks). source.acts.co.za

Vasari buys KWV from HCI. kwv.co.za

AB InBev completes its takeover of SABMiller. en.wikipedia.org

Pernod Ricard takes a majority stake in Inverroche (July); full ownership 6 February 2025. thespiritsbusiness.com

Heineken completes its purchase of Distell and Namibia Breweries, forming Heineken Beverages. stocktitan.net

Heineken puts all its South African wine brands, including Nederburg and JC Le Roux, under strategic review (reported 30 October). vinetur.com