Graaff-Reinet’s Black Acorn Grapevine
Description
Behind the Reinet House Museum in Graaff-Reinet, visitors will find a Black Acorn grapevine planted by Charles Murray in 1870 which is said to be the second oldest living grapevine in South Africa. The “trunk” of the vine used to be a lot larger than now but some years ago a big part of it had to be cut away when it picked up a disease. It is said that it took 3 men’s arms stretched out to encircle the stem.
Just for interest’s sake. It is said the oldest grapevine in South Africa can be found in Heritage Square near the Company Garden in Cape Town. It is considered the oldest fruit-bearing vine in the Southern Hemisphere, and after testing it in France, it was determined that the vine, which was planted around 1771, is Gross Chenin Blanc.
