7000 years ago
The area is the hunting grounds for the hunter-gatherer San people
500AD - 1690
The Cochoqua people of the pastoral khoikhoi nations graze their livestock in the region, and build their homesteads (kraals) along the rivers.
1652
Cape of Good Hope founded by Jan van Riebeeck.
1658
The first slaves arrive in the Cape
1659
Governor Jan Van Riebeeck makes the first Cape Wine in Wynberg
1679
Stellenbosch founded by Governor of the Cape Colony, Simon van der Stel, who named it after himself.
1683
Arnoud Jansz settles on the Spier Farm.
1692
Governor Simon van der Stel signs the first Spier Title Deed when granting the property to Arnoud Jansz.
1754
Over 30 000 vines are grown on Spier, one of the best producers of quality wine in the region.
1767
Albertus Myburgh, owner at the time, builds his Wine Cellar, with the holbol gable dating to 1767.
1773
Shed or Cow House centre gable is built.
1778
Jonkershuis Workshop centre gable is built.
1812
Old Kitchen centre gable is built
1817
Jonkershuis centre gable is built.
1822
Manor House centre gable is added.
1825
The Slave Bell is built on the banks of the Eerste River by Andries Christoffel Van der Byl when he needs a great number of slaves to harvest the grapes from the estate's 80 000 vines
1965
Neil Joubert acquires Spier.
1971
We bottle our first wine under the Spier label.
1971
The Stellenbosch Wine Route is established by Neil Joubert from Spier, Frans Malan from Simonsig and Spatz Sperling from Delheim.
1995
Our new wine cellar is built with a capacity to produce 50 000 cases of wine per year.
2000
The Spier Hotel opens.
2008
Spier releases its flagship wine, Frans K Smit, named after our cellar master.
2008
The Spier Manor House undergoes extensive restoration.
2009
Eight Restaurant opens. Like its name, the restaurant is an expression of balance, cycles, harmony, infinity and abundance.
2009
Spier launches its Creative Block wine range.
2010
The Spier Hotel celebrates its 10th Birthday.
2011
Spier releases 21 Gables Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, named after the 21 historical gables found on our farm.
2011
The new Tasting Room opens.
2012
Spier launches the Gables audio walk, a self-guided fictional tour of the Spier farmstead.
2012
The Dying Slave, a 42,6sqm outdoor mosaic sculpture conceived by Marco Cianfanelli and created by Spier Architectural Arts, is installed at Spier.
2014
Spier wins the BASA Chairman’s Premier award in recognition of its "sustained and extraordinary commitment to the arts" in South Africa.
2016
Spier wins the Gold the African Responsible Tourism Awards in the category Best for Accommodation for Responsible Employment.
2016
Spier wins the Getaway Award for Leadership in Water Conservation.
2017
The Spier Mosaic Kraal, South Africa’s first permanent outdoor exhibition of mosaic, opens at Spier.
2017
Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2015 wins the inaugural Veritas Vertex Award.
2018
Spier launches its Growing for Good learning initiatives.