Everything Everywhere Daily · Thursday, July 30, 2026
In the late 17th century, French Calvinists, known as Huguenots, fleeing religious persecution in France, were welcomed by the Dutch in South Africa as agricultural laborers. Their expertise in viticulture significantly improved the quality of local wine production, transforming it into a lucrative industry for the Dutch settlers.
“The region's dynamics changed in the late 1680s due to ongoing religious violence in France, as King Louis XIV abolished Protestantism.”
“The arrival of Huguenots proved to be an important addition to South African wine production.”
“The wine produced by inexperienced Dutch settlers was of poor quality, but the French Protestants brought a viticulture expertise, turning local wine production into a lucrative industry.”