Oak Valley Estate was founded in 1898 by Sir Antonie Viljoen, a medical doctor who graduated from Edinburgh University in Scotland. Sir Antonie was also a Senator in the Cape Parliament and was knighted in 1916 for his efforts to bring together Boer and Brit in the bitter aftermath of the Boer War.

Sir Antonie was a farmer extraordinaire and established the first commercial deciduous fruit orchards in the Elgin valley. Today, the apple industry remains the economic backbone of the valley.

After planting a vineyard, Sir Antonie commissioned the building of the first wine cellar in the Elgin valley.( Unfortunately, the cellar was taken out of production in the early 1940's to make space for fruit production during WW1.)

Over the next 160 years, this lavish estate was passed down from generation to generation and has become renowned for its apples, pears, flowers, and, increasingly, for the production of high quality cool climate wines.