This Cape Winery was the First in the World to Use ‘Pinotage’ on their Label in 1959!
One of the oldest wine farms in the Western Cape, Lanzerac is has been cultivating award-winning wines for decades. Located in the scenic Jonkershoek Valley, this historic Estate’s rich winemaking history can be traced back to the early 1900s, when the first Lanzerac wine was bottled from grapes harvested on the farm. The wine farm is also home to the world’s first bottled Pinotage and today is well known not only for its exceptional Pinotage as well as a wide range of other exceptional wines.
In 1925 Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, successfully crossed two grape varietals, Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut), to create South Africa’s first unique and indigenous wine grape variety – Pinotage. Several years later, Lanzerac Wine Estate became the first winery in the world to use the term ‘Pinotage’ on their label when they marketed the 1959 vintage under the name ‘Lanzerac, marking the birth of Pinotage as a unique variety from South Africa. The Lanzerac 1959 Pinotage won the Cape Young Wine Show of that year soon after its release, resulting in the Lanzerac name becoming synonymous with this type of wine. Today Lanzerac Wine Estate is still producing award-winning Pinotage, along with a wide variety of other excellent quality wines.
If you’re based in the Cape why not visit this historic wine estate for a taste of history? In addition to a most delicious Pinotage, Lanzerac also offers a wide variety of things for wine lovers to do at its estate. The Tasting Room is open every day, including weekends and allows guests to explore the range of famed wines in an atmospheric environment in the heart of the Stellenbosch valley. Enjoy a selection of customised individual or group wine tastings overlooking the vineyards, or indulge in a fascinating guided cellar tour to explore the estate’s rich heritage. End off with a delectable lunch at the Lanzerac Deli which offers a variety of scrumptious sandwiches, lunch platters and sharing boards; and local charcuterie and cheeses.
If that’s not your thing, try Lanzerac’s incredible Wine & Chocolate pairing (R120 per person), boasting a unique tasting of Premium Range wines paired with a handpicked selection of artisanal chocolates. Think flavours like an almond and peach white chocolate paired with a delightful Sauvignon Blanc; a lime white chocolate enhanced by a glass of Chard’; dark cherry and cigar chocolate complimented perfectly by a rich Merlot; a traditionally-spiced Cape Malay milk chocolate paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon; and lastly, a luxurious mousse and biscotti dark chocolate partnered with a concluding Premium Pinotage.
The Lanzerac tasting room is open seven days a week from 09:00 to 16:30. Cellar tours are on request and take place at 11:00 daily. For more information about Lanzerac Wine Estate and what it has to offer, visit the Lanzerac website.
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