When the Nort-Wester gales and driving rains of the Cape winter arrive, the temptation is to batten down the hatches and stay indoors until the sun returns. But, this is the perfect time of year to go on a cultural retreat.
Wine forms the elegant centre of Cape culture, and no cultivar more so than Pinotage. Pinotage, celebrating 100 years, is South Africa’s very own grape creation, made by South Africans for South Africans and as much a part of the South African psyche as melktert and braaivleis.
Pinotage grapes were first created in 1925 by a South African scientist named Abraham Izak Perold, who was Stellenbosch University’s first viticulture professor. Perold created a hybrid of the pinot noir grape and the cinsault grape (then known locally as Hermitage, giving Pinotage the latter half of its name).
This proudly South African cultivar is finally enjoying its moment in the sun, and Lanzerac is proud to have been the first commercially available Pinotage in the world. To this day, Pinotage enjoys pride of place under the Lanzerac label.
So, may we suggest a Pinotage pilgrimage this winter?
You can visit for a day or book into the gracious, historic Lanzerac for a few nights. Designed by Con Van der Colff from Creative Transition, the 54 rooms and suites are a perfect blend of antique and modern, each uniquely and exquisitely styled – fit for royalty.
Settle in, then prepare yourself for a sophisticated wine experience in their well-appointed Tasting Room and Deli. It’s open seven days a week and offers its patrons the opportunity to explore the Estate’s range of acclaimed wines in a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by breathtaking views of the Stellenbosch Valley.
Seeing as this is your Pinotage pilgrimage, choose the Jonkershoek Tasting where you select five wines from the Jonkershoek range to explore, including the Pinotage and Pinotage Rosé. You may want to pair it with a selection of artisanal chocolate truffles, specially created to complement the Jonkershoek range.
And, don’t forget to join a guided cellar tour, available daily at 11am and 3pm, and explore the rich heritage of the Estate as you wander through serene pathways.
The next phase of your Pinotage pilgrimage must surely be to put this fine wine to the test. Enjoy the five-star fare curated by Lanzerac’s chefs in either the Taphuis or Manor Kitchen – and order a bottle (or two) of Lanzerac Pinotage with your meal.
Where better to enjoy the wine than in the very place that it was cultivated and nurtured? Lanzerac has established itself as one of Stellenbosch’s top gourmet destinations, and your waiter will be able to suggest the perfect pairing from the menu.
Pinotage goes well with venison, lamb, beef and other hearty, winter-warmer dishes.
You are bound to want to add a case or two of Lanzerac Pinotage to take home with you to share with friends and family. Joining the inspired wine enthusiasts, known as the Lanzerac Wine Club, will assure you a handsome discount on that purchase, so ask the team for further information.
Could a cultural retreat be complete without afternoon tea? Tea is usually something we associate with prim little ladies, but not at Lanzerac. Here, they host a Gentleman’s Tea, complete with beef sliders, pork belly cubes and lamb bobotie pies, to mention but a few of the delicious treats on offer.
Taking place in the Craven Lounge, enveloped by historical grandeur and a roaring fireplace, it is served with a selection of local whiskeys or opt for gin if you prefer.
Also on offer, and equally as sumptuous, is the Afternoon Tea in the Manor Kitchen every Saturday afternoon, where loose leaf teas and Lanzerac Cap Classic accompany savoury dishes like smoked salmon, caviar and potato blinis, as well as sweet treats like almond profiteroles with rose water cream and buttermilk scones.
Should the rain ease for an hour or two, pull on your wellies and enjoy a bracing walk around the Estate and up onto the spectacular mountain slopes. Take a deep breath – your body will appreciate the fresh, crisp air and recognise that it was worth venturing out of your own living room after all.
Lanzerac invites you to treat yourself to a luxurious Lanzerac experience with red wine conversations around crackling fires and warm Winelands hospitality:
Book three nights and only pay for two.
From R7 990 sharing per room, per night.
This offer is valid from 1 June to 31 August 2025
For more information, contact [email protected]
Also read:
Picture: Supplied
