South Africa · Stellenbosch

Lanzerac Wine Estate

Stellenbosch estate in the Jonkershoek Valley, with Pinotage red wines and a Pinotage Rosé.

The producer

Lanzerac Wine Estate sits in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch and produces Pinotage red wines and Pinotage Rosé. The red wines show dark fruit, plum and prune, with natural acidity and a lifted finish. The Rosé brings gentle perfume, rose petal, redcurrant and crushed strawberry, with soft fruit flavours. French oak ageing appears in the red wine, while the property also includes an original cellar and surrounding buildings converted into bars, lounges, dining areas and hotel rooms.

Known for

Pinotage and Pinotage Rosé

Notable facts

The story

The First Commercial Pinotage

In 1959, Bellevue's vineyard production won the General Smuts Trophy at the Cape Wine Show against 1,800 competing entries. Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery then bottled and sold the wine under the Lanzerac label. The grapes came from Bellevue, while the Lanzerac name appeared on the commercial bottle. The release became the world's first commercially bottled Pinotage. The award belonged to Bellevue's vineyard production, and Lanzerac's role was the label used for the commercial bottling.

From the atlas

Lanzerac Wine Estate

Lanzerac Wine Estate in Stellenbosch's Jonkershoek Valley, with Pinotage red wines, Pinotage Rosé, and a label tied to the world's first commercially bottled Pinotage.

At A Glance

FieldDetails
RegionSouth Africa, Western Cape
PlaceJonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch
Main grapePinotage
Named winesLanzerac Pinotage, Lanzerac Pinotage Rosé
Defining featureLanzerac label used for the world's first commercially bottled Pinotage

The Producer

Lanzerac Wine Estate is a wine estate in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch, in South Africa's Western Cape. Its named releases include Pinotage and Pinotage Rosé, giving the estate both a red Pinotage expression and a rosé style.

Place

Lanzerac sits in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch. Its Pinotage carries natural acidity and a lifting finish associated with Jonkershoek terroir.

Story

Isaac Schrijver planted the first vineyards at the property and named the farm Schoongezicht, meaning wonderful view. Lanzerac was established in 1692, making it the third oldest farm in the Stellenbosch area.

Elizabeth Catherina English changed the estate's name to Lanzerac in 1920, a name rumoured to refer to French General Charles Lanrezac. In 1958, Lord David Rawdon purchased the property and converted it into a hotel. The original cellar and surrounding buildings were repurposed as bars, lounges, dining areas and hotel rooms.

Vineyards And Cellar

Lanzerac Pinotage Rosé had only 2 to 3 hours of skin contact. This short period limits colour extraction and helps keep the fruit flavours soft. Fermentation was controlled at around 14 degrees Celsius and took around 10 days, preserving fresh fruit character.

Lanzerac Pinotage 2023 matured in French oak barrels. French oak ageing allows gradual oxygen exposure, which can add spice and soften texture.

Wines

The named releases cover red Pinotage and Pinotage Rosé. The red wine is full bodied and carries an ageing potential, while the Rosé is made for easy sipping during warm summer months.

In The Glass

Lanzerac Pinotage 2022 has dark fruits, plums and prunes, with concentrated character and a finish that stays lifted. A red release also shows ripe berries and plums on the nose and palate, with good mouthfeel and a lingering aftertaste.

Lanzerac Pinotage Rosé 2025 brings gentle perfume, rose petal, redcurrant and crushed strawberry. Its soft fruit flavours sit inside a dry, perfumed and fruity style.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Lanzerac Pinotage 2023. It combines 15 months in a mix of French oak barrels with an ageing potential of 5 to 10 years. The bottle places Pinotage in a red, oak matured format with a clear cellar window.

Anecdote

In 1959, Bellevue's vineyard production entered the Cape Wine Show and won the General Smuts Trophy against 1,800 competing entries. Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery bottled and sold the wine under the Lanzerac label. The grapes came from Bellevue, while the Lanzerac name appeared on the commercial bottle. The release became the world's first commercially bottled Pinotage. The award belonged to Bellevue's vineyard production, and Lanzerac's role was the label used for the commercial bottling.

Final Word

Lanzerac Wine Estate is a Jonkershoek Valley property where Pinotage appears in both red and rosé form, with the red wines carrying an oak ageing arc.

Sources

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