The Lanzerac Wine Estate Experience

Driving into Stellenbosch is an event on its own, passing wine estate after wine estate that has mountains as a backdrop, it is simply amazing, and as you recognise some of the brands you are reminded that a bottle of wine is the ultimate distillation of time and place, a poetic expression of individuality itself. I believe that whoever said, the essence of a place could never be packaged or specifically bottled has never travelled through the town of Stellenbosch. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa, situated in Jonkershoek River valley known for its vineyards, food, and Cape Dutch style buildings. Lanzerac Wine Estate was established 13 years after the town of Stellenbosch came into being. Lanzerac Wine Estate is the third oldest Farm in the area.

The arrival at Lanzerac Wine Estate, is memorable, with the driveway to reception spectacularly bordered with a canopy of trees that overlap. As the car slowly swallows the trees and whitewashed Cape-Dutch style buildings appear like in movies and immediately as you alight from your car, luxury is the order of the day, first, your car gets parked, and luggage is taken into your room. This is important to me, when I arrive anywhere, at an instant I want to indulge and not fiddle with parking and luggage.

The new normal as always, temperature checks and regulatory forms, but this where Lanzerac does it better, there is nothing to touch just a QR code that you can scan with your phone, and you answer the Covid19 questionnaire online. The best words when checking in are “Mam we have upgraded you from a Junior Suite to a Suite”, music to my ears as I do the Uncle Vinny dance in my head.

The suite! When we first entered our suite, I was super impressed. I was speechless. It is huge! When you enter, there is a lounging area with couches, the decor is beautiful and timeless, the massive bed in the bedroom with two sitting chairs, I am a bathtub person through and through and this bathtub is absolutely spectacular and right in front of the bathtub when you open the door to allow the view to come through there is a rose garden, there is absolutely no reason to leave this grand bathtub. The shower is also massive and surrounded by a glass door, this place is a palace, a fully stocked bar fridge awaits to quench your thirst whether you prefer a cool drink or wine. Outside you have your own deck with lounging chairs that is more seating area, a plunge pool bigger than the usual plunge pools, when you further look up from our suite it is the vineyards, and the best backdrop anyone could ever ask for a giant mountain. At Lanzerac Hotel and Spa there is a pillow menu. I loved that because I’m asthmatic and most times I forget to let the hotel or lodge know that I can’t sleep in a feathered pillow or duvet, luxury sometimes is not in the expense rather in the little things that make a difference.

At some point, one has to leave this beautiful suite, off to wine tasting we go. The property is grand and well-appointed, there is a spa, a deli, and a restaurant on site. The gardens in Lanzerac are well-taken care of, everywhere you look it is lush green and the gardens are all manicured throughout this big Estate.

For wine tasting we chose the Lanzerac, Savignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage Rose and Blanc de Blancs Brut Bubbly. Rosemary took us through this wine journey explaining what wine we are drinking how long it has been aged as well as the taste of the wine. We also opted to have a light lunch with our wine tasting journey.

Dinner was at Taphuis restaurant, loved the decor again the exposed bricks have that old house feel, it makes the restaurant feel cosy. I had steak, mash and mushroom sauce, which is not on the menu it is something I felt like having and asked the chef to make it for me, you can never go wrong with mash and fillet steak drizzled with mushroom sauce, having a late lunch was not the best idea as I had to forgo the malva pudding that I have been eying since we arrived at the restaurant. The breakfast was as grand as this place, best muesli and yoghurt with fruits, everything is fresh here. The English muffin for eggs benedict tasted like it was baked that morning. The food was scrumptious.

After breakfast we headed to the spa to use the spa facilities, there is a jacuzzi and an indoor heated pool where you have dramatic views of the mountain, there are lounger chairs inside and outside.

I collect moments and Lanzerac Wine Estate was one of the best moments!

for more details https://lanzerac.co.za/