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Today, it produces a wide range of white and red wines, all bearing the distinctive label of the pine avenue. The Lord Neethling (the nickname of the flamboyant Johannes Neethling) restaurant offers traditional South African dishes and international cuisine, while light lunches can be enjoyed at the Palm Terrace. Oude Libertas...is the headquarters of South Africa’s largest wine company, the Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery (SFW), which markets and distributes Chateau Libertas and the well-known Zonnebloem, Nederburg and Lanzerac ranges of wine. The Oude Libertas centre consists of a wine-tasting and conference centre with tours and sales, a restaurant and the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre. Built in 1977 on the slopes of the Pappegaaiberg, the 430-seat open-air amphitheatre resembles the Greek theatres of Athens and Epidauros.
During the summer season (December to March), the amphitheatre provides the setting for a variety of cultural events ranging from music and dance performances to light-hearted comedy. Especially popular are the Sunday evening twilight concerts. Lanzerac...is situated on the farm Schoongezicht, which was granted to Isaq Schrijver in 1692. Built in 1830, the U-shaped Cape Dutch manor house features a neoclassical front gable with well-defined mouldings, pediment and pilasters, while the wine cellar dates back to 1815. Under winemaker Angus Buchanan, who bought the farm in 1947, Lanzerac won numerous awards, including the prestigious champion red wine trophy for eight consecutive years. The farm was bought in 1958 by David Rawdon, who converted it into one of the country’s best-known hotels, which it remains to this day. In 1988, Lanzerac changed hands again, and three years later it was bought by the well-known Cape businessman, Christo Wiese. Lanzerac Rosé and Lanzerac Pinotage are produced by Distell, while all other wines in the Lanzerac range are grown, made and bottled on the estate. The range includes cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay, as well as five wines sold under the De Forellen label.
For your South African holiday Siyabona Africa Travel recommends the Lanzerac Manor Hotel & spa Neil Ellis WinesThis cellar, located in the picturesque Jonkershoek Valley, has established an international reputation for its vineyard selection wines. Winemaker Neil Ellis, former cellarmaster at Groot Constantia and Zevenwacht, uses only high-quality grapes from vineyards where specific varieties grow in optimum conditions. Given the emphasis on quality, the Neil Ellis wines are produced in small quantities. Wines under the Neil Ellis label include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, with a second tier range produced under the Inglewood label. The Jonkershoek ValleyNestling between the rugged Jonkershoek Mountains and the Stellenbosch Mountains, the Jonkershoek Valley is one of the Western Cape’s most beautiful spots. Towering more than 1 300 m above the valley floor are the jagged peaks of the 1 494 and 1 504-m-high Twin Peaks. The valley was named after a German ensign, Jan Andriessen, who was the first colonist to settle in the upper valley. At the time ensigns were referred to as ‘jonkers’, and he became known as Jan de Jonker. Visitors can explore the Jonkershoek Plantation by following a circular drive, walk to First Waterfall, or try their hand at fishing for trout in the Jonkershoek Dam. The adjoining Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve covers 204 ha of mainly fynbos vegetation and can be explored along a 2-km walk. Shady picnic places are provided on the banks of the Eerste River. Trout are bred at the Jonkershoek Fish Hatchery, and an experimental breeding programme is under way to rear several threatened indigenous fish species. |
