Lanzerac has produced numerous award-winning wines over the years, some of which have become icons in their own right, such as Mrs English Chardonnay, Le Général and Pionier Pinotage.
Now the Estate has embarked on a new and exciting venture with the emphasis on distinctive boutique wines produced in limited volume.
The Keldermeester Versameling (Cellar Master Collection in English) or KV range is a limited range of unique wines which is the brainchild of Lanzerac’s Cellar Master, Wynand Lategan.
“With these wines, the focus is very much on experimentation both from a variety and a terroir perspective,” explains Wynand. “They are also a vehicle for challenging conventional wine making methods and serve to prove that a wine estate with so much history and tradition behind it can also be innovative at the same time. Although Lanzerac regards tradition as very important, innovation will never play second fiddle.”
The KV range is also a very personal journey for Wynand as it represents much of his own history, personality and experiences.
“I chose Afrikaans on the labels because I am very proudly Afrikaans as well as South African. Many French wines use only French on their labels – the same with numerous Italian, Portuguese and Spanish wines – and I wanted to do something in my mother tongue.”
Only varieties that are not commonly used in Lanzerac wines are used in the production of the Keldermeester Versameling range, and the wines will not necessarily be the same every year. This gives Wynand scope to create uniquely artisanal wines as the varieties used may change depending on the quality of fruit available. The grapes for the wines are sourced from wherever Wynand can find the highest quality fruit.
The maiden wines in the Keldermeester Versameling are the BERGPAD 2016, PROF 2016 and DOK 2015.
PROF is the cornerstone of the KV range and personifies Lanzerac’s history in each sip. This blend comprises 60% Cinsaut and 40% Pinot Noir. The inspiration for this wine is an effort to find out what Professor Abraham Perold had in mind when he created Pinotage by crossing Cinsaut (also known as Hermitage) and Pinot Noir in 1925. It was at Welgevallen (the University of Stellenbosch’s research farm) that Perold cultivated the first Pinotage vines. Prof Perold never had the opportunity to taste the first bottled wine made from this grape variety, and with the crafting of this wine Wynand Lategan tried to discover the purpose of Prof Perold’s creation.
BERGPAD is a Pinot Blanc from a single vineyard block in the Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch, and is one of very few bottled Pinot Blanc wines currently available in South Africa. The name for this wine is derived from the famous mountain path (bergpad in Afrikaans) that runs from the University of Stellenbosch’s sports grounds, Coetzenburg, along the Stellenbosch Mountain towards Lanzerac. This path has become a regular feature for local and university sports and outdoor enthusiasts over the decades. As Wynand is a keen sports and outdoor enthusiast himself, it comes as no surprise why this unique varietal is named BERGPAD.
DOK is a Malbec, also harvested from a single vineyard block in the Jonkershoek Valley. The name DOK is mostly used in the Afrikaans language as a term of endearment for the word doctor. DOK is named after the legendary rugby giant, Dr Danie Craven, who regularly visited Lanzerac with his dog, Bliksem, in tow.
“Apart from the Afrikaans on the labels, other unique features include non-traditional packaging which displays the understated elegance and sophistication wine lovers will find inside the bottles,” says Wynand.
Lanzerac has only produced 1 113 bottles of the BERGPAD, 1 033 bottle of the DOK, and 1 396 bottles of PROF. PROF will sell for R310 per bottle, DOK for R280 and BERGPAD for R190 per bottle. These wines will only be available to purchase directly from the Lanzerac tasting room or the Lanzerac Wine Club.
For more information or to place an order, contact Zelda Furstenburg at 021 886 5641 or winesales@lanzerac.co.za.
