On Wednesdays we at HospitalityHedonist celebrate beautiful wines whilst the rest of social media celebrates beautiful women (just as fun) with #WomenCrushWednesday.
Along with this infamous hash tag, the mere moments of Heritage day in our past and with International Pinotage Day on its way this Saturday, October 8th we thought there could be no more fitting wine to celebrate with our WINE CRUSH WEDNESDAY feature than the historical bottle of Pionier Pinotage by Lanzerac-Stellenbosch, which is aptly named “pionier” due to the fact that it was the first to be bottled in 1959 under the label Lanzerac.
Historically, Lanzerac has always been associated with Pinotage and the cellar and Cellar Master Wynard Lategan continues to offer an ultra-premium version, the Pionier 2013 currently available at R600 a bottle.
We were lucky to take a tour of this beautiful estate situated in the majestic Jonkershoek Valley of Stellenbosch and be given an exclusive tasting of this “new Vintage” the Pionier Pinotage showed some floral perfume before red cherries, plums, chocolate On the nose we welcomed good fruit concentration, bright acidity and firm but not coarse tannins on the palette. The Pintaoge grapes at Lanzerac originating from a single vineyard planted in 1996 and 2.38ha in size, juice was fermented spontaneously and the wine was matured for 22 months in French oak, 50% new. Whilst the tannins where mouthy and well rounded I would definetly suggest you buy a few of these gems to lay down for a few more years,bound to be a winner.
At the R600.00 price point I would suggest purchasing the Pionier Pinotage online or visiting the farm for one of their 4 Varieties of tastings. the most popular being their Wine & Chocolate Tasting at R 110 pp guests are invited to taste the 5 Premium wines paired with 5 selected chocolates. A winner with the ladies!
The Pionier Pinotage is available for tasting as part of their “Heritage Tasting” option. The tasting includes a tasting of our 4 ultra-premium wines, which are Lanzerac MCC Brut, Mrs English, Le Général and Pionier Pinotage and the cost is R150 pp.
Lanzerac also offers a beautiful on site restaurant. Historic Guest House and Spa- definitely something I hope to experience for my next local Stellenbosch Staycation.
Lanzerac also offers a beautiful on site restaurant. Historic Guest House and Spa- definitely something I hope to experience for my next local As one of the region’s most distinguished examples of Cape Dutch architecture, the Lanzerac Hotel invites complete relaxation amid welcoming interiors which blend both period grandeur and contemporary style. The five star hotel is limited to forty-eight en-suite bedrooms and suites, with all rooms leading onto patios, overlooking manicured lush gardens and the stunning backdrop of grandiose mountains and vineyards. Accommodation includes air conditioning, under floor heating, satellite TV, en-suite bathrooms, 24 hour room service and complimentary WIFI.
