Nestled in the dramatic Jonkershoek Valley just outside Stellenbosch—minutes from the historic heart of Cape Town’s winelands—Lanzerac Estate has been quietly shaping South African wine history since 1692. That year, Isaac Schrijver received the land grant and planted the first vines on what he called Schoongezicht, “wonderful view.” More than three centuries later, the view remains as breathtaking as the story.

The estate’s early Cape Dutch Manor House, with its elegant 1830 gable, still anchors the property as a Provincial Heritage Site. In the early 20th century, the formidable Elizabeth “Kitty” English arrived, renamed the farm Lanzerac (legend says after a French general of the First World War), and turned it into one of the Cape’s most progressive cellars. Her vision helped set the stage for what would become a defining moment in South African wine: the world’s first commercially bottled Pinotage.

In 1959, Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery bottled a pioneering Pinotage under the Lanzerac name and released it in 1961. That single act put both the grape and the label on the global map. Today, Lanzerac continues to craft expressive Pinotage alongside elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and distinctive blends that capture the cool mountain breezes and mineral-rich soils of Jonkershoek.

Now comes fresh news for Canadian wine lovers: Bidwine.ca, the Alberta-based importer known for bringing distinctive bottles from around the world to Western Canada, will be carrying a selection of Lanzerac wines. For those of us who have long admired South Africa’s ability to marry heritage with modern precision, this is genuinely exciting. Expect bottles that speak of old oaks, mountain light, and a grape variety born right here in the Cape.

Whether you’re a Pinotage devotee or simply curious about one of the oldest working wine farms in the Stellenbosch region, this is your moment. Head over to Bidwine.ca, explore the Lanzerac range as it becomes available, and pour yourself a glass of living history. The Cape’s oldest stories are about to meet Canadian tables—raise a glass and taste the connection.

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