“Eikestad” (directly translated to Oak
City) is indeed the place where everyone who has had the privilege to live or
to spend time here, remembers with fond nostalgia.
Lanzerac,
with its rich history since 1692, forms an integral part of this town. The
estate is the birthplace of the world's first Pinotage, a 1959 vintage bottled
in 1961, and a pioneer in the wine industry. How many people have not grown up
with the world famous Lanzerac Rosé – in some cases it would have been their
first introduction to the wonderful world of wine.
Former
students and visitors to Stellenbosch all share a special bond to Lanzerac -
ask a Matie of the sixties, seventies or eighties and soon you will hear a
story of legendary cheese platters or enjoying that bottle of Rosé on the
Lanzerac stoep.
Winemaker,
Wynand Lategan and his team felt it necessary to acknowledge this piece of wine
history, as well as the young people or young at heart, and in doing so have
recently launched the Lanzerac Alma Mater range of wines. Presented in the same
iconic teardrop bottle as the Lanzerac
Alma Mater Rosé, the range has now
been completed with the addition of the Alma
Mater White and Alma Mater Red, respectively. This range is aimed at the young or
first generation wine drinkers – a range of uncomplicated wines full of fruit
and sunshine with a juicy mouthfeel and soft tannins.
The
Alma Mater White is a white blend made primarily of Chenin Blanc grapes with a
small percentage of Pinot Blanc. The wine is tank fermented in order to retain
freshness with a typical tropical nose. The Alma Mater Red, a Shiraz-driven red
blend, displays prominent fruit on the nose with a juicy palate ending with
soft, supple tannins. The Alma Mater Rosé is a slightly dry wine made from
Shiraz and Malbec grapes, fermented in the same way as the white wine to ensure
freshness and fruit characteristics - the perfect lunch wine.
‘We
at Lanzerac are very excited and proud of the Alma Mater range, and believe
that the wine will be extremely popular with the older and younger generation
of wine drinkers,’ says Wynand.
The
wines are available directly from the Tasting Room as well as select retail
outlets nationwide, retailing for approximately R49 per bottle.
For
more information contact the farm on 021 886 5641 or email winesales@lanzerac.co.za.