The Van Loveren Family Vineyards have a rich history stretching from Hennie Retief on one side – the young, dashing South African to purchase a farm in Robertson – and Jean van Zyl on the other – a teacher from Ashton with a soft spot for her Dutch ancestors. Together, they established many of the core tenets of Van Loveren – a love for family, an appreciation of history and wine, and a care for the environment and community.
The Christina van Loveren namesake
Upon marrying in 1939, Jean brought with her a trousseau that had been in the family for many generations. The bridal chest had belonged to Christina van Loveren, an extraordinary woman who left family and friends in Holland to pursue a new adventure in the Cape with her husband, Willem van Zyl. This mahogany kist, along with a few other possessions from Christina, inspired Jean to change the name of the farm from “Goudmyn F” to “Van Loveren” in Christina’s honour.
Christina van Loveren’s legacy
As Van Loveren developed and grew, other articles were named in Christina’s honour too – wines, restaurants, and brandies. They are a constant reminder to the family and staff that Van Loveren remains firmly grounded in time-honoured traditions while also dreaming of new undertakings, just as Christina van Loveren did when she left her homeland.
Christina trousseau wine
The Christina Heritage Range wines from Van Loveren proceed from exclusive vineyards that are hand-harvested with the utmost care. These vineyards have been chosen as ideal locations for growing their specific varietals. Furthermore, only the very best berries are collected, gently crushed, and fermented under the cellar master’s attentive gaze. These complex wines contain the best qualities of each variety and are only available in limited quantities.
This flagship wine range features a wine label adorned with the imprint of the lock from Christina’s trousseau, a symbol of heritage and elegance. A few years ago, the 10-year-old Potstill Christina Brandy had its debut, offering an exceptional spirit that is only achieved with patience and tremendous skill.
Christina’s wine awards
It therefore follows that the Christina flagship wine range and Brandy consistently receive awards year-on-year. The Platter’s Wine Guide grants between 4 and 5 stars for every vintage and these wines have achieved acclaim at the National Wine Challenge and Veritas Awards. The Tim Atkin Report also unfailingly rates the Christina Wines in the 90/100 range. We are incredibly proud of how our cellar staff have created these unique and beautiful wines each year.
Our Christina flagship wine is available to order online, or a specialised tasting of the Christina wine range is readily accessible at our Tasting Room at the estate. If you have a bit of time in hand, we recommend popping in at the farm and viewing Christina van Loveren’s 300-year-old bridal chest and Bible which is on display in the Tasting Room. The rich history of the vineyards seems to make the wines more flavourful and memorable.