From mountains to forests and vineyards to fields, the quiet Lanzerac oasis has it all. Situated in the charismatic and dainty old town of Stellenbosch, the hotel captures the essence of countryside stillness while remaining close enough to all of the most attractive aspects of the surrounding town.
We arrived in the late afternoon of a cool summer’s day, just a few hours before sunset, which allowed us to expedite our warm-hearted greeting service and head out on a tour of the magnificent property. Unassuming from the outside, the Lanzerac grounds unfold into something truly awe inspiring once explored beyond the surface; mountains encircle 150 hectares of luscious greenery, 50 hectares of which are used to grow the vines that create Lanzerac's distinct award–winning wines, all of which can be tasted at a complimentary wine-tasting for guests of the resort.
Dotted around the property are buildings that imbue the perfect balance between old styles and new sensibilities, combining architecture that harkens back to the 1690s with clean, distinct design aspects that speak for a more modern approach. The simple fact that they have pulled this off so undeniably well makes Lanzerac a sight to be seen, and all this before we had even stepped into our quarters!
After an extensive and informative tour, we were shown to our room, which was exceptional, to say the least – part of a newly renovated block and boasting original, centuries old bare–brick walls, dark wood floors and a lavishly large bathroom, the whole room said one thing: Luxury. Decorative accents came from old vintage pieces collected from a multitude of private dealers and antique warehouses. After getting to grips with our abode for the night, we eventually slipped into our dinner wear, had a glass of the estate’s signature Pinotage, and headed out to dinner.
Upon entering the old colonial dining area, we were cordially greeted by the Maitre d’, led to our table, and walked through the extensive menu before being left to our own devices. Needless to say, we had a hard time choosing what to eat, eventually deciding on a set of starters, mains and desserts that absolutely blew us away. The highlight of the night was almost certainly the Patagonian squid that my husband ordered (it came highly recommended by our waiter), which he claims is one of the best meals he has ever eaten! Coupled with the immaculate wine pairings created by our amazing waiter, the dinner went from something rather casual, to an all-ōut taste sensation. Hyperbole aside, I can safely say that the dining experience at Lanzerac was definitely in my top 5 in South Africa, and I don’t say that lightly!
After dinner, we retired to our bedroom, full–bellied and ready to sleep. The comfort of the room, aided by a rather large bath and a few more glasses of Lanzerac’s own made our rest deep and uninterrupted.
Awoken the next morning, in true Hollywood fashion, by the chirping of birds, we slowly got into gear and headed out for a breakfast that almost trumped our dinner; oysters, pastries, nuts, fresh juices, champagne, granola and great coffee are just some of the things that make up the breakfast spread at Lanzerac. As I'm sure you can imagine, we took our time and left our outdoor breakfast table feeling fresh and very, very satisfied.
With that, it was time to bid farewell to Lanzerac, the welcoming staff and the amazing grounds, but not without first grabbing a bottle of their unparalleled Pinotage to take home with us. On the drive back to the city we couldn't help but reminisce over how amazing the past two days had been, and concluded that one way or another we would have to go back, but next time for much longer.
Find out more about Lanzerac here.