Locally known as “Mr. Rugby” or “Dok Craven,” Danie Craven dedicated seven decades to South African rugby. A Stellenbosch icon through and through, along with his trusty sidekick “Bliksem” was a fixture next to Stellenbosch rugby fields and his regular visits to Lanzerac inspired one of the estate’s most sought after wines.
Malbec, the grape used in Lanzerac’s homage to “Dok Craven”, is one of the 6 grape varieties allowed in Bordeaux wines, and like the “Dok” who originally hailed from Lindley in the Free State, Malbec too had to move around a little before it gained the recognition it now deserves. It truly found its identity in the Cahors region of southwestern France, where it was known as “Côt” and produced dark, intense wines loved for centuries.
More recently, a trip to the southern hemisphere in Argentina revitalised Malbec on the world stage. Made possible by a headstrong and nostalgic French botanist Michel Aimé Pouget, who introduced it to the region of Mendoza. The grape thrived in its new high-altitude environment, and escaped the label of “Bordeaux blending component” to become a powerhouse variety.
Dok Craven similarly hailed from the rugby-mad province of the Free State, but made a name for himself playing from the Western and Eastern Province, and representing the Springboks 16 times. After the second world war, during which Craven served as the head of physical education at the South African military academy, he became a national selector and coach for the Springboks, starting his career of winning ten matches in a row, completing a 4-0 whitewash of New Zealand, and remaining undefeated from 1949-1952. During this time, Craven also coached the Stellenbosch university team from 1949-1956. With Bliksem by his side, a journalist recalled: when Doc and Bliksem were on the touchline at training, no one within sight would dare shirk”.
Malbec and Dok Craven shared many similarities, which made it the perfect name to honour both in Cellarmaster Wynand Lategan’s Keldermeester Versameling DOK. This sought after small batch wine marries both the French and Argentinian styles to create a truly one-of-a-kind Malbec.
