HOME OF THE WORLD’S FIRST BOTTLED PINOTAGE
Lanzerac Wine Estate, home to the world’s first bottled Pinotage and one of the oldest heritage farms in the Western Cape dating back to 1692, has been cultivating award-winning wines for decades. Nestled in the Jonkershoek Valley between the majestic Stellenbosch mountains, this historic Estate’s rich winemaking history can be traced back to the early 1900s, when the first Lanzerac wine was bottled from grapes harvested on the farm. Since then, Lanzerac Wine Estate has cemented itself as a distinguished wine producer with a commitment to superior quality wines both internationally and locally.
The year 1925 saw Professor Abraham Izak Perold, the first Professor of Viticulture at the University of Stellenbosch, successfully cross two grape varietals, Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut), to create South Africa’s first unique and indigenous wine grape variety – Pinotage. Several years later, Lanzerac Wine Estate became the first winery in the world to use the term ‘Pinotage’ on their label when they marketed the 1959 vintage under the name ‘Lanzerac’. This visionary release marked the birth of Pinotage as a unique variety from South Africa.
To this day, Lanzerac Wine Estate, under the leadership of Cellar Master, Wynand Lategan and Farm Manager Philip le Roux, is still producing award-winning Pinotage, along with a wide variety of other excellent quality wines that form part of Lanzerac’s three tiers – the Jonkershoek Range, Heritage Range and Keldermeester Versameling (Cellar Master Collection).
The Wine making Duo
MEET OUR WINE MAKING TEAM
LANZERAC CELLAR MASTER
WYNAND LATEGAN
Born and raised in Stellenbosch, it was almost destiny for Wynand Lategan to end up in the wine industry. After high school Wynand successfully obtained a B.Comm Degree and Honours Degree in Journalism at the University of Stellenbosch and went on to become a Financial journalist at Die Burger.
After 4 years, at the age of 30, a growing interest in wine led Wynand to complete a Diploma in Wine & Cellar Technology at Elsenburg Agricultural College. A harvest opportunity at Château Durfort-Viviens and second growth in Margaux, Medoc, paved the way to Lanzerac where he took over as winemaker in 2005.
Besides spending most of his time in the vineyards or cellar, Wynand is an avid outdoor enthusiast whose passions include running, surfing, mountain biking and hunting. He is married to Nelleke and is a doting dad to their three beautiful daughters, Ella, Fila-Marie and Barbara, whom he believes keeps him grounded.
LANZERAC FARM MANAGER
MICHAEL ROETS
Michael Roets joined Lanzerac team in November 2023, as the Viticulture Farm Manager.
Born and raised in Pretoria, Michael’s love for vineyards and winemaking started as a young 15-year-old boy visiting a wine cellar and fascinated that within any civilization, the vine forms part of nature and culture.
He completed his studies in Viticulture & Oenology at Elsenburg, Stellenbosch and set off to travel and gain even more knowledge, visiting Sonoma & Napa in VSA, Blenheim in New Zealand and Alentejo in Portugal. After working in California for 4 years, he decided to return home to the winelands where his heart belonged.
Michael believes the vines are symbolic within many aspects of our lives – like humans, the vineyards go through seasons, seasons of growth, harvest, dormancy and budding. ‘The influence of our people on the environment forms a large part of the terroir’ says Michael.
His passion and moral compass resonate with his farming and deep respect for the land, ensuring quality vineyards, superior grapes and unified teamwork at Lanzerac.
When not amongst the vineyards, you will find him in the mountains, discovering new hiking trails.
