Labour of Love: The story of Lievland Vineyards, one of South Africa’s finest wine producers

Lievland Vineyards derives its name from the African phrase for “love land”. This horseshoe-shaped valley on the northwestern slope of the Simonsberg mountain boasts mainly clay-rich decomposed granite soils. Its unique shape gives various microclimates from the mountain’s different slopes. Its elevations, ranging from 590 to 1,475 feet, also add to the quality of the wines produced by the vineyard.

“We’re fortunate to be farming with top-quality Stellenbosch terroir,” says Riaan Möller, head winemaker. “We take classic varietals and make wines in a traditional way, aiming for the perfect balance between old-world elegance and new-world bright fruit,” he adds.

The vineyards used to be part of Natte Vallei, a much larger estate granted to a Dutch East India Company woodcutter in 1715 and passed through several owners over the years. In 1934, the owners divided the estate, which leads us to the current size of Lievland Vineyards. Eventually, Baron and Baroness Von Stiernhjehm from Latvia acquired the property.

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Baroness Henrika von Stiernhjehm moved to the place with their five children after the passing of her husband. She renamed the property Lievland, a nod to her husband's and children's birthplace. The baroness later earned the reputation of helming a large winery at the Cape singlehandedly despite being a self-taught farmer and winemaker. With her neighbours and unwavering passion for the project, she put Lievland at par with the esteemed wine producers in the region. Since then, the vineyard has become known as one of the best producers of Syrah and the first to have a female winemaker in the area.

Besides revitalising the richness of the terroir through the existing vines in Lievland, the estate also grows new varieties to experiment with the terroir continuously, breaks new ground, and partners with nearby vineyards.

Being the first to release a certified barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc, the new owners of Lievland Vineyards aim to show off the versatility of its old vines, as well as a masterful blend from its other vines that give off stone fruit and mineral characters, as well as concentration and texture.

It has a vibrant, aromatic bouquet of pineapple and peaches on the nose, with notes of citrus fruits of lemon and lime. Best paired with seafood, poultry, creamy pasta dishes and mild cheeses, the Chenin Blanc 2021 takes pride in its balanced acidity and fruitiness on the palate.

The 2023 Sommeliers Choice Awards recently awarded the 2021 vintage of Chenin Blanc with a silver medal. To top it off, it received a gold medal from the South African Trophy Wine Show with 98 points.

Another must-try wine from Lievland is its Bushvine Pinotage, which shows off the variety's modern, elegant style. Using grapes harvested from the Western slopes of Paarl Mountain and a vineyard abundant with shale, Bushvine Pinotage evokes a fresher, brighter fruit style added with a more prosperous, more structured component.

With the grapes handled carefully and fermented at cool temperatures to preserve aromatics and pressed early to give a soft, plush mouthfeel, the 2020 vintage of the Bushvine Pinotage has been awarded a gold medal by the 2020 Sommeliers Choice Awards. It also received 90 points from the Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report. The vintage has an aromatic bouquet with complex aromas, notes of ripe blackberries, cherries, plums, and hints of black pepper.

Rich and full-bodied with hints of dark fruits such as blackberry and cherry, the Bushvine Pinotage 2020 complements dishes such as grilled meats, roasted vegetables, stews, and flavourful cheeses. It has subtle notes of spice and oak that add to its richness but continue to be well-balanced between fruitiness, acidity, and tannins.

Distinguished guests of this year’s Tatler Ball will get a chance to savour these two award-winning wines from Lievland Vineyards, made possible by Bacchus International Inc., in pairing with a sumptuous feast prepared by the Shangri-La at the Fort, Manila.

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