Country: South Africa > Paarl

Lievland Vineyards

Appellation: Western Cape
Owner: José Conde
Winemaker: Riaan Möller
Varieties Grown: Cabernet Sauvignon blend
Hectares/Age of Vines: 67 hectares,18-22 years old
Altitude/Soil: South-facing slope, 590-1475 feet
Farming Methods: Conventional

Lievland, directly translated, means “Love Land” and there are few who come onto this historic Stellenbosch estate that isn’t charmed by its bucolic beauty. 20 years ago, Lievland was considered one of South Africa’s top wine estates. Lievland’s history dates back to 1715, when the original farm was granted to the ex-soldier Jurie Hanekom. Lievland lies on the western slopes of the Simonsberg mountains between Stellenbosch and Paarl, two of the most prominent wine-growing areas in the Cape. The climate, location, and soil on the slopes are conducive to the cultivation of high-quality grapes, and some of the Cape’s best-known wines are made here. Lievland is all about “the here and now”, and their wines are made in a generous fruit-forward, well-extracted style.

The farm is situated in Stellenbosch, along what is referred to as the Simonsberg “Golden Mile” of wine estates. Along the way, this historic wine estate garnered several firsts: it is said to be the first to have a female winemaker and the first to produce a certified barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc.