You know what we love? The boutique wineries! So, I was super excited to visit Lovane Boutique Wine Estate in Stellenbosch for this round of #WineRoutingWithLloyd. So literally right next to Neethlingshof, you'll find the entrance to this little gem along the Stellenbosch Wine Route.
One thing about these boutique style spots, is that it's usually the attention to detail that really impresses me. And the team at Lovane did not disappoint! The moment we arrived to a warm welcome & greeted by the friendly faces in reception & shown our room for the eve. (Yes, we got to stay the night & enjoy the property in all it's glory.
So a bit about more about the guesthouse that is situated on the estate. A 4-star rating with 16 very well-equipped rooms. I mean, what more do you really need in your room besides a comfortable place to sleep, good coffee & a relaxing spot to freshen up? Well they have a whole lot more to offer in the spacious rooms that look out over the vineyards & property.
Breakfast is served FRESH every morning, as it is prepared in the kitchen of the main building. Offering a cold continental breakfast to start things off & then you can indulge in a hot breakfast to finish your start to the morning off. A bonus here is that you can sit out on the deck enjoying your meal whilst taking in the morning sunrise over the vineyard.
I initially was not sure about the wine that I was going to taste at Lovane. Honestly, I had never heard of the estate before arriving there. So head on downstairs to the underground tasting room & cellar.
A great intimate spot for delving into some wine & great conversation. I was lucky enough to have owner & winemaker - Hennie Visser. Interesting fact is that he hasn't been making wine for that long. He actually gave up his day job as a CA for a passion of wine. (I love stories like this.)
With quite the impressive range of varietals to taste. From the usual Sauvignon Blanc to the rarer 'blending' Petit Verdot.
The Sauvignon Blanc is beautifully crisp & full of those tropical flavours that you would expect from a real fresh Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc.
A Chenin Blanc with amazingly fresh apricot & passion fruit characteristics.
Then that Petit Verdot! Oh wow. A wine that is generally uses by most winemakers in a blend to soften that bottle out a bit. But here, it's in a bottle of it's own. I love that. A rich deep ruby red colour in the glass. You can definitely smell that this is a dry wine, but with a soft touch of dark red fruits on the nose. Even more so on the palate - a soft mouthfeel with a lingering aftertaste of blackcurrants.
Then there is the Isikhati - the flagship full-bodied red blend, which highlights the elegance of the Cabernet Sauvignon & intensity of the Cabernet Franc. Ripe dark cherries & plums that are balanced with a good acidity & velvety mouthfeel.
This is a #WineRoutingWithLloyd spot that will be visited again for a #VisitStellenbosch experience that is like no other. Check them out here.
#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Driven by the #KiaSportage
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