Cape Town - The Lanzerac Hotel & Spa on the outskirts of Stellenbosch will officially reopen on Sunday following a devastating fire in May last year.
After a "regeneration journey" that has seen the hotel restored to its former grandeur, but with contemporary touches, visitors to the 326 year-old working wine estate on Sunday will be received in the elegant Governor’s Hall, with its exposed truss ceilings, spectacular chandeliers and two fireplaces before sating their appetites in any of the three main dining areas – the Lanzerac Deli, Taphuis and the Manor Kitchen.
At the fresh new Manor Kitchen, diners will get a glimpse of the creativity that goes into preparing meals through the large-scale windows that look in on the kitchen’s operations.
Lanzerac's Executive Chef, Stephen Fraser says for his Sunday lunch for the big opening he looked at the new look and feel of Lanzerac and will be following through with the food.
"It is classics reimagined, if you look at the buildings it is classical with nice new twists and elements, a little bit of modern flair and feeling to it, and that's what it want to follow on with the food ... your grandmothers' favourite dishes just reimagined, redesigned."
Guests can extend the evening with a post-dinner drink in the Craven Lounge, with its extensive selection of the finest local and international spirits, complemented by a roaring fireplace, comfortable seating and walls adorned by interesting memorabilia. Honouring the heritage of the estate, the lounge is a salute to Danie Craven and his dog Bliksem, who visited Lanzerac through the years.
Of course, no visit to Lanzerac - home of the world’s first bottled Pinotage - is complete without sampling some of the Estate’s globally-renowned wines. The current collection comprises of three ranges – the Premium Range, Heritage Range and Keldermeester Versameling (Cellar Master Collection). Vino-loving guests of the hotel can do some sampling in the Tasting Room and there are also tours of the working wine cellar.