Lievland Vineyards: Stellenbosch’s Best-Kept Brunch Secret

 Lievland (meaning Loveland) is a historic Stellenbosch wine farm with a long and rich history, dating back to 1865. The manor house was once occupied by a Latvian baroness, a widow with 5 children, who ploughed the vineyards with a horse. Apart from its association with, you know, high-quality wines made from grapes grown on the estate's soil, it is also known for the legend of some of its residents; a trio of unlikely animal friends. 

*I was a guest of Visit Stellenbosch/Lievland Vineyards but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

When the current owners bought the farm, it was home to a family of two horses and a springbok. The springbok had been a gift to the previous owners, who didn’t know what to do with it so they put it in the same paddock as the horses who went on to adopt it. This is also what inspired the logo on the wine label which consists of a cupid riding a springbok. 

The Lievland Cafe

The Lievland Cafe is the best-kept-secret sister cafe to the very popular Postcard Cafe. 

Here you can order individual dishes off the à la carte breakfast or lunch menus or opt for the three-course Lievlove Brunch Menu. I had the latter which includes a sharing platter for course one:

Yup, that’s just course one! 

This was followed by the hot breakfast course. I was very tempted by the Cheesy baked spinach and gammon filled pancake with side salad but instead opted for the Brioche French toast with mascarpone and apple & pear compote. The French toast was fluffy and perfectly crisped. Together with the creamy decadence of mascarpone and the sweetness of the apple and pear compote, every bite was a perfect blend of warm, fruity goodness and velvety smoothness. 

Dessert pastries were served for course three consisting of a Seasonal fruit & almond tartlet, a canelé and a chocolate truffle. I’m still dreaming about that chocolate truffle! 

All of this costs R295 per person (correct at time of posting) and you get to enjoy it in an elegantly decorated cafe space overlooking rolling hills, a lake and ponies grazing. Ponies!

The head chef is Gareth Goliath who is also responsible for the Postcard Café. This man knows what he is doing! This may be one of the best breakfasts I have ever had, and that was before I started day drinking - which brings me to the next point:

The Lievland Vineyards Tasting Room

The estate’s tasting room is located in the manor house which dates back to 1865 (although the year of construction displayed on the building looks like 1825 to me). Here, you can also enjoy a wine tasting in the building or on the green spongey lawns directly in front of it. 

A wine tasting costs R110 (correct at time of posting) and includes six wines: The Lievland Rose, Lievland Sauvignon Blanc, Old Vine Chenin Blanc, Bushvine Pinotage, Lievland Cabernet Sauvignon and their flagship the Heart’s Ease Syrah, some of which are award-winning. 

Guided by a passionate wine expert, you'll discover the stories behind each bottle, with notes that range from crisp and fruity to bold and rich. Learning about the nuances of flavour, aroma and the winemaking process, really enhances your appreciation of each sip.

Other things to like about the Lievland Vineyards:

• As I already stated, the farm has ponies. Ponies!

• The decor and the setting are so serene, just being there is calming.
• There are views for days.
• Sometimes springbok graze on the lawns. If you're lucky, you may spot a pair of them grazing across the lake from the wine tasting room/manor house.
• If you miss the bucks, a peacock may come to pay you a visit. 

Busted cheating on @rodrigoflamingo

Lievland Café opened a little over a year ago and may be one of Stellenbosch’s best-kept secrets. But if this experience is anything to go by, it won’t be for long.

Find out more here. 

And for more ideas of what to do in Stellenbosch this summer, see this.