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From Vine to Glass: Stellenbosch Launches World’s First Fine Water Tasting Room
From Vineyards to Pristine Springs: Stellenbosch Reimagines Water Tasting
Stellenbosch has long been synonymous with world-class wines, but now the historic Lanzerac Wine Estate is turning the spotlight on something altogether different: water.
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The estate has partnered with The Fine Water Company to launch what is believed to be the world’s first Fine Water tasting room, elevating this everyday essential into a luxury, sensory experience.
A Sip of the Extraordinary
At The Library, Lanzerac’s elegant tasting space, water takes centre stage. For R295 per person, guests embark on a 45-minute guided journey, sampling six carefully selected waters, three still, three sparkling and exploring their clarity, aroma, texture, and minerality.
Certified water sommelier Nico Pieterse, one of South Africa’s few experts in the field, leads the tasting, revealing how the origin of water, whether from high-altitude springs, ancient aquifers, or even city taps, influences its flavour and mouthfeel.
“It’s about understanding water as a terroir-driven experience,” Pieterse explains. “Every bottle tells a story of place, geology, and purity.”
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A Global Selection of Rare Waters
Guests are treated to a globe-spanning lineup of ultra-premium waters, some commanding prices of over R1,000 a bottle:
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d’ORO (Romania): Mineral-rich spring water from the Carpathians, naturally infused with colloidal gold and silver.
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Marzia (Italy): Soft, velvety Tuscan spring water from the historic Sant’Elena source.
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VEEN (Bhutan/Finland): Pristine, smooth water from Finland’s Arctic wilderness.
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Nevas (Germany): Luxurious, champagne-like sparkling water; a 3-litre bottle retails at around R3,079.
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Three Bays (Australia): Artesian spring water drawn from a 600-million-year-old underground aquifer.
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Lofoten (Norway): Crisp, pure mountain lake water from the Arctic.
More Than Just a Taste
What sets this tasting apart is the educational journey. Guests learn how mineral content, pH levels, and even micro-bubbles shape the water’s mouthfeel. In the process, water is transformed from a daily necessity into a mindful indulgence, a moment to pause, savour, and appreciate.
Dr Michael Mascha, founder of the Fine Water Society, praised Lanzerac for championing this emerging category. “Water is being celebrated globally as a sophisticated beverage, with its own terroir and narrative. This tasting brings that vision to life,” he said.
A Refreshing New Trend in Stellenbosch
Lanzerac’s move reflects a global shift, where fine water is gaining recognition alongside wine and gourmet coffee as a luxury, experiential product. For wine enthusiasts, wellness aficionados, or simply the curious, the tasting offers a refreshing alternative to the familiar.
Social media was quick to react, with visitors sharing photos of crystal-clear glasses against the backdrop of Lanzerac’s vineyards, praising the elegance of “sipping water like wine.”
Whether you’re a seasoned sommelier or simply thirsty for something extraordinary, this tasting invites you to experience water in a completely new way, as an art, a science, and a pleasure.
{Source: IOL}
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