Lievland Vineyards

Loveland on the Route 44

Lievland (Afrikaans for “Loveland”) is a historic wine farm on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Paarl, set in its own secluded valley on the western slopes of the Simonsberg. The Cape Dutch manor house dates to 1865. For visitors driving the busy winery strip out of Stellenbosch, Lievland offers lawns, oaks, a goose-dotted pond, ponies, peacocks and an unusually peaceful farm atmosphere—plus a proper café and tasting room.

MAN Family Wines co-founders José Conde and Tyrrel Myburgh acquired the property in 2017. They described it as a “sleeping beauty”: a farm with a stellar wine track record that had lain largely dormant for over a decade, charming but overgrown, hiding in plain sight among better-known R44 neighbours. The MAN team set about restoring vineyard integrity and bringing world-class production back to the labels—replanting where needed and rebuilding the visitor experience around the manor and café.

Quirky history and the label story

Estate storytelling leans into pioneering characters: a Latvian baroness and widow who famously ploughed with a horse; a visionary woman who barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc long before it was fashionable; a virtuoso whose iconic Shiraz put Lievland on the map. More recently, visitors delighted in a pair of horses that adopted a baby springbok—that mismatched paddock friendship inspired today’s wine labels. The narrative brand is warm and memorable without losing sight of serious Stellenbosch terroir. Walking from the tasting room past paddocks to the café, you feel why “Loveland” stuck as a name.

Wines — old-world elegance, new-world fruit

Head winemaker Riaan Möller aims for classic varietals made traditionally, balancing old-world elegance with bright new-world fruit. Range highlights commonly include:

• Old Vine Chenin Blanc — from certified heritage bush vines (plantings cited from the mid-1980s); peach, citrus, pineapple, textured lees ageing; IPW certified and often vegan-friendly
• Bushvine Pinotage — modern elegant style with cherry/raspberry and savoury oak nuance
• Heart’s Ease Syrah / Syrah expressions (including Simonsberg-Stellenbosch parcels)
• Sauvignon Blanc, dry Rosé (Syrah/Mourvèdre parcels), Bushvine Cinsault, and Cabernet Sauvignon

Möller’s philosophy treats Cape wine as neither purely “new world” nor museum piece—Stellenbosch’s long grape-growing history sits behind every bottle. Expect structured yet approachable wines suited to café pairings and cellar-door discovery. Old Vine Chenin is a particular calling card for visitors who want heritage vineyards in the glass; bushvine Pinotage shows how the estate interprets South Africa’s signature red with restraint.

Because MAN Family Wines also runs a separate, more commercial brand story elsewhere, treat Lievland as the heritage Stellenbosch face of the group: classic cultivars, restored manor hospitality, and labels that invite guests into the farm’s quirky lore. That dual identity—serious wine, soft landing for families—is why the R44 stop works so well for mixed travel parties.

Lievland Café and the tasting room

Lievland Café occupies a sensitively restored farm building beside the tasting room—light-filled with fires at each end, wood ceilings, and oak-shaded outdoor seating. Menus favour local flavours: breads and spreads, cheeses, Overberg trout, salads, smoked free-range meats, vegetarian and kids’ options. Picnic baskets have been offered on selected days (historically Wednesday–Sunday windows in some guides)—confirm current picnic availability when you book.

Typical published hours (confirm before travel):

• Café: breakfast and lunch service; directories often list roughly 08:00–11:30 and 12:00–16:00 daily (seasonal variations occur)
• Tasting room: roughly 09:00–16:00 daily — flights covering the core varietal range (historically ~six wines, e.g. around R110)
• Book café tables via Dineplan; café +27 21 879 7892 / cafe@lievland.co.za; tasting +27 21 879 7894 / tastingroom@lievland.co.za; office +27 21 879 7891

Website: lievland.co.za. Address: Lievland Wine Estate, R44, Stellenbosch. Private events and weddings can hire parts of the historic farm—enquire early for peak season. The combination of animals, lawns and café makes Lievland unusually good for mixed groups where not everyone wants a two-hour formal tasting.

R44 itinerary fit

Lievland works as a relaxed half-day: morning tasting of Old Vine Chenin and bushvine Pinotage, café lunch under the oaks, then continue toward Paarl or back into Stellenbosch. Families appreciate the animal paddocks and lawns; wine travellers appreciate that MAN’s restoration returned a once-celebrated name to active production. Combine with other R44 stops, but leave buffer time—the valley setting invites lingering. If you are mapping Simonsberg western-slope farms, Lievland belongs on the same mental map as other R44 classics, with a softer hospitality pitch.

Visit tips

• Location: R44, Stellenbosch (Simonsberg western slopes / Stellenbosch–Paarl corridor)
• Website: lievland.co.za
• Café / tasting phones: 021 879 7892 / 021 879 7894
• Owned by MAN Family Wines since 2017; winemaker Riaan Möller
• Manor house 1865; labels inspired by horses & springbok story
• Old Vine Chenin Blanc and bushvine Pinotage are signature draws
• Café + daily tastings; book busy weekend meals

FAQ

What does Lievland mean?

It is Afrikaans for “Loveland.”

Who owns the farm now?

MAN Family Wines (José Conde & Tyrrel Myburgh) since 2017, with Riaan Möller as head winemaker.

Can I eat on the farm?

Yes—Lievland Café serves breakfast and lunch in a restored farm building; book via Dineplan for popular times.