Vines and Wines

Our wines

Lalapanzi is home to Skaap Wines – our socially responsible wine brand that makes hand-crafted, limited production wines that give back to the local community.

Our aim is to make high quality, accessible wines. Personal care and attention is given to every aspect of winemaking; letting nature take its course, making our wines as naturally as possible. Vibrant, elegant, and expressive, produced in limited quantities.

Wines that make a difference

At the same time we started Skaap Wines we visited a children’s soup kitchen in our local village, we knew we wanted to help the kids we met so we set up Children’s Foodure, a charitable foundation which helps to feed, clothe and educate the kids that live there. And we also committed to donating five percent of the revenues from Skaap Wines to help fund the foundation.

Sustainable farming

Skaap Wines are proud members of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), a pioneering partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector. As members we are committed to the preservation of the Cape Floral Kingdom, by using environmentally friendly methods and practices throughout the farm and the lodge.

As part pf this commitment we cleared a fifth of our land of alien vegetation (mainly gum and pine forest) to establish a conservation corridor. This corridor connects two areas of pristine Fynbos and acts as a migration corridor for endangered species.

Supporting & promoting local artists

To celebrate this socially responsible approach to wine we decided to use the labels to showcase the work of local township artists. We commissioned a different artist to produce a Skaap (sheep) artwork for each variety of wine. We then promote and sell the work of that artist at the lodge, giving them much needed expose and an additional revenue stream.

What does Skaap mean?

Our unusual name derives from our family name Schaap, which means sheep, the Afrikaans spelling is Skaap. As we're situated at the end of the Schaapenberg wine route it seemed like a very appropriate name.

Skaap Sauvignon Blanc

A classic, zesty Sauvignon Blanc. On the nose this wine bursts with aromas of ripe fig, tropical punch and ripe gooseberries. It’s a smooth, full bodied wine with mineral and citrus notes that linger on the palette. It has the body and depth of flavour to stand up to rich sauces and will be excellent with salads, fish and white meats.

The Sauvignon label art was created by Jack and his collective of local wire and bead artists who work on a street corner in the nearby town of Somerset West. 

Made by award winning South African wine maker Riaan Oosthuizen.

Skaap Shiraz

A juicy fruit driven Shiraz with soft, velvety tannins. Full bodied, with spicy pepper and clove flavours, violet on the nose and a complex, layered mineral finish. Serve with any main meal, but ideal with spicy foods, stews or meat dishes.

For the Shiraz label we commissioned scrap metal artists Petros & William Findi to create the Skaap. The two brothers work from a old shipping container in the infamous township of Gugulethu.

Made by award winning South African wine maker Riaan Oosthuizen.

Skaap Okuphinki

A light, dry, fruit driven rose made with a blend of carefully selected grapes from around the Cape Winelands.

The Skaap is by Random Wire artist Jeff Mwazha who works in the Dunoon Township, Cape Town. To find out more email; jeffmwazha@ymail.com.

Made by award winning South African wine maker Riaan Oosthuizen.