THE LEENDERS STORY
Francois Bezuidenhout always dreamt of producing wines that are not from only one region, but rather showcases regionality from a variety of terroirs and regions. Leenders is the first range of wines produced by Bezuidenhout Family Wines, doing just that. Grapes are sourced from across the Cape Winelands and wines are made to be true to its origin. All 3 our blends are Southern-Rhône-influenced, with a South African flair.
In 1639, Wijnand Leenders was born in the small forest town called Bezuidenhout, in Holland. A farmer with an adventurous spirit and nurturing nature, Wijnand decided to set out to the tip of Africa on the 15 August 1665 - when he was just 27 years old. He was soon to be appointed as Head Gardener at the Company’s Gardens. In this historic garden where fresh produce was cultivated for passing ships, some of the first vineyards in South Africa were also grown. Wijnand Leenders (later Bezuidenhout) became one of the first vine-growers and winemakers at the Southern Tip of Africa. Today, centuries later, his horticultural legacy is honoured by a new generation of Bezuidenhout-family winemakers. The Bezuidenhout family are a direct lineage of Leenders.
Leenders wines are story-wines, telling tales of today, yesterday and long-long ago.
