In the Land of Wine, We Tasted Water

Alright, don’t panic - at Lanzerac there is plenty of wine to go around, don’t you worry. But what if I told you about a new and alternative tasting trend that the wine estate is proudly promoting? 

I'll admit it – when I first heard about water tasting at a vineyard I was somewhat hesitant. Surely we’re there for the wine, right? After all, this is Stellenbosch, where world-class wine is practically a way of life. Surely everyone comes here to swirl, sniff and sip vintages, not... water?

Well yes, of course. But while wine tastings, cellar tours and wine pairings are prevalent as ever, Lanzerac has added an additional completely unique experience that… dare I say it? Blew me out of the water.

And that's exactly why this experience works.

Tucked away inside The Library at the historic Lanzerac estate lies South Africa's first dedicated fine water tasting room. Led by South Africa's first certified water sommelier, Nico Pieterse, the session quickly proves that water isn't simply ‘still or sparkling’. 

Instead, you're taken on a fascinating journey through six different waters from around the world, each with its own personality, story and surprisingly distinctive flavour profile.

Who knew water could be silky? Or saline? Or have a crisp minerality that lingers on the palate?

It sounds a little bonkers at first – and yes, there are a few suspicious eyebrow raises before the first glass is poured – but within minutes everyone in the room is comparing notes just as enthusiastically as they would during a wine tasting.

Starting with three still waters from across the globe, the tasting itself is relaxed, interactive and genuinely entertaining. Rather than feeling overly technical, Nico explains how geology, mineral content and the source of the water all influence what you're tasting. Suddenly, terms like texture, mouthfeel and minerality make perfect sense, even without a drop of alcohol in sight.

Then it was onto the sparkling waters – and not since Finding Nemo has anyone been so fixated as I was on inspecting bubbles! Wine lovers take note – here you can have a cheeky tipple of red too, as one of the fascinating elements Nico explores is how to pair water with wine, and how the different water properties can affect the taste.

From a travel trade perspective, it's another example of how experiences are evolving to reflect changing consumer habits. As alcohol-free lifestyles become more mainstream and travellers pay closer attention to ingredients, a guided water tasting feels surprisingly current – offering guests something fresh, educational and entirely in tune with today's wellness trends. (Nico will even tell you how to read a water bottle label like Yuka or FoodSwitch!)

Of course, guests will still come for the exceptional wines, see the beautiful vineyards and taste the fantastic food. But experiences like this give destinations an extra layer – something unexpected that they'll talk about long after returning home.

Increasingly, experiential travel isn't about ticking off landmarks; it's about collecting stories. And "I went to a water tasting in South Africa" is certainly a conversation starter!