L’Avenir’s rich history dates back to the late 1600s, when the estate was one of the very first sites identified for grape growing by the Cape’s earliest European settlers.
The estate was renamed L’Avenir in 1992 by Mark Wiehe, a Mauritian businessman, who left a career of trading sugar in London to purchase the farm. This was the start of specialisation of this unique boutique winery. Wiehe appointed former pharmacist Francois Naude as winemaker and the estate swiftly gained recognition for its distinctive Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. In 2005, L’Avenir was acquired by the owner of the prestigious Chablis property, Laroche, Chablisien Michel Laroche.
In 2007, under the mentorship of Naudé, current winemaker Dirk Coetzee joined the farm after completing his degree in Viticulture & Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch. The young maverick was instrumental in shifting the focus to L’Avenir’s top performing single vineyards – resulting in the now famous L’Avenir Single Block range. In 2012, the Laroche and JeanJean families combined forces to create Advini. This marked the start of a new era for L’Avenir, as it joined a family of some of the most acclaimed and awarded wines in the world.
Produced from a section of a vineyard, which is situated on the highest point of L’Avenir. With constant wind, elevation and a longer ripening period, this vineyard is specifically managed to craft elegant and refreshing rosé.