Anno 1665
Leenders wines are story-wines, telling tales of today, yesterday & long- long ago.
Anno 1665
Leenders wines are story-wines, telling tales of today, yesterday & long- long ago.
Anno 1665
Leenders wines are story-wines, telling tales of today, yesterday and long-long ago.
Our roots run deep
The Leenders Story
Born in 1639 in Bezuidenhout, The Hague, Wijnand Leenders sailed to the Cape of Good Hope in 1665. A skilled cultivator, he became Head Gardener at the VOC’s Company Gardens, helping establish some of South Africa’s first vineyards. Today, his legacy continues through the Bezuidenhout family, direct descendants and winemakers.
Our roots run deep
The Leenders Story
In 1639, Wijnand Leenders was born in the small forest region of The Hague, Netherlands known as Bezuidenhout. A farmer with an adventurous spirit, he set sail for the southern tip of Africa on 15 August 1665, from the island of Texel in North Holland. He finally arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on 30 January 1666 on the Dutch flute (fluit) De Vergulde Tijger (Golden Dragon).
Skilled in cultivation, Wijnand was soon appointed Head Gardener at the VOC’s Company’s Gardens (Kompanje’s Tuine). This historic garden, where fresh produce was grown for passing ships, also nurtured some of the first vineyards in South Africa. Here, Wijnand Leenders of Bezuidenhout became known simply as Wijnand Bezuidenhout — one of the earliest vine growers and winemakers at Africa’s southernmost point.
Today, centuries later, his pioneering legacy lives on in a new generation of Bezuidenhout family winemakers — direct descendants of Leenders himself.
2023 & 2024
Current release
Leenders Vintage Range
Inspired by the wines of the South of France, and showcasing classic South African varietals like Chenin blanc and Cinsault, Leenders wines are crafted with a focus on complexity, finesse, and delicate drinkability. Always blended, rich, and rewarding, they embody our vision of marrying the South of France with the South of Africa. rewarding, they embody our vision of marrying the South of France with the South of Africa.
'23 & '24
Current release
Vintage Range
Inspired by the South of France and showcasing South African varietals. Leenders wines are blended for complexity, finesse, and delicate drinkability, embodying our vision of uniting these two regions.
varieties
Winemaking Notes
Leenders wines blend South African varietals like Chenin Blanc and Cinsault with South of France inspiration, offering complexity, finesse, and delicate drinkability.
winemaker
Francois Bezuidenhout
Born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Francois grew up in a family of sheep farmers in the Little Karoo. After moving to Cape Town in the late 1980s, a school trip to Groot Constantia ignited his passion for wine.
He studied at Stellenbosch University and honed his craft in New Zealand, California, and Germany before settling in Robertson. In 2014, he became a Cape Wine Master, and by 2017, his entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of Leenders.
