The award-winning Cap Classique joins Steenberg’s Icon Collection with a new vintage, elegant label and six years of patient maturation.
Steenberg Vineyards has unveiled the Lady R Cap Classique 2020, introducing a refined new label that elevates the award-winning sparkling wine within the estate’s prestigious Icon Collection alongside Magna Carta.
Released during Women’s Month, the latest vintage honours the pioneering woman who inspired it while embracing a philosophy that defines both the wine and its legacy: Time Reveals Character.
Nearly Six Years of Patient Maturation
Lady R Cap Classique 2020 is more than a new vintage. It represents Steenberg’s most considered expression of traditional method Cap Classique.
The wine spent almost six years maturing on its lees, a traditional ageing process that develops richness, texture and complexity.
Produced exclusively as a vintage Cap Classique, each release reflects the personality of a single harvest rather than pursuing uniformity from year to year.
The refined label aligns Lady R visually with Magna Carta while reinforcing the understated elegance that defines Steenberg’s Icon Collection.
“Lady R is a wine that rewards patience,” says Elunda Basson, Cellarmaster at Steenberg Vineyards. “Time is the final ingredient, allowing the wine to reveal its fullest expression. The new label reflects that same philosophy – understated, elegant and intentionally timeless.”
Honouring Catharina ‘Tryn’ Ras
Lady R is named after Catharina ‘Tryn’ Ras, the pioneering founder of Steenberg and Southern Africa’s first female landowner.
Arriving at the Cape during the late 1600s, Catharina overcame extraordinary hardship at a time when women had few legal or economic rights. Through resilience and determination, she established what would become one of the Cape’s oldest wine estates.
More than 340 years later, her legacy continues to shape Steenberg’s pursuit of excellence.
Releasing Lady R during Women’s Month celebrates not only her remarkable story but also the values she embodied: courage, perseverance, vision and determination.
Crafted with Precision and Intuition
Today, Catharina’s legacy continues through the craftsmanship of Cellarmaster Elunda Basson.
Lady R 2020 is crafted from 63% Chardonnay and 37% Pinot Noir, with carefully judged barrel fermentation adding further depth and complexity. Extended maturation contributes harmony, texture and finesse.
“Creating a wine like Lady R requires both technical precision and intuition,” says Basson. “Every component must earn its place in the final blend.”
She explains that the wine is built through layers of complexity, from blending Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to integrating oak and carefully managing extended lees ageing.
“The challenge is achieving harmony, where freshness, elegance and depth exist in perfect balance.”
Award-Winning South African Cap Classique
Lady R has already earned significant industry recognition.
The previous 2019 vintage was named Best Overall Cap Classique at the 2025 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge, cementing Lady R’s reputation among South Africa’s finest vintage Cap Classiques.
“The name Lady R is about more than history,” says Basson. “It reflects the values Catharina embodied – resilience, vision and determination – which continue to shape Steenberg today.”
A Wine for Life’s Meaningful Moments
Steenberg believes Lady R is ultimately created for celebrations that deserve to be remembered.
“Opening a bottle of Lady R is about more than enjoying exceptional Cap Classique,” says Basson. “It is about celebrating moments that become richer with time.”
With its refined new identity, acclaimed pedigree and latest vintage release, Steenberg Lady R Cap Classique 2020 marks the next chapter for one of South Africa’s most distinguished sparkling wines.
Steenberg Lady R Cap Classique 2020 at a Glance
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Vintage: 2020
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Estate: Steenberg Vineyards, Cape Town
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Blend: 63% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir
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Ageing: Nearly six years on lees
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Previous Vintage: 2019 won Best Overall Cap Classique at the 2025 Amorim Cap Classique Challenge
- Shop: Online
