While tourist numbers to South Africa have been in decline , Cape Town appears to be thriving. The city expects to grow British tourists to the city by 30% to 50,000 during the months of January through to March 2020. Additionally, they expect 20% more German tourists and 11% more US tourists. (Source: Business Insider South Africa)
The world-renowned Cape Winelands is undoubtedly one of the Western Cape’s major attractions, with many international visitors including a day trip or a stay in the Winelands. Known as the Gourmet Capital of South Africa, the lush Franschhoek Wine Valley features on many travellers’ bucket lists.
The Franschhoek Wine Valley Food & Wine Route invites you to explore this beautiful valley, sampling some of the world’s finest food and wine while experiencing warm hospitality, breathtaking scenery, unique art, rich heritage and memorable experiences.
No visit to the Franschhoek Wine Valley would be complete without a visit to La Motte Wine Estate. Dating back to 1695, this elegant estate offers an exceptional experience to locals and visitors alike. If you are keen to learn more about the winemaking process, plan your visit during harvest season, typically from around mid-January to March, depending on the cultivar.
It’s all hands on deck during the harvest. Ripe, juicy vines are ready for picking during the cool early morning hours and transported to the cellar for sorting. Grape must (fermenting grape juice) is fermented in steel tanks which ultimately becomes what we love – wine! Of course, it isn’t quite as simple as that, but you get the idea.
THE HARVEST EXPERIENCE
Passing by lush vineyards on either side of the estate’s long driveway, you’ll be welcomed by The Wine Bearer, a tall bronze sculpture by Toby Megaw. She symbolises La Motte’s spirit of sharing abundant blessings. You wouldn’t be the first person to stop and take photos of this beautiful symbol of maternal love, Mother Earth and generosity.
The enchanting setting provides a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The magnificent garden is shaded by tall oak trees, providing ample space for a leisurely lunch. The historic buildings and sculptures dotted around the estate take centre stage, along with The Farm Shop, Museum, Wine Tasting Facility and Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant.
IN THE VINEYARD
The Harvest Celebration began with an introduction to the various varietals (La Motte has sixteen varietals in total) while getting a chance to taste a few grapes straight from the vine. Famous for their exceptional Syrah, Casper, our friendly and enthusiastic wine ambassador, then took us for a tour of the cellar, explaining the harvest processes and the estate’s biologic farming practices that are used in the vineyard. La Motte, a proud WWF Conservation Champion, is a dedicated supporter of the environment and practices sustainable farming.
IN THE CELLAR
We seem to have missed the early morning rush of grapes arriving at the cellar and being hand-sorted, but we stopped along the way to taste grape must (fermenting grape juice) from one or two fermentation tanks. While this may not be everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ as the must can be overly sweet, it gives you an idea of how the wine may taste in the future.
Casper, a young German student, was an absolute delight and happily shared his knowledge of the estate and its wines with us.
Casper measuring the sugar level in the grape must. 
TIME TO TASTE!
The stylish Tasting Facility is inviting with a relaxed ambiance, making you want to linger longer while tasting a wide variety of La Motte’s award-winning wines.
Choose a spot on a comfortable sofa, or perhaps a seat at the tasting counter. We had a table reserved for two at a gorgeous hand-made tasting table and promptly made ourselves at home while chatting and sipping on their superb range. It’s always a good idea to start with bubbles, so we did! The crisp 2016 La Motte Méthode Cap Classique BRUT (R30 per tasting of MCC), was simply heavenly and the perfect way to begin our tasting.
We tasted seven wines in total – three from The Classic Collection, two from The La Motte Collection, ending with their premium range, The Pierneef Collection, consisting of two wines. It’s interesting to note that they pair a white wine, followed by red wine. This is so you can clearly taste the difference in each wine, instead of it all blending into one similar taste of either white or red. The 2017 La Motte Syrah captured my attention and was my top wine of the day.
In winter, the cosy fireplace is the place to be while taking in the works of art by acclaimed South African artist, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef. His art can also be found in the Museum and the Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant. A striking feature of the Tasting Facility is that you can view the working and maturation cellars through large glass panels. Be sure to purchase your favourites prior to leaving the estate.
LET’S DO LUNCH!
By now, we were more than ready to enjoy a delicious meal at the beautifully appointed Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant. The focus is on heritage cuisine while embracing cultural influences, ingredients and recipes. Having had the pleasure of dining here on previous occasions, I was eager to see and taste what Chef Eric Bulpitt had prepared for the special Harvest Plate.
Charmaine seated us in the enclosed outdoor patio area with lovely views of the garden and age-old oaks. Sipping on a glass of their sublime Syrah, we felt right at home and so relaxed. It is during the harvest that traditional Mosbolletjies are made, a traditional South African sweet bun made from the yeast of partially fermented grape juice. Do try it if you’ve never tasted it before.
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD!
It must have been our lucky day as Charmaine presented us with a smorgasbord of sensational starter plates to share. From freshly baked pita bread and Mosbolletjies served with a silky-smooth hummus (the best I’ve ever tasted!), a crisp and refreshing garden salad to colourful baby beets and thinly sliced smoked pork slices with mustard.
We were oohing and aahing the whole way through! We just couldn’t stop devouring these heavenly plates of deliciousness. The little glass jars of pickled goodies such as beetroot and onion were just incredible.
The Harvest Plate was just as mouth-wateringly delicious (R180 per person excluding wine). My tastebuds were tantalised once more with subtly smoked and flaked West Coast linefish (hake) with must velouté, grapes, baby spinach and a delicious slice of grape focaccia.
Mackenzie chose the Free-Range chicken breast with Malay curry, coconut and fermented mango (R355 per person which includes the family-style starter and main course, excludes wine). This was another winning dish with vibrant colours and bold flavours.
We shared our meals and agreed that both were just as delectable. The service, food and wine combined made for a truly memorable dining experience.
Each Harvest Experience takes about 90 minutes and is available hourly from Tuesdays to Fridays, between 10:00 and 15:00 from 4 February to 20 March. Can’t make it this year? Pencil it in your diary or smartphone as a must-do activity next year.
In the meantime, plan to spend the day at La Motte for an exceptional experience that will leave you with lasting memories.
Show La Motte Wine Estate some love by liking their Facebook page. For more information, visit their website.
Bookings are advised. Reservations can be made with the La Motte Tasting Room at Tel +27 (0)21 876 8820 or Email tasting@la-motte.co.za
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Yours in Food, Wine & All Things Fine,
xoxo
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