Harvest-time is the most important time on a wine farm, but it is also a time to celebrate the joy of this special season.

"It's too good not to share!", invites Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche: "The vineyards love a cold and wet winter and that's what they got. Then we had a relative cool and dry start to summer, so the grapes are healthy and with a slightly lighter load expected, we anticipate exceptional quality".

The team at La Motte therefore invites guests to join the La Motte Harvest Experience and be part of the Winelands' special harvest-time joys, sharing in the blessing of having a harvest, the summer beauty of the Franschhoek Valley and the passions of the La Motte family. 

What you can expect from the La Motte Harvest Experience:

One of the estate’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable wine tasting ambassadors will guide you on this celebration of unique harvest traditions:

• In the vineyard - enjoy an introduction to the various varietals, harvest processes and the estate’s biologic farming practices. Spot the differences between the various varieties and taste the sweetness of the ripe berries. 
• In the cellar - experience the hand-sorting of grapes, crush, pump-overs and other cellar activities, concluded with a tasting of grape must (fermenting grape juice) from a fermentation tank. (Cellar activity will depend on the specific day's harvest action.)
• In the tasting room - enjoy a tasting of La Motte’s award-winning collection of wines - six wines from the La Motte Classic and Estate Collection. You can also enjoy the famous La Motte mosbolletjie as part of the tasting.
• In the shade of the age-old oaks – relax in the calm ambience of the estate gardens and enjoy a beautiful harvest-inspired small plate from L'Ami Family Brasserie – with a glass of wine of course! (Only available as part of the morning edition.)

The Harvest Experience (R190 per person) includes the vineyard and cellar tour as well as wine tasting. It takes about 90 minutes and is available from Tuesdays to Sundays at 10:00 and 15:30, starting from 1 February to the end of March.

A delicious Harvest Plate menu is additional and optional and available as a light lunch after the morning edition of the Harvest Experience (R150 per person). Choose between Winelands favourites and summer tastes on a small plate: Farm sausage with homemade grape blatjang and mustard,  Cape Malay Hake Samoosas with a grape salsa or Almond Gazpacho with grapes and herbs. Your choice of a glass La Motte Sauvignon Blanc or Millennium is included. 

Reservations for the Harvest Experience and optional Harvest Plate are required and can be made online. Bookings open soon!

Before you leave...

La Motte’s renowned harvest-time mosbolletjies and a choice of harvest-inspired breads are available from the La Motte Bakery. Don't miss out on this season's special harvest bread by the baker duo of Markus Färbinger and Ricardo Slawers or opt for the popular grape focaccia and a delightful pizza-style brioche filled with cream cheese and grapes. 

Available at the La Motte Bakery for the duration of harvest, they sell like hot cakes, so to avoid disappointment, rather order yours in advance from Bonita: T +27 (0)21 876 8825 or E bakeryp@la-motte.co.za

Harvest-inspired shopping is the ideal way to conclude a visit to La Motte, so pop into Farm Shop celebrating all that is lovely and local and the Spens (they have must jam and butter for your mosbolletjies...)

To plan a whole day at La Motte, click here.