La Motte enjoys sharing its passions with guests and visitors to the estate will be treated to a host of internationally-acknowledged experiences.
Not only are guests invited to the elegant Wine Tasting Room for an introduction to La Motte’s renowned wine portfolio, the team at Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant also enjoys sharing its modern take on South African heritage cuisine with patrons.
A visit to the La Motte Museum, host to Jacob Hendrik Pierneef’s private collection as well as a rotating exhibition, currently Ink on Paper, is a definite highlight and no outing should be concluded without a visit to the La Motte Farm Shop, with its beautiful and unique gift ideas, delicious confectionery and range of artisan farm-baked breads.
A programme of day-specific offerings, celebrates the estate's brand passions and aims at an experience that is both education and entertaining.
Monday: Hiking Trail – Guided
The Hiking Trail is an expression of La Motte’s commitment to the highest conservation and biodiversity standards and the protection of precious indigenous flora and fauna in the mountain area surrounding the estate and the adjoining Wemmershoek mountain range.
On Monday mornings guests are invited to explore some of La Motte’s greatest assets on a guided hike – the abundant birdlife, a protea garden, organic vineyards, a wealth of flora, resident mammals and reptiles and the breath-taking vistas of the Franschhoek Valley.
The circular route, which starts at the La Motte Tasting Room, stretches over five kilometres, with the Hiking Trail section covering two kilometres. The time required to complete the trail is about two hours when walking and three hours when strolling. Maximum group size is 8 people.
The trail has a Grade 1B rating and requires a fair degree of fitness. It is therefore not recommend for children under the age of 10. Prospective hikers are reminded that dogs and mountain bikes are not permitted.
La Motte Méthode Cap Classique is served at the lapa, allowing hikers a breather and the beautiful Valley views.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
Mondays at 08:00.
Cost: R120 (includes a bottle of water and hiking route map)
The self-guided version of the hike costs R60 per person and is available from Monday to Saturday, 09:00 - 14:00.
Reservations are essential and can be made at: T: +27 (0)21 876 8820 / E: tasting@la-motte.co.za
Tuesday: Art Experience
Those interested in the process of printmaking are invited to join the Tuesday morning Art Experience focusing on this dynamic medium. The Experience consists of a guided tour of the Ink on Paper exhibition, presented by the Museum Curator, Elzette de Beer. The walkabout is followed by a demonstration and talk explaining printmaking as an artistic process, various techniques and conventions.
To conclude the Experience, La Motte invites guests to relax in the shade of the estate’s majestic oak trees and enjoy a glass of wine from the award-winning Pierneef Collection and something savoury from the La Motte Farm Shop.
Tuesdays at 10:00.
Reservations are essential. Cost: R80 per person
Book here.
Wednesday: Historic Walk
True to its principle of sharing its attributes, La Motte has introduced a conducted tour of the historic buildings on the estate. The tour is presented from 10:00 to 11:00 on Wednesday mornings.
Starting at the La Motte Museum, the walk is preceded by a brief résumé of the history and heritage of the estate, after which the tour proceeds through La Motte’s rose garden and dwells upon the provincial heritage site with the La Motte Manor House, the Jonkershuis, the La Motte Historic Cellar and the Water Mill gracing the Franschhoek Valley landscape.
A highlight of the Historic Walk is the milling of stone-ground flour, by the oldest operating mill in the Franschhoek Valley, for the bread baked in the Pierneef à La Motte kitchen. The walk is concluded with a tasting of these artisan breads.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
Cost: R80 per person
Reservations are essential. Book here.
Thursday: Sculpture Walk
The impressive Wine Bearer sculpture welcoming visitors to La Motte is a popular topic of discussion and object for photography amongst guests. Etched against the beautiful landscape of vineyards and mountains, the 4 m high, 560 kg heavy sculpture depicts an elegant woman who simultaneously stands proud and humble with her cup running over, symbolic of La Motte’s ethos of sharing its blessings.
And as part of this ethos of sharing, guests are invited on a guided tour of all the female sculptures on the estate that reaffirms the estate’s appreciation of art and celebrates the important role women play in society.
The walkabout visits 12 sculptures– from the welcoming Wine Bearer to the sculptures displayed in the La Motte Museum, Wine Tasting Room, Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant and in the estate gardens, such as the recently revealed commissioned work by Toby Megaw, called Bergbruidjie (Blushing Bride).
The walk concludes in the La Motte Garden with a tasting of the estate’s limited release La Motte Méthode Cap Classique and an ever so elegant traditional French Madeleine.
Thursdays at 10:00.
Cost: R80 per person
Reservations are essential. Book here.
Friday: Wine & Food Tasting
A well-informed Wine Ambassador guides guests through an educational and entertaining food and wine pairing. Food is presented as a modern interpretation of heritage cuisine and the restaurant team works closely with Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche in creating cuisine to beautifully complement the estate’s wines.
The delicately plated tasters beautifully complement the elegant environment, but still represent flavours and tastes we experience every day and will guide guests towards more reliable future food and wine selections, with reference to weight and intensity, as well as the influence of the primary taste sensations.
Friday at 10:00.
Cost: R295 per person.
Reservation with upfront payment is essential: Book here.
Available to groups of 2 to 12.
Saturdays and Sundays
Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant
Please note that La Motte is closed on Christian Religious holidays.
