La Motte enjoys sharing its passions with guests and, during the summer holidays, 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 Cape Winelands Cuisine with patrons – whether they are enjoying a light meal under the age-old oak trees, a Winelands Tea on the stoep or a fine-dining chef’s menu at night.
A visit to the La Motte Museum, host to Jacob Hendrik Pierneef’s private collection as well as a contemporary exhibition: The Helgaard Steyn Awards (1987 – 2013) 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 beautiful mountainside-hike is also part of the offering and the newly introduced guided version of the hike on Monday mornings now makes out part of the unique experiences presented every day, from Mondays to Fridays.
Monday: Hiking Trail – Guided
The Hiking Trail is a further 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.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
Mondays at 08:00.
Cost: R100 (includes a bottle of water and hiking route map)
Reservations: +27 (0)21 876 8820, tasting@la-motte.co.za
Tuesday: Sustainable Walk
La Motte’s commitment to the Principles and Practices of Excellence in wine production and environmental sustenance is acknowledged by a host of accolades and awards. And now the focus is on sharing these principles with visitors to the Estate by inviting them on a Sustainable Walk.
Joining La Motte’s other Green Initiatives, the Sustainable Walk will offer visitors the opportunity of a guided walk through the sustainably farmed and biologically grown vineyards where various varieties are planted, a stroll through La Motte’s indigenous landscaped gardens and past the Protea gardens where various “fynbos” species are cultivated, ending with a visit to the estate’s special vegetable and herb garden that supply the restaurant and farm shop with farm fresh produce.
In the garden, guests will be introduced to the seasonal selection of biologically grown fresh produce, which includes edible flowers, an interesting selection of salad leaves and various heirloom and baby vegetables. Grown in the farm’s own compost, the produce is available fresh and on demand. A well-informed guide will share the details of biologic and sustainable farming, its challenges and benefits to the environment, and the result of biologic practices on the quality of fresh produce. Guests will also learn more about the natural fauna and flora of the area.
The walk is concluded with a tasting of La Motte’s Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc.
Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
Tuesdays at 09:00.
Cost: R50 per person
Reservations: +27 (0)21 876 8820, tasting@la-motte.co.za
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: R50 per person
Reservations: T +27 (0)21 876 8850, E museum@la-motte.co.za
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 9 sculptures– from the welcoming Wine Bearer to the sculptures displayed in the La Motte Museum, Wine Tasting Room, Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant and the most recent addition, The Kiss.
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: R50 per person
Reservations: T +27 (0)21 876 8850, E museum@la-motte.co.za
Friday: Food and Wine Tasting
Presented from a private room in the elegant La Motte Tasting Room, the Food and Wine Tasting pairs five La Motte wines with five tastings of Pierneef à La Motte’s cuisine created by Chef Michelle Theron. And, although the little tasters in the Food and Wine Tastings are beautifully presented as examples of haute cuisine, they 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.
Well-informed and enthusiastic Wine Ambassadors guide guests through the tasting compiled by La Motte’s team of wine-makers and chefs who have also called upon the expertise of Katinka van Niekerk, South African authority when it comes to food and wine pairing.
Friday at 10:00.
Cost: R130 per person.
Prior reservation with upfront payment is essential: +27 (0)21 876 8820, tasting@la-motte.co.za
Available to groups of 2 to 12.
For more information on La Motte: T +27 (0)21 876 8000, E info@la-motte.co.za or www.la-motte.com
