Things to do in Franschhoek this summer

01 November 2013

Summer is here and one of these days the holidays will start in all earnest. All Capetonians are suddenly turned into tour guides and concierge services entertaining visiting family or friends or recommending places to shop, to eat, to play.

While Cape Town’s tourist attractions are undeniable and the beautiful beaches very popular, visiting the Winelands of the Cape is becoming increasingly popular under local and international tourists.

Wine Tasting at La Motte

With a host of estate offerings, La Motte’s focus is firmly on wine and guests are welcomed to an elegant wine tasting room with a choice of options – from a formal seated tasting to a more informal option on couches while enjoying an unimpeded view of the working cellar as well as the maturation cellar. A selection of Wine Tasting options is also available:

Current Vintage Tasting

Taste 8 award-winning La Motte wines presented by a well-informed wine ambassador. Cost: R40 for the 8 wines, waivered on any wine purchased. (R50 per person for Groups from 11 to 16 people)

>Vinoteque Wine Tasting

Join us for a guided tasting of a selection of older vintages. Reservations are essential. R200 per person.

Shiraz Comparative Tasting

Join us for a comparative tasting of different Shiraz wines and Shiraz blends. Reservations are essential. Cost: R200 per person.

Food and Wine Tasting

Awarded as Best Food and Wine Matching Experience in the Drinks International Wine Tourism Awards for 2013, La Motte’s food and wine tasting experience is well worth a try. Presented in a private tasting room, a well-informed and enthusiastic wine ambassador guides guests on a pairing of five La Motte wines with five tastings of Pierneef à La Motte’s cuisine created by chef Chris Erasmus. 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. Food and Wine Tastings can be enjoyed on Fridays at 10:00. Reservations are essential. Cost: R120.

Tasting Room Information

Hours: Mondays to Saturdays from 09:00 to 17:00. Closed on Sundays and Christian Religious holidays.

For reservations and enquiries: T +27 (0)21 876 8820 E tasting@la-motte.co.za

Reservations are essential for groups for the Vintage Wine Tasting, Shiraz Comparative Tasting and Food and Wine Tastings.

Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant

The elegant Pierneef à La Motte Restaurant offers a food-and-wine experience of note – from informal al fresco lunches to fine dining dinners, a Chef’s Table, an open kitchen to see the chefs at work and wine suggestions from an extensive wine list. Menus change seasonally, with different menus for lunch and dinner, a menu with specialties of the day and options for children. Altogether, a delightful, interactive food and wine experience in a beautiful Cape Winelands garden setting.

Cape Winelands Cuisine

Grilled line fish, garden vegetables and dandelions with lemon and wheat-grass emulsion served with La Motte Chardonnay

The cuisine offering is traditional Cape Winelands Cuisine with a modern interpretation. The unique food styles and diverse flavours have been inspired by centuries in cooking, spiced by influences from all over the world, forming the precious ingredients of the restaurant’s delectable culinary experience.

Chef’s Table

In an exclusive, intimate area, the Pierneef à La Motte Chef’s Table has been arranged. It offers a fine-dine menu in line with guests’ personal preferences and a harmoniously complementing wine selection.

Winelands Tea

The Winelands Tea is served in the restaurant and on the stoep or in the garden and guests are able to choose from a selection of the finest teas of the world. Following the custom of the old Cape, where the man of the house often served some sweet wine (called a soet sopie), guests will have the option to order a glass of sweet wine or La Motte sparkling wine with their tea, while avid coffee drinkers will be allowed a steaming cup of La Motte’s house blend or even home-made fruit cordial on a hot summer’s day.

The confectionery is inspired by Cape Winelands traditions and guests can expect an enticing offering of delicate trout-filled pancakes, chocolate truffles in traditional flavours such as milk tart, charming macaroons and an assortment of delectable cakes.

The Winelands Tea is served from Tuesdays to Sundays, 09:00 – 17:00

Cost: R125 per person (sweet wine and sparkling wine can be ordered at an additional R20 per glass)

Pierneef à La Motte restaurant information

Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:00 – 17:00 for Lunch and Winelands Tea, Thursdays to Saturdays for Dinner, Saturdays and Sundays for Breakfast. Closed on Mondays and Christian religious holidays.

For reservations and enquiries: T +27 (0)21 876 8800 E pierneef@la-motte.co.za

La Motte Museum

Art exhibitions in the La Motte Museum

The cultural experience offered by a fully-fledged museum is a rare occurrence on a wine estate.

History and Heritage

Displays depict aspects of cultural historic value such as aspects of the Rupert family and the history of Franschhoek and La Motte and its architecture.

Jacob Hendrik Pierneef

The largest room in the museum is dedicated to the art of one of South Africa’s greatest masters, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, displaying his private collection with works representing his life’s work.

Contemporary art

A rotating exhibition of modern art – currently the Cape Town Triennials by contemporary South African artists – is on display.

Historic Walk

The La Motte Museum is also the departure point of a guided educational tour highlighting La Motte’s Cape Dutch buildings, its French Huguenot heritage and other points of interest such as a historic water mill in operation. The walk is concluded with a bread tasting of the breads baked from the flour milled in the historic water mill and baked in the farm kitchen. Historic Walks take place on Wednesday mornings at 10:00. Reservations are essential. Cost: R50 per person.

Museum Information

Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:00 – 17:00. Closed on Mondays and Christian religious holidays.

For reservations and enquiries: T +27 (0)21 876 8850 E museum@la-motte.co.za

Classical Music Concerts

Classical music concerts are performed in the historic cellar

Inspired by La Motte owner Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg, who is a leading South African mezzo-soprano, music is an important ingredient of the estate’s tourist offering.

Classical music concerts are presented monthly in the historic cellar, where a varied selection of music is performed by renowned local as well as international artists. A special attraction is a Steinway piano dating from World War II, used during concerts.

The first three concerts of 2013 are:

25 January: Evolution of Four String Quartet

22 February: Verena Fischer (baroque flute) & Erica Dippenaar (harpsichord)

22 March: Pauna-Redfern Piano Duo

Concert Information

Venue: La Motte Historical Cellar

Concerts start at 19:00

Admission is R170 per person

Reservations are essential and can be made by phoning Angela on +27 (0)21 876 8000 or by e-mail at concerts@la-motte.co.za

Please note the gates of La Motte Estate only open at 18:00

Hiking Route

With a view to creating public awareness of nature and affording its visitors the opportunity of exploring the beauty of its mountain, La Motte has created a hiking trail along the foothills behind the estate. Nature lovers can now get really close to some of La Motte’s greatest treasures – the abundant bird-life, a protea garden, a wealth of indigenous flora and, occasionally, a gaze of surprise from a member of the fauna population. To crown it all, of course, are the breath-taking vistas of the Franschhoek Valley.

Altogether, the route stretches over five kilometres, while the hiking trail section itself is two kilometres long. Time required is approximately two hours when walking and three hours when strolling. The latter is strongly recommended, because that’s how you absorb all the beauty to the full.

Hiking Route Information

Hours: Mondays to Saturdays from 09:00 – 17:00 (last hike departs at 14:00). Closed on Sundays and Christian religious holidays.

For reservations and enquiries T +27 (0)21 876 8820 E tasting@la-motte.co.za

Reservations are essential

Cost: R50 per person which includes a bottle of water and a detailed hiking route map.

Organic Walk

Does farming organically make a real difference? Guests interested in organic and sustainable farming practices can book for a guided walk which will take them through organically grown vineyards, via indigenous and protea gardens and to the organic vegetable and herb gardens.

A well-informed guide shares the details of organic and sustainable farming, its challenges and benefits to the environment, natural fauna and flora as well as the result of organic practices on the quality of fresh produce.

The walk ends with a tasting of La Motte’s organically grown Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc.

Organic Walk Information

Hours: Tuesdays at 10:00. Closed on Christian religious holidays.

For reservations and enquiries: T +27 (0)21 876 8820 E tasting@la-motte.co.za

Reservations are essential

Cost R50 per person

Farm Shop

As part of a relaxing La Motte Experience, visitors can browse through the quaint Farm Shop with its fascinating selection of practical gifts, art products, decadent confectionery and farm-baked breads as well as many more take-home reminders of the Estate.

Farm Shop Information

Hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 09:00 – 17:00. Closed on Mondays and Christian religious holidays.

For reservations and enquiries: T +27 (0)21 876 8840 E farmshop@la-motte.co.za

La Motte on Social Media

For Twitter:

Pierneef à La Motte: @pierneeflamotte

La Motte: @LaMottewine

#Tag: #ThingsToDo

For Facebook:

Facebook page for La Motte

Facebook page for Pierneef à La Motte

General Contact Details