One of the highlights of my trip back home to Cape Town was a leisurely day spent at La Motte Wine Estate situated in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley.
Just over an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the farm has been reimagined resulting in a feast for the senses when it reopened last year.
I did not hesitate accepting an invitation to visit and we spent the day wandering around the estate enjoying all it had to offer while indulging in a seemingly never ending explosion of shades of green in the gardens and the thoughtful interiors.
We kicked off the morning with coffee at the new bakery while browsing the freshly baked breads and pastries on offer and it was hard not to daydream about baking in the beautiful kitchen they had built.
Next stop was the Farm Shop, curated by Berdine Swart of The Apiary Studio. It proudly showcases South African craftsmanship of handwoven linens, bespoke kitchenware, and locally sourced pottery. I was delighted to spot the wooden cake lifters I created in collaboration with Ark Workshop a few years ago.
I can not fault the lunch we had at the new family brasserie L’Ami – it means “friend” in French. The interior is stunning, the food delicious and the staff just lovely, taking such great care of us. The menu is seasonal, the ingredients farm sourced and the chefs are masters at open fire cooking. Add to that the inviting wrap around “stoep” and the you have a perfect mix of warmth, elegance and superb Cape winelands hospitality.
Of course, the wines are exceptional and the La Motte Tasting Room invites you guests to slow down, appreciate and explore the wines that embody the estate’s dedication to quality, authenticity and delicious wines.
I can personally vouch for the wines from La Motte Wine Estate. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of pairing several of my own recipes with their wines. In fact, two of those recipes were featured in the collection of most popular recipes of 2025.
Mushroom Soup with Marinated Mushrooms and Garlic Toasties
Baked Sausages with Apple and Red Onion
Ostrich and Mushroom Stroganoff
I can highly recommend the reimagined La Motte Wine Estate when you find yourself in that part of the world. It truly is well worth a visit.
Disclaimer : I was a guest of La Motte Wine Estate and Hatch Communications. This post is out of my own accord.
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