La Motte Wine Farm

In 1695, a piece of land in the Franschhoek Valley was granted to German immigrant Hans Hendrik Hattingh, and in 1709 it was purchased by Pierre Joubert, its first French Huguenot owner. Joubert named the property after La Motte d'Aigues, a small village in Provence -- a gesture of remembrance for the homeland he and his fellow religious refugees had left behind.

Viticulture on La Motte was established in 1752, when Huguenot descendant Gabriel du Toit planted 4,000 vines on the estate. Over the following two centuries, the property passed through several hands, accumulating a collection of remarkable Cape Dutch buildings along the way. The Manor House dates to approximately 1758, the Jonkershuis to 1752, the Historic Cellar to 1782, and the Water Mill to between 1770 and 1782. All four structures have since been declared provincial monuments.

The modern chapter of La Motte began in 1970, when Dr Anton Rupert -- the South African industrialist and conservationist -- purchased the farm and initiated a comprehensive programme of restoration and development. Under Rupert's stewardship, neglected historic buildings were painstakingly returned to their former glory, vineyards were replanted, and the estate was repositioned as a serious wine producer with international ambitions.

Today La Motte is operated by Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg, Dr Rupert's daughter, and her husband Hein Koegelenberg, who serves as Chief Executive Officer. The estate has become a cultural destination in its own right, housing the La Motte Museum with a permanent collection of works by Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, one of South Africa's most celebrated landscape painters. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday and entry is complimentary.

Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche oversees a portfolio anchored by Shiraz and Syrah, honouring the warm Franschhoek terroir. The flagship Hanneli R is a Syrah-based blend named after the owner, while the Pierneef Collection -- Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah Viognier -- pays tribute to the artist whose work adorns the estate. The on-site restaurant, Pierneef a La Motte, celebrates South African culinary heritage with menus inspired by the painter's love of the country's diverse landscapes. An award-winning food-and-wine tasting pairs small plates by Chef Michelle Theron with wines from the Classic Collection.

La Motte sits on the Franschhoek Wine Tram route, and its grounds encompass hiking and walking trails through vineyards and mountain foothills. The estate's character -- award-winning wine, family ownership, and heritage architecture set against valley and mountain views -- makes it one of the Franschhoek Valley's most complete cultural wine experiences.