Rickety Bridge Estate

On the western approach to Franschhoek, where the R45 crosses the valley floor between the Dassenberg mountain and the Franschhoek River, Rickety Bridge Estate occupies one of the oldest farm grants in the region. The property was first established in 1694, when French Huguenot settlers received land from the Dutch East India Company in this fertile corner of the Cape. But it is one particular owner whose legacy defines the estate today: Paulina de Villiers, who took possession in 1797, becoming one of the first female landowners in South Africa. By the 1830s, under the ownership of Paulina Pepler, the farm had gained a reputation for pioneering winemaking. Local lore celebrates her as one of South Africa's earliest female winemakers — a woman who saw the potential of Franschhoek soil when the valley was still a frontier.

The estate takes its name from the original rickety wooden bridge that once spanned the Franschhoek River, connecting the farm to the village. Today the Crosbie family from the United Kingdom owns the property and has invested in a comprehensive reimagination — transforming Rickety Bridge into a modern wine estate while honouring the layers of Huguenot heritage, pioneer spirit and winemaking tradition that run through its soil.

Winemaker Wynand Grobler joined the estate in December 2007 and has since built a portfolio that spans four distinct ranges. The Foundation Stone collection — named after the cornerstone of the original bridge — offers accessible, award-winning wines including a Red Blend, White Blend, Rose, and single varietals. This range has earned multiple appearances in the SA Top 100 wines list. The Rickety Bridge range delivers estate-grown Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz, a Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique and a Noble Late Harvest. The Paulina's Reserve tier honours the estate's pioneering female owner with premium single-vineyard expressions: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Semillon and a Sauvignon Blanc Fume. At the summit, two flagship wines represent the very best of Rickety Bridge: The Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon and The Pilgrimage Semillon.

The Regna Loca series — meaning 'local kingdoms' — takes a different approach entirely, matching a particular sub-region to its most celebrated cultivar. These premium expressions sit alongside the estate's sister venture, Artelium, which produces sparkling wines at a property in Sussex, England.

Dining at Rickety Bridge centres on the estate restaurant, which serves elevated comfort dishes blending South African flavours with French bistro classics. Locally sourced ingredients and estate wines define a menu designed to honour the Franco-South African heritage of Franschhoek itself. The setting — among the vineyards with mountain views — is reason enough to linger.

Accommodation includes luxury contemporary farm-style lodging in converted historic buildings, with The Manor House and The Farm Stay options providing an immersive retreat. Padel courts add a sporting dimension, and a Wine Club membership offers ongoing access to releases and estate events.

The tasting centre offers several curated experiences: the Foundation Stone Tasting for an introduction to the range, the Regna Loca Tasting for the premium expressions, the full Regna Loca Experience, and a hands-on Wine Blending Experience. Each is designed to draw visitors deeper into the layered story of an estate where a seventeenth-century land grant, a pioneering woman winemaker, and a rickety bridge over a river all converge into something quietly remarkable.