We’re five months into 2018 already and boy has it been a great ride so far! We were super excited to kick the year off with five #JoburgLovesWine partners and had a great time working with every one of them.
Since January, however, we’ve had another SIX join the club.
We introduced the first three (in alphabetical order) last week and have the next three up today:
La Motte
This well-loved Franschhoek farm was established in 1695, when it was granted to German immigrant Hans Hendrik Hattingh. Fourteen years later, in 1709, it was purchased by French Huguenot, Pierre Joubert and became La Motte - named after a little village in Provence – La Motte d’Aigues. The first vines were planted here in 1752 by Gabriël du Toit, one of Joubert’s descendents.
Two centuries later, La Motte entered a new phase when Dr. Anton Rupert bought the property and started a major development, restoration and conservation programme. Over the past almost 50 years it has thrived and flourished, becoming one of South Africa’s most luxurious wine estates. To add to this, the team behind La Motte is dedicated to empowering its people and is also a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI).
Location: La Motte forms part of the Franschhoek Valley, conveniently located just off the R45 leading into town. It has a truly spectacular setting, with vineyards accompanying you as you enter, rolling lawns and a backdrop of majestic mountains.
Why you should visit: If you enjoy the finer things in life, La Motte is sure to offer you a thrilling experience. From the top quality wines available for tasting to Pierneef a La Motte’s carefully curated menu of local cuisines, the farm is synonymous with gastronomic delight. Then, of course, there is also the La Motte Museum, which offers a stimulating cultural-historical experience by sharing the history of the estate as well as carefully curated art exhibitions. For those who enjoy outdoor adventures, there are also regular guided hikes on the estate, which offers excellent insight into the surrounding fauna and flora.
Lourensford
Once forming part of neighbouring Vergelegen, which was established by Willem Adriaan van der Stel in 1709, Lourensford has a proud history as a world class fruit farm. Viticulture was revived here when Dr. Christo Wiese bought the property in 1998.
With the Hottentots Holland and Helderberg mountains framing 4 000 hectares of land, Lourensford has an exceptionally picturesque setting, made even more magnificent by the rolling lawns and sprawling gardens.
Apart from its overwhelming beauty, Lourensford also prides itself in being a bastion of conservation and sustainability. Of the 4000 hectares, 1200 hectares is Fynbos with farmed Proteas. Forestry, fruit orchards and vineyards make up the remainder. No wonder this idyllic spot is home to the majestic Cape Leopard!
Location: Lourensford is located in the lush and leafy depths of Somerset West. While it feels far-removed from the hustle of daily activities, it’s actually just a short drive from the N2 and R44.
Why you should visit: Apart from its natural beauty and superb wines, Lourensford is home to a huge array of activities for the whole family. The Life Retreat Movement Studio offers yoga, Pilates, Nia, kiddies yoga, Zumba, tai chi and meditation classes as well as workshops. There is also a shop to stock up on wellness-related goodies. If you prefer getting active outdoors, there are various MTB trails and garden tours to undertake.
Lourensford has also made quite a name for itself with the weekly food, craft and artisan market. It takes place every Friday from 17h00 – 21h00 and every Sunday from 10h00 – 15h00. There is no entrance fee and dogs are welcome!
Lozärn
Lozärn creates wines inspired by heritage, dedication and respect for nature. Handcrafted on Doornbosch farm, the Lozärn team aims to find perfection in the balance between passion and the science of winemaking, while honouring a family matriarch.
The story goes: great grandma, Kathleen May Müller (Kay) was born in Germany. During the World War she and her family escaped by Trouptrain to Lucerne, Switzerland where they managed to make a new beginning. Because of this experience she always had a lot of sentiment towards Lucerne.
After immigrating to South Africa, she married Sebastian Smuts. They bought a piece of land in Robertson area and started farming. Because of her gratitude towards new beginnings in Lucerne Switzerland, she named our farm in Robertson, Lucerne.
The name of the wines, Lozärn, is the Swiss German for Lucerne. Hereby they salute and recognise Granny Kay and their roots as Smuts farmers.
Location: The farm is located in Bonnievale, in the Robertson Valley.
Why you should visit: If you love the stories behind wines and the farms they originate from, Lozärn is certainly one for the books! They also pride themselves in producing a limited number of truly special boutique wines. They are also the very first wine farm in South Africa to produce Carménère. Also known as Grande Vidure this varietal is considred to be one of the original six red grapes of Bordeaux.
