With the annual Franschhoek Bastille Festival being celebrated on 12 and 13 July this year, La Motte is excited to reintroduce our stalwart trio of French-inspired wines. They are made for celebrating a heritage of everyday wine enjoyment and are versatile partners to food and fireside conversations.
Join us for a tasting of the La Famille Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Joie Rosé and Bordeaux-inspired La Motte Millennium as well as the Rhône-style Pierneef Atelier in the Festival Marquee, book for our Tasting of Provence on Sunday morning or visit us at the estate for a French-inspired wine tasting.
Don’t miss all that is delicious at the La Motte Bakery – from a selection of croissants to freshly-baked baguettes and a delightful selection of pâtisserie – or treat yourself to the best shopping in Franschhoek when you browse the La Motte Farm Shop and Spens!
Vin de Joie and soup du jour
The La Motte Bakery reopens just in time for the Franschhoek Valley’s French Festivities and from 10-13 July, we’ll have a delightful blackboard menu with French soups, served with a delicious slice of baguette, fresh from the wood-fired oven as well as a complementing glass of wine.
Not joining us for the festival this year? Try our French-inspired soup and wine pairing at home with this delicious soupe de poisson recipe and a generous glass of our 2025 Vin de Joie Rosé!
With its charming shades of pink, the new vintage of Vin de Joie is more than a summer sipper – it also brings joy to cooler days, fireside get-togethers, and winter-warming recipes!
When surfaces speak – feel the art
On a wine farm or in a restaurant, texture is an element that often plays second fiddle to taste. The same happens in art spaces where we are usually discouraged from touching, and where tactile features are often overshadowed by colour and pattern. But texture is intrinsic to the way we experience life.
It is exactly this richness of texture and a return to the tangible that are celebrated in the latest art exhibition in the La Motte Ateljee.
"When Surfaces Speak" runs from 12 July to 5 October 2025. This exhibition and series of workshops are a collaboration of artists who honour the materials with which they are surrounded.
Click HERE for more info and reservations.
Beautiful (but not beef) bourguignon
This generous and robust French stew is a variant of the original Beef Bourguignon, which is one of the most popular red wine-based French stews in history.
Made with a variety of mushrooms and no meat, this version by Ilse van der Merwe is lighter than the traditional, yet still packs the punch of a quintessential bourguignon.
Served with fluffy mashed potatoes and a classic Bordeaux-inspired red blend such as the 2022 La Motte Millennium, it is elegant and warming winter fare. The perfect way to celebrate our French heritage with us this July!
Click HERE to get the recipe.
A new season at JAN Franschhoek
It is with both gratitude and excitement that we announce Season IV of the acclaimed food and wine experience, JAN Franschhoek.
Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s unique take on the South African family table will once again be interpreted with innovation and the inspiration of global culinary trends. The perfect treat for those who enjoy culinary storytelling!
Reservations for September and October open on Dineplan on 14 July 2025, while reservations for November to April will be open from 1 September 2025.
Click HERE for more info and reservations.
