WeeklySA_AdminEXPOSURE: La Motte’s cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche ready to share insight into the ethos and consistency behind the estate’s success…
By Len Maseko
Harvest time is a very special season in the Cape winelands. It means early mornings in the vineyards and late nights in the cellar, but it comes with a contagious joy and it is the ideal time to enjoy the wonderful tastes and traditions of the harvest.
Pretty much it is a much-awaited experience every year around this time at La Motte wine estate in Franschhoek, which beckons the period as a time to celebrate the joy of this special season.
Invariably, Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche keeps a hawkish year at every turn of the activities during this period – all to ensure that nothing is amiss in the process to ensure that his team and their efforts remain true to La Motte’s credo of producing wines of distinction. He says La Motte vineyards love a cold and wet winter and that’s what they got. “Then we had a relative cool and dry start to summer, so the grapes are healthy and with a slightly lighter load expected, we anticipate exceptional quality,” he says.
Around this time, the team at La Motte ordinarily invites guests to join the La Motte Harvest Experience and be part of the ubiquitous Cape Winelands special harvest-time joys, sharing in the blessing of having a harvest, the summer beauty of the Franschhoek Valley and the passions of the La Motte winemaking team.
Guests can expect a memorable adventure when they join the La Motte Harvest Experience, including:
· One of the estate’s enthusiastic and knowledgeable wine tasting ambassadors will guide you on this celebration of unique harvest traditions:
· In the vineyard – the party will enjoy an introduction to the different varietals, harvest processes and the estate’s biologic farming practices. Spot the differences between the various varieties and taste the sweetness of the ripe berries.
· In the cellar – they will experience the hand-sorting of grapes, crush, pump-overs and other cellar activities, concluded with a tasting of grape must (fermenting grape juice) from a fermentation tank. (Cellar activity depends on the specific day’s harvest itinerary)
· In the tasting room – they will have the opportunity to enjoy a tasting of La Motte’s award-winning wines – six wines from the La Motte Classic and Estate Collection. You can also enjoy the famous La Motte mosbolletjie as part of the tasting.
· In the shade of the age-old oaks – guests can relax in the calm ambience of the estate gardens and enjoy a bountiful harvest-inspired small plate from L’Ami Family Brasserie – with a glass of wine.
The Harvest Experience (R190 per person) includes the vineyard and cellar tour as well as wine tasting. It takes about 90 minutes and is available from Tuesdays to Sundays at 10:00 and 15:30, and starts from March 5 and will last until the end of March. Bookings can made via La Motte website: https://la-motte.com/products/la-motte-harvest-experience-05-march-2025s
A harvest plate menu full of earthly goodness is additional and optional and available as a light lunch after the morning edition of the harvest (R150 per person).
They can choose between Winelands favourites and summer tastes on a small plate: Farm sausage with homemade grape blatjang and mustard, Cape Malay Hake samoosas with a grape salsa or Almond Gazpacho with grapes and herbs.
All to be enjoyed with the accompaniment of a choice of a glass of La Motte Sauvignon Blanc or Millennium (or soft drink) is included.
EVENTS
PINO CELEBRATION LUNCH
The Grand Pinotage Lunch with “father of Pinotage” Beyers Truter will be hosted at the Simon Wine Emporium in Stellenbosch on March 7. The Grand Pinotage Project is an ambitious initiative that honours and redefines South Africa’s most iconic grape variety. It was established in response to the evolving challenges and opportunities in modern winemaking, standing as a testament to the collaborative spirit of South Africa’s wine industry.
Six of the country’s most esteemed Pinotage producers; Beyerskloof, Kaapzicht, Kanonkop, L’Avenir, Rijks, and Simonsig, have united under the Grand Pinotage banner. Each estate is renowned for consistently crafting distinctive and exceptional Pinotage wines.
The occasion, which starts at 1pm, is to celebrate a century of Pinotage with an exclusive tasting of the Grand Pinotage wines, hosted by renowned Pinotage pioneer Truter. This exclusive event features a three-course menu paired with a tasting of six wines, for R750 at Simon Wine Emporium. Bookings can be made via Dineplan or contact us at info@simonwine.co.za.
WINE AND ART IN DURBS
The Wine and Arts Festival will be held at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport tomorrow and Sunday.
King Shaka International Airport will come alive with the best of art, fashion, wine, and live entertainment.
The Wine and Arts Festival is a two-day event featuring a wide range of activities, including art exhibitions and installations by local and national artists, wine tastings and sales from renowned wine estates. Live music performances and entertainment, food stalls and restaurants offering a variety of cuisine and interactive activities and workshops/master classes for adults and children. Activities include savouring the finest local wines; viewing breathtaking art; and discovering unique designs from local fashion artisans.
Tickets cost R200 via Quicket. The event starts at 10am.
QUOIN ROCK HARVEST
Quoin Rock is hosting a Harvest 2025 Celebration on its Stellenbosch farm on March 13, and thereafter two more similar events on March 13 and April 10.
The winery invites wine lovers to step into the heart of the harvest season, where the land’s bounty, the winemaker’s art, and the spirit of fire come together for an extraordinary celebration. They will be treated to a harvest table flowing with seasonal delights, including dishes prepared with flames dancing on the braai, infusing each bite with bold, smoky perfection.
These delicacies will be enjoyed along with a curated selection of Quoin Rock’s signature wines, each sip a story of passion and terroir.
To create sedate ambience, there will be live entertainment, setting the scene for an afternoon of connection and celebration beneath the majestic Simonsberg Mountains as well as stunning views of the Knorhoek Valley and picturesque natural surroundings stretching to Cape Town. Tickets cost R3 250 a person. Activities start at 4pm.
GIN FESTIVAL
The annual Schweppes Gin Festival is back – and this year visitors to the event can expect an incredible variety of craft gin brands to indulge in.
The event will take place at Fire & Wine venue in Pretoria East on March 8.
There will also be an assortment of food trucks available, and of course some of SA’s top DJ’s on the decks. The event will once again be hosted on the lawns at the beautiful venue. Camp chairs and picnic blankets are welcome.
Tickets cost from R290 (general access); R550 (sip and pain) and R850 (VIP, only 50 available). They include a complimentary gin cocktail on arrival, and full bottle of gin for VIP patrons in a comfortable setting. Food options for every taste and budget available on the day. Gates open at 12:00 and the show closes at 22:00.
PIZZA AND WINE
It will be all about wine and pizza when the Pizza e Vino Wine Fair, which is taking place at the Irene Village Mall in Centurion, opens doors on March 8.
The event starts at 12 midday and will feature wines from five Cape estates to be savoured with a variety of pizzas.
The venue is situated on Van Ryneveld Ave, Irene. Enjoy a variety of premium wines with knowledgeable representatives on hand to guide you through the flavours and stories behind each bottle. Tickets cost R150 (Wine Tasting only) and R250 (Wine Tasting + 1 Medium Pizza). Bookings via Quicket.
BEEREX AFRICA
BeerEx Africa, a conference and expo dedicated to the world’s most popular alcoholic beverage: beer, will take place in Cape Town from May 22 to 24.
The event will take place at Makers Landing at The Cruise Terminal, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. It is geared at brewers from across the continent – not just as delegates, but also as speakers, exhibitors and as entrants in the annual African Beer Cup.
Launched in 2016, BeerEx Africa (formerly the Craft Brewers Powwow) was established to help boost South Africa’s burgeoning beer culture. The conference and expo have grown to attract brewers and beer enthusiasts from across the continent and in 2025 we’re expanding further.
Attendees can choose to attend just the expo or opt for a package including the one-day conference as well as the two-day expo, which showcases innovative products from local companies alongside major international suppliers. We’re also hosting evening networking events at nearby craft breweries.
BeerEx Africa is held in conjunction with the African Beer Cup, the biggest beer competition in Africa, attracting more than 250 entries from across the continen. – Compiled by Len Maseko
