The sandstone mountains are strong and poised, forming a vivid omnipresent backdrop to South Africa's wine region. They surround you from near and afar in the Stellenbosch area where traditional Cape Dutch style buildings display simple and ornate gables over the entrances that developed in the second half of the eighteenth century (1700s).
Vibrant white clouds can be found lingering on the tops of the geologic tips. Much like whipping cream adding the finishing touch to a favorite sundae, they settle hungrily on these geologic points when heavily filled with moisture. Even when a cloud's light as the air its shadow casts clearly over these ridges seducing our light and dark eyes to openly stare.
La Motte is a chic, comfortable wine estate in the Franschhoek Valley managed by Hanneli Rupert, the daughter of the well-known South African business gagillionaire Dr Anton. The outside dining room is only just covered by a taught tarp like a circus tent allowing any breeze to filter through. Wooden tables are dressed up with shiny silverware and clean, sharp wine glasses.
Down the wooden stairs there's a nice sized grassy patch with picnic tables, a giant chess game and easel for the children to play while the adults sip casually on the well-padded furniture frames. Just on the far side of the knoll is a small art museum featuring works by landscape expert artist Pierneef. Hanneli is one of South Africa’s leading mezzo-sopranos. The winery hosts guests for her monthly musical performance.
Fine, casual and culture is what comes to mind when I recall my time at La Motte. The winery has just enough of each to make it a place for anyone to relax and enjoy the immaculate surroundings.
The charmingly European, Cape Dutch style is said to have stemmed from the gables found in Amsterdam, yet recent research points that the architecture more closely resembles the buildings found north of the Red Light city on the River Zaan. It was along this river that many ships for the Dutch East India Company were built often using more lumber in the structures from the excess found in ship building supply.
Zevenwacht Winery calls one of the oldest and most traditional Cape Dutch structures home. Built in 1800, the gable reflects fondly in the small pond a few hundred feet down the easy grass slope.
Zevenwacht was a special treat. As an organized networking event just over one hundred of us visited this heritage site together. Once there we divided up into teams of six to ten or so at large round, black-linen clothed tables where we became the 'Mad Chemists' mixing a special blend of Syrah, Cabernet, Merlot and Pinotage.
In the waning summer sun, we baked a bit along with our bottles of red, trying terribly to shield our concoction with shadows as we vied to come out on top. This would not be an easy feat considering much of our entire group is severely well-traveled and travel well, sharing many a great celebratory bottles with international clientele, friends and family from France to Argentina, Australia and Italy, California, even China and now down at the tip of Africa.
In the end, our group's wine was not the one to liven the winemaker's palate. Still it was great fun to enjoy the luxurious surroundings together. You can watch a video of the winning group here. As the sun started to set on our day in Africa's most well-known wine region, we bid adieu to the warm breeze soothing our skin in anticipation of our next encounter with this wondrous earthly place.
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