Where grapes meet grains
Tradition, terroir and treats
Tucked in the heart of the breathtaking Franschhoek Valley, La Motte Wine Estate is a place where heritage, craftsmanship and natural beauty converge, celebrating centuries of winemaking tradition mixed with innovation and a host of other farm products.
While the farm is rightfully best known for its world-class wine varietals, visitors can look forward to other exciting produce options too, and the on-site La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café has a tradition of baking with wholesome, natural and sustainable ingredients that compliment the complex and ancient process of wine fermentation.
In an era of consumerism that relies on speed and mass production, both the wine and baked goods at La Motte embrace slowness intentionally, celebrating natural processes and a kind of craftsmanship that doesn’t cut corners.
La Motte’s signature loaf is made from organic whole wheat flour using the sourdough method with rye culture. Like the wines produced on the grounds, the sourdough process is not rushed. It begins with a living starter and ferments slowly over many hours, celebrating the philosophy of slow food, prioritising quality over compromise, flavour over uniformity, and community over convenience.
The end product is symbolic of what bread was like before pesticides, additives and ‘fast food.’ It celebrates farming, milling and baking as it should be for the benefit of those who choose to share it with their loved ones.
LIVING TRADITION
The bakery might be modern, and the cellar innovative, but both are built on centuries of knowledge. La Motte honours its roots not by replicating the past, but by evolving it, adapting the methods while keeping their true meaning.
In every crackling crust and glass of wine you can taste the quality of craftsmanship and the rewards of patience.
WHERE PATIENCE YIELDS PERFECTION
At the heart of La Motte Wine Estate lies a sanctuary where culinary craftsmanship mirrors the unhurried excellence of fine winemaking – the La Motte Artisanal Bakery and Garden Café. Here, master baker Markus Färbinger and head baker Ricardo Slawers combine their talents in the historic Franschhoek estate’s Jonkershuis, built in 1752. The star of the show is “The Motte” loaf – a signature creation bearing the estate’s emblematic “M” stamp – emerging golden and aromatic from the wood-fired oven.
Enjoy a warm slice, spread thick with farm butter or soft cheese, along with La Motte’s Méthode Cap Classique 2023. The perfect companion, with its vivacious bubbles and attractive bouquet of citrus, brioche, and nuts.
Whether you’re savouring award-winning wines, enjoying artisan breads fresh from the wood-fired oven or strolling through the gardens, La Motte is the ideal spot to experience the harmony of history and contemporary elegance.