Tour, talk and taste the harvest at La Motte

Monday, 25 January, 2016
La Motte
Recognised as the most important time of the year on a wine farm, La Motte wine estate is celebrating this years’ harvest by inviting guests on a guided vineyard tour and wine tasting during the harvest period. Join in on all the excitement and be a part of the vibrant energy by participating in harvest 2016 at La Motte.

Guests are given the option of a Day-time Harvest Tour and Tasting starting on the 26th of January for the duration of harvest, or an Evening Tour, Tasting and Talk on Thursday, 11 February 2016. Avid guests are welcomed to do both.

Day-time Harvest Tour and Tasting

On day visits, guests can opt to share in the harvest experiences with a vineyard tour presented by a well-informed Wine Ambassador introducing the various varietals and explaining the harvest practices and biologic farming methods.

After the visit to the vineyards, guests get a first-hand experience of the harvesting process on a guided cellar tour – the hand-sorting of grapes, crush, pump-overs and other activities that take place in the cellar – ending with a tasting of grape must (fermenting grape juice) from a fermentation tank.

The tasting room is the last stop and here guests are treated to a seated tasting of La Motte’s award-winning wines as well as a selection of harvest delights, including:

  • Five wines from the La Motte Collection
  • Two wines from the Pierneef Collection
  • Mosbolletjies - the traditional South African sweet bun made from the yeast of partially fermented grape juice.
  • Must syrup - probably the first form of jam made by men - a reduction of the sweet grape must or partially fermented grape juice.
  • Something Savoury – duck sausage with sultanas, pickled grapes and a must dressing. A real celebration of Cape Winelands Cuisine, using the traditional preference for duck with the very typical sweet-sour condiment.
  • Something Sweet - grape frangipane. A harvest interpretation of the traditional almond pastry.
  • Something Salady – grape, fennel and celery salad wrapped in a vine leaf. Chef Michelle Theron’s interpretation of the chopped salads found in the culinary traditions of the Cape.

The Harvest Tour and Tasting cost R100, takes about 90 minutes and will be available hourly from Tuesdays to Fridays, from 10:00 to 15:00 for the duration of the harvest – starting on Tuesday, 26 January.

Pierneef à La Motte restaurant also participates in the celebration of harvest with harvest-inspired menu items while the La Motte Farm Shop offers an array of decadent confectionery and breads baked with grapes or must.

For more information or reservations, please call Werner Briedenhann in the Tasting Room at T +27 (0)21 876 8820 or E tasting@la-motte.co.za

An Evening to Tour, Taste and Talk Harvest

On the evening of Thursday, 11 February, La Motte presents a special edition of the Harvest Tasting.

Viticulturist, Pietie le Roux who has been with La Motte for more than 30 years, will guide guests through the vineyards, sharing the wonderful ways of the vine as well as explaining the concept of biologic and sustainable farming.

Guests then join celebrated Cellarmaster, Edmund Terblanche on a cellar tour introducing the pressing process before tasting the award-winning La Motte’s Classic as well as Pierneef wine collections.

Well-known food historian, Hetta van Deventer-Terblanche will introduce guests to a selection of harvest-inspired bites while sharing the history of how grapes and must have been used in culinary traditions as well as Cape Winelands Cuisine.

Pierneef à La Motte restaurant will create a special harvest-inspired menu for guests attending the talk. Choose a meal from this special Cape Winelands Cuisine menu and enjoy with a glass of wine. Please ensure to mention whether dinner is required when making your reservation. Reservations are essential.

Date: 11 February           |              Time: 18:00         |             Talk: R100            |              Talk & Cape Wineland Cusine dinner: R300 For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Angela, on T +27 (0)21 876 8000 or Email reception@la-motte.co.za or book online at www.la-motte.com