A few weekends ago, I was treated to a weekend break at Rickety Bridge Winery where we got to enjoy fantastic wines and food as well as experience their elegant accommodation. Nestled against the slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains and overlooking the majestic Wemmershoek Mountain range, this is a wonderful setting for a getaway in the countryside. And being less than 3km from the centre of charming Franschhoek means you have the option of exploring the village easily too. 

We spent one night at the Manor House in one of their cosy loft suites. This beautiful historic Cape Dutch guest house has an authentic old world charm and only has three suites which keeps it exclusive. Request the Chardonnay suite, it’s the best!

For lunch we visited their bistro style restaurant, Paulina’s, which was such a highlight. With a relaxed atmosphere and cosy fireplace, it was a welcome escape from the wet weather. The food was exceptional and all of the waiters were so efficient and friendly. Our Cape Malay Prawn Curry starter was incredible and definitely a dish I’ll return for. We also tried their Beetroot Carpaccio, Salmon Fish Cakes and Pork Belly which were equally delicious! In Summer it must be wonderful to sit out on the deck and take in the views of the vineyards and mountains in the distance.

Paulina’s is open 7 days a week from 11am – 4pm

For dessert we hopped over to their wine tasting centre to try out the new Wine & Panna Cotta pairing.  Creative and unique, this is a fun experience to include in your visit. The wine tasting area is lovely and spacious with different seating nooks and a deck. Rickety Bridge has an extensive wine range and of course we didn’t come home empty handed – I always prefer buying wine from a wine estate rather than a generic wine shop. 

Rickety Bridge is also one of the designated stops on the popular Franschhoek Wine Tram hop-on-hop-off tour. This is a great way to discover the valley and of course to sample top notch wines without the worry of driving under the influence.

The Tasting Centre is open 7 days a week
December to March: 10am – 6pm daily & 10am – 5pm on Sundays
April to November: 10am – 5pm

We also spent one night at their sister guest house, Basse Provence, which lies just across the river. Here they have nine suites which are also beautifully decorated with a classic feel. We managed to catch some late afternoon sunshine and enjoy a G&T by the pool whilst soaking up the views – perfect weekend goals in our books! 

All photography: Lana Kenney ©

Disclosure: My stay at Rickety Bridge Winery was complimentary. As always, the opinions and thoughts shared are my own.

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