WHERE TO EAT on the Franschhoek Wine Route, on a farm, among the vines? And which wines to seek out, what the panels of experts have highly recommended recently? For lunch, your best bets include The Werf and Rhone Homestead at Boschendal, Franschhoek Cellar (also Bellingham cellar door), Pierneef à La Motte, Racine at Chamonix, AND the new venues at the Old Road Wine Co on what is now Huguenot Road, i.e. the Anemos Deck & Restaurant (pictured above), The Fat Man Restaurant and The Farmyard. As for the wines, the panels’ favourites are given below – excluding wines available only on auction, own-labels not readily available, export-only wines and those long sold out.

 

TOP RATED WHITES IN 2019/18

Allée Bleue Isabeau 2014 (Blend)
Allée Bleue Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Anthonij Rupert‘s Cape of Good Hope Laing Groendruif 2015 (Semillon)
Anthonij Rupert‘s Cape of Good Hope Serruria Chardonnay 2017

Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2017
Bellingham Bernard Series Whole Bunch Roussanne 2019
Bellingham Homestead Chardonnay 2017
Bellingham Homestead Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay 2017
Boschendal Elgin Chardonnay 2016
Boschendal Elgin Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Boschendal Sommelier Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Boschendal Vin de Memoire Chardonnay 2015

Chamonix Reserve Chardonnay 2017

Franschhoek Cellar La Cotte Mill Chenin Blanc 2017
Franschhoek Cellar Statue de Femme Sauvignon Blanc 2017

GlenWood Vigneron’s Selection Chardonnay 2016

Grand Provence White 2016
Grande Provence Chenin Blanc 2017

Haut Espoir Semillon 2017

Haute Cabriére Haute Collection Chardonnay 2017

La Bri Chardonnay 2017

La Chataigne Fumé Blanc 2017 (Sauvignon)
La Chataigne Semillon 2015

La Couronne Chardonnay 2017
La Couronne Viognier 2017

La Motte Chardonnay 2017
La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Leeu Passant Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2016

Leopard’s Leap Chenin Blanc 2018
Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Chenin Blanc 2016

Môreson Dr Reason Why 2017 (Unwooded Chardonnay)

Old Road Anemos Chenin Blanc 2017
Old Road French Corner White 2018
Old Road Juliette Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Rickety Bridge Paulina’s Reserve Semillon 2017
Rickety Bridge Road to Santiago Semillon 2016

Wildeberg White 2018 (Semillon)

 

TOP RATED BUBBLIES IN 2019/18

Anthonij Rupert‘s L’Ormarins Blanc de Blancs 2013 (MCC)
Anthonij Rupert‘s L’Ormarins Brut Rosé NV (MCC)

Boschendal Brut Rosé NV (MCC)
Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2014 (MCC)
Boschendal Jean Le Long Prestige Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2008 (MCC)

Chantelle Blanc de Blanc Brut Reserve 2008 (MCC)

Colmant Absolu Zero Dosage NV (MCC)
Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV (MCC)

Haute Cabrière‘s Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose NV (MCC)

La Motte Brut 2015 (MCC)

Le Lude Rosé NV (MCC)
Le Lude Vintage Cuvée 2012 (MCC)

Môreson Solitaire Blanc de Blancs NV (MCC)

 

TOP RATED ROSÉS IN 2019/18

Allée Bleue Starlette Shiraz Rosé 2018

Anthonij Rupert‘s Protea Rosé 2017

Bellingham Quintessential Couple Rosé 2018

Black Elephant Rosé Rebel 2019

Boschendal Blanc de Noir 2019
Boschendal Rose Garden Rosé 2019

Haute Cabriére Pinot Noir Rosé 2019

Holden Manz Rosé 2019

La Couronne Merlot Rosé 2019

 

TOP RATED REDS IN 2019/18

Allée Bleue L’Amour Toujours 2014 (Blend)
Allée Bleue Old Vine Pinotage 2016
Allée Bleue Pinotage 2016

Bellingham Bernard Series Basket Press Syrah 2016
Bellingham Bernard Series Small Barrel SMV 2015
Bellingham Homestead Shiraz 2017
Bellingham Pinopasso 2016 (Blend)

Boekenhoutskloof Franschhoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Boekenhoutskloof Chocolate Block 2017 (Blend)
Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2018

Boschendal 1685 Merlot 2016
Boschendal 1685 S&M Shiraz Mourvèdre 2016
Boschendal 1685 Shiraz 2017
Boschendal Black Angus 2016 (Blend)
Boschendal Lanoy 2017 (Blend)

Chamonix Cabernet Franc 2015
Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir 2017
Chamonix Reserve Troika 2016 (Blend)

Dieu Donné Cross Collection Shiraz Viognier 2016

Franschhoek Cellar Baker Station Shiraz 2017
Franschhoek Cellar Last Elephant 2015 (Blend)
Franschhoek Cellar Old Museum Merlot 2018
Franschhoek Cellar Vineyards Shiraz 2014

GlenWood Grand Duc Syrah 2016

Haut Espoir Shiraz 2012

Haute Cabriére Reserve Pinot Noir 2015

Holden Manz Big G 2014 (Blend)
Holden Manz Cabernet Franc Reserve 2017
Holden Manz Merlot Reserve 2016
Holden Manz Visionaire 2013 (Blend)

La Couronne Le Petite Malbec 2016

La Motte Pierneef Syrah Viognier 2017
La Motte Syrah 2017

Leeu Passant Dry Red 2016

Leopard’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Grand Vin 2017 (Blend)
Leopard’s Leap Culinaria Pinot Noir 2016
Leopard’s Leap Special Edition Pinotage 2016
Leopard’s Leap Special Edition Red Blend 2016

Lynx Grenache 2017

Mont Rochelle Miko 2010 (Shiraz)

Môreson Magia Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Môreson MKM Pinotage 2015
Môreson Widow Maker Pinotage 2015

My Wyn Cabernet Franc 2016
My Wyn Les Grandes Horizontales 2015 (Blend)

Old Road 12 Mile Syrah 2017
Old Road Anvil Shiraz 2017
Old Road French Corner Red 2018
Old Road Pardonnez-Moi Cinsaut 2018

Rickety Bridge Paulina’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Rickety Bridge Shiraz 2017
Rickety Bridge The Bridge 2016 (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Wildeberg‘s Underworld Blend 3 2018

 

TOP RATED DESSERTS IN 2019/18

Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest 2015

GlenWood Grand Duc Noblesse 2014 (Noble Late Harvest)
GlenWood Grand Duc Noblesse NV (Noble Late Harvest)

 

• For info about contact details, addresses, wine tastings and pairings and the costs thereof at the top cellars in Franschhoek, click here. Prices of highly rated vintages during the past two years given here.