Our Wild Vine team recently spent a wonderful day at Rickety Bridge, a historic wine farm just outside the picturesque village of Franschhoek, in the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Purchased by a husband and wife team of UK based entrepreneurs in 2023, Rickety Bridge has had new life breathed into it and the result is a highly recommend, contemporary wine farm experience.
The classic Cape Dutch buildings retain their original character, with thick walls, thatched roofs and beautiful views across the farm and surrounding mountains. Inside, Scandinavian-inspired furniture with clean, modern finishes create rooms that feel generous, elegant and luxurious. Guests can choose from individual rooms, cottages or the Manor House, with a minimum two-night stay including breakfast.
Our wine tasting and cellar tour were hosted by Charles, who has been at Rickety Bridge for over a decade. His passion and knowledge brought the wines to life, and we were impressed by their refinement. The farm uses both its own grapes and carefully sourced fruit, including grapes from some very old vineyards, with particular attention paid to winemaking and barrel selection.
What also made an impression on us is how much there is on offer, beyond a wonderful location so close to Franschhoek. The electric bikes looked like lots of fun and the Padel facility is state of the art and brand new, with potjiekos competitions to enjoy after all the exercise. This makes the farm particularly appealing for travellers looking for a mix of wine, food, relaxation and activity.
We finished our visit with a wonderful lunch in the sunny restaurant, where the food was excellent and we had the pleasure of meeting the chef. While the farm doesn’t offer dinner, Franschhoek’s exceptional restaurants are just minutes away, with some offering transfers to and from the farm.
Rickety Bridge brings together beautiful accommodation, excellent wine and food, and plenty to do, all within easy reach of Franschhoek. It’s a relaxed and luxurious winelands base that we’re very happy to recommend to our Wild Vine travellers.