Rickety Bridge Winery and vineyards are situated between the pine tree lined Dassenberg Mountain and the Franschhoek River. The name of the farm stems from old wooden railway sleeper bridge that once straddled the Franschhoek River, and it is also home to the celebrated Restaurant in the Vines, and superb accommodation in the form of the RIckety Bridge Manor House.

Rickety Bridge’s history includes the alluringly mysterious widow Paulina De Villiers who was granted a ‘quitrent grant’ 200 years ago from the La Provence farm. The name Rickety Bridge came about because the locals named the farm after it’s old wooden railway sleeper bridge that spanned the Franschhoek river. Rickety Bridge was bought 10 years ago by an Englishman named Duncan Spence, who lives on the tiny Channel Island of Sark, where no cars are allowed on the island and transport is either by horse-drawn carriages, or by bicycle.

The vineyards went through a major overhaul 20 years ago and under winemaker Wynand Grobler, the Sauvignon Blanc’s have been named as one of the top 10 New World Sauvignon Blancs by Decanter magazine. The 2009 Sauvignon Blanc is a fresh, crisp wine with gooseberry, guava and litchi flavours and underlying minerality and grassiness. The Rickety Bridge Rosè has also performed beyond expectations and is in fact Rickety Bridge’s top selling wine currently. Rickety Bridge actually pursues the development of Rosè wines rather than as a by product of red wine production.

The Rickety Bridge Foundation Stone 2008 is a wine that is a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. It’s a wine filled with berry fruit, mulberry and hints of spice. Early accolades from Platter’s guide and a Silver Veritas award.

Rickety Bridge wines are drinkable and approachable. A visit to the Winery and wine tasting centre will also give one the chance to sample the Rickety Bridge Fine Foods which can be bought at the estate’s wine tasting centre or from select Cape farm stalls, delicatessens and specialty stores.