Restaurant review of Pierneef at La Motte
La Motte wine estate, though certainly not boutique in any sense of the word is a regular stop on my Franschhoek wine tours; for its umbrella of luxury guest offerings and rich heritage.
The name La Motte, has its origins in a French village, like so many other Franschhoek vineyards, which were named by exiled French Huguenots who settled in the valley from 1688, in this case, a village in Provence called La Motte d’Aigues.
The estate boasts several historic buildings, some dating as far back as 1751, which were conserved and restored by the late Dr Anton Rupert who acquired the farm in 1970.
Today the farm is owned by his daughter Hanneli Rupert, whose love of the arts is certainly evident to any visitor. The Estate has a museum which features regular art exhibitions along with a permanent collection of artworks from the old South African master JH Pierneef (1886-1957). The gardens are adorned by beautiful sculptures, the most notable being the Wine bearer by Toby Megaw, which stands 4 metres tall welcoming guests at the approach to the estate.
restaurant
The restaurant is named after the artist, Jacob Hendrik Pierneef (1886–1957), the atmosphere is unpretentious with seating indoors or outside under the oak trees. Chef Eric Pulpit’s menu would be best described as a modern representation of South African heritage cuisine “embracing cultural influences, ingredients and recipes”. Their current à la carte menu is priced at R335per person begins with a generous table of shared starters; freshly baked loaves of bread, salads, beef brisket, pickled vegetables and spreads. For mains expect locally sourced, seasonal produce like free-range pork shoulder, sous vide aubergine, sustainable West Coast fish and aged sirloin. All dishes are paired with wine suggestions from the wine list and desserts can be ordered at an extra cost. Lunch is served Tuesdays to Sundays from 11:30 am–3 pm
and is a perfect dining option on your Franschhoek wine tour.
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