Franschhoek’s Rickety Bridge increasingly well travelled

RICKETY BRIDGE has become more and more attractive for visitors to Franschhoek: smart wine tasting centre, a growing reputation for good wines, a lunch venue offering tasty food and a couple of lovely guesthouses. Plus, Rickety Bridge is among the few stops on the route travelled by Franschhoek’s very own wine tram.
One of the best places to relax at on the farm is the small deck protruding from the tasting room alongside the winery. And if you’re lunching, choose a sunny day and reserve one of the shaded tables on the terrace/veranda with a good view of the Klein Drakenstein and Wemmershoek mountains. When you phone to book, be sure to avoid going on a day when they’re hosting a wedding or preparing for one, as these have become a big part of the business and can be off-putting if you’re not part of the entourage.

Paulina’s is a casual restaurant, children are welcome… nothing fancy and the etiquette is country style… They won’t win an award for great steaks, but otherwise the food is all very enjoyable, especially the fish and chicken dishes. And if you’re lucky you may be served by a waiter who knows ‘everything’ about the farm, its history, its people and the wines – a chatty guy who does a good job of contributing to a fun afternoon.

For quite a while now Rickety Bridge has had a reputation for good Shiraz, although more recently the Cabernet Sauvignon has been the subject of as many rave reviews if not more so, and the Foundation Stone must count as one of the best-value red blends made in the valley.

The flagships go by the name of Paulina’s Reserve, with the ‘icon’ wine referred to as simply ‘The Bridge’.

Would I go back for more? For sure…

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