Rickety Bridge

Shadowed by the Dassenberg mountains, the mild Franschhoek valley is the perfect canvas for new winemaker Wynand Grobler to create a portfolio of outstanding Franschhoek wines. The flagship range, Paulina’s Reserve, proudly bears the name of original owner, Paulina de Villiers. In particular the flagship, a king among South African red wines, the Paulina’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. These distinctive South African wines, as well as the renowned Rickety Bridge classic range, have received several accolades at South Africa wine shows and around the world.

Rickety Bridge wine estate is undoubtedly one of the most progressive boutique wineries in the Cape. The historic wine making cellar was recently renovated and converted into a barrel fermentation centre, the new winery was built and modern cooling equipment was installed.

The newly built wine tasting centre is the perfect place to sample 200 years of wine making tradition, taste these delighful Franschhoek wines in comfort, al fresco in summer on the winery verandah or relaxing on leather couches in front of the fire in winter.

The pleasures of these outstanding South African wines extend beyond the bottle. This enchanting estate offers a new delight with every visit. Enjoy a delicious lunch on a sunny verandah overlooking the vines. Stay over in one of the luxurious Manor House rooms, embraced in two centuries of history, and discover one certainty. During every moment spent on this side of the bridge, you won’t want to be anywhere else in the world.

This remarkable winery has a long standing tradition of winemaking, as the original cellar infrastructure of concrete and underground tanks prove. Unfortunately, these underground tanks had to be filled up to level the floor of the old cellar. A new winery in was completed in 1997, when the old cellar was renovated and converted into a barrel fermentation centre. Over the last few years the cellar has been re-equipped and modern cooling equipment was installed in the renovated cellar during 2000. The cellar has the capacity to handle 200 Tonnes of Grapes.

Winemaker, Wynand Grobler, took over from Wilhelm van Rooyen in December 2007.

Wynand was born and raised in Bloemfontein and matriculated at Grey College in 1999. Growing up in the Free State he didn’t have much contact with wine making as such but frequently enjoyed some wine out of his father’s underground cellar, the cellar being a rarity in itself in the region. He was attracted to the idea of making wine by a lifetime family friend by the name of Prof. Sakkie Pretorius, who was head of the Stellenbosch University Wine department at the time.

Two years into his studies at Stellenbosch University, he started working casually at Rust en Vrede wine estate to learn the industry and his wine making career got underway. From Rust en Vrede he stayed in the “family business” and went to work at Ernie Els Wines. From there he went to work at Guardian Peak, another branch of the Engelbrecht Els tree.

All in all, he had worked with three completely different winemakers, with three completely different approaches. This experience was invaluable in finding his own style and wine philosophy – Perfection, Passion and Feel.

Wynand’s wine making philosophy is simple: Basics. Stick to basics. Don’t interfere too much; the wine is made in the vineyard. “Wine is grown here!” Wynand likes to make wine that a wine drinker will enjoy. He likes to make wine that he enjoys drinking and there is no better feeling than someone enjoying something that you helped putting together.