Why it matters
The producer
At R45 Main Road in the Franschhoek Valley, La Motte Estate works with grapes from La Motte managed vineyards and affiliated family farms in various regions. Hanneli Rupert owns the estate, Kobie Lochner is CEO, and Edmund Terblanche is cellarmaster. The named cultivars include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dr. Anton Rupert acquired La Motte in 1970. The acquisition was followed by progressive vineyard replanting, the introduction of updated viticultural practices, and construction of a modern cellar. The redevelopment changed both the plant material in the vineyards and the facilities used for wine production. La Motte's current estate combines that rebuilt vineyard and cellar base with management under Hanneli Rupert and Kobie Lochner.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Franschhoek Valley is La Motte's home, with the estate's physical address on R45 Main Road. The grape supply extends to La Motte managed vineyards and affiliated family owned farms situated in various regions. The cultivar list includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, giving the cellar access to white and red varieties across its wider supply base.
In the cellar
Vineyards and cellar
Senior Farm Manager Jaco Visser oversees the La Motte vineyards. Satellite monitoring and infrared scanning refine vineyard management, while biologic production forms part of the estate's farming practice. La Motte holds WWF Conservation Championship status with biodiversity conservation as its objective, alongside ISO 14001 and HACCP certification and accreditation.
Cellar work includes hand selection of berries and barrel maturation. Hand selection focuses the fermentation on chosen fruit, while oak maturation gives wine time in wood and adds texture through gradual oxygen exposure. The 2022 Syrah matured for 15 months in 300 litre French oak barrels, with 30% new wood, 30% second fill, and the remainder in older barrels. The components of the 2012 Hanneli R were fermented separately, matured in 300 litre oak barrels, and blended after 40 months.
Wines to know
The range in view
The estate groups Cap Classique NV, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah in its reserve tasting. A separate Pierneef tasting includes Sauvignon Blanc and Atelier Syrah Viognier, while Hanneli R is presented as the flagship.
The 2022 Syrah contains 15% Durif. The 2012 Hanneli R is a red blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Petit Syrah. These bottles give the range different grape proportions and different cellar histories without changing the estate's core address in Franschhoek Valley.