Discovering Heritage & Craft in South Africa’s Franschhoek Valley

Exploring the world has always been an extension of my love for fine wine and the stories each bottle carries. Travel for me is never simply about geography. It is about immersion. Understanding how people live, how landscapes shape culture, and how food and wine become expressions of identity.

And then, of course, there is gastronomy!

There is something uniquely captivating about countries where food is central to daily life, where each meal reflects place, season and tradition. It was this interplay of wine, cuisine and culture that first drew me to South Africa. A country of dramatic landscapes, layered history and a wine heritage that rivals some of the world’s most established regions.

South Africa’s Diverse Wine Regions

Few countries offer such viticultural diversity. From the structured Cabernet Sauvignons of Stellenbosch to the historic estates of Franschhoek, from the windswept innovation of Swartland to the maritime coolness of Constantia, South Africa’s regions each speak with a distinct voice.

Franschhoek holds particular resonance. Settled by French Huguenots in the late seventeenth century, the valley’s European winemaking lineage remains deeply embedded in its identity. That heritage continues to shape both vineyard and cellar today.

Over time, I have come to recognise the hallmarks of the producers I admire. Precision balanced with generosity. Innovation grounded in tradition. South African vintners craft wines of clarity and character, demonstrating a confidence that is increasingly recognised on the global stage.

With that recognition has come exclusivity. Casual walk-in tastings have largely disappeared, replaced by curated appointments and limited allocations. What might feel restrictive instead becomes part of the adventure. It encourages exploration beyond the obvious and rewards those willing to look a little further.

It was in that spirit that I found Rickety Bridge Winery.

Rickety Bridge Winery: A Franschhoek Legacy Since 1797

Nestled beneath dramatic mountain ranges, Rickety Bridge Winery is not simply an estate. It is a custodian of South African winemaking history, with origins dating back to 1797.

The setting is striking. Fertile vineyards stretch across the valley floor while rugged peaks frame the horizon. Light shifts constantly across the landscape, reinforcing the sense that this is a place shaped by both nature and patience. Here, soil, climate and human stewardship combine to produce wines that feel unmistakably rooted in their surroundings.

Rickety Bridge embodies a philosophy of balance. Respect for heritage sits alongside thoughtful modern technique. The result is a portfolio that feels cohesive yet expressive.

Among the estate’s offerings, three wines stand out as particularly distinctive.

Travel, Terroir and the Joy of Discovery

Together, The Bridge, The Sleeper and The Crossover express Rickety Bridge’s commitment to craftsmanship. They are wines shaped by land, history and thoughtful human guidance.

A visit to the estate is more than a tasting. It is an immersion into South African winemaking culture, where tradition and innovation coexist naturally, without tension or excess.

Rickety Bridge reminded me why I travel the way I do. Each estate offers more than bottles to collect. It offers perspective. Conversations with passionate vintners, quiet moments in sunlit vineyards, and the sense that you are witnessing something authentic and enduring.

South Africa, with its scenery, history and evolving reputation, continues to surprise and inspire me. Within it, Rickety Bridge stands as a compelling example of what makes wine travel so rewarding: exploration, discovery, and the pleasure of sharing something genuinely memorable with others.

Sometimes, when you turn down an unfamiliar driveway in a quiet valley, you discover a wine that reshapes how you see an entire region.