Anthonij Rupert Wines
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In Their Words
Anthonij Rupert Wines History & Location
Anthonij Rupert Wyne was originally founded on the farm L’Ormarins in the picturesque Franschhoek Valley, by the late Anthonij Rupert. Following his passing in 2001, it was taken over by his brother Johann, who constructed a state of the art winemaking facility and the beginnings of what was to become a sprawling enterprise with a focus on terroir-specific wines.
Rupert Wines today encapsulates six distinctive wine brands. Our flagship Anthonij Rupert represents the pinnacle of quality; the Cape of Good Hope range pays tribute to the vinous heritage of the Western Cape using grapes from old vines; Jean Roi is a premium Rosé made in the Provençal style; the bubbly L’Ormarins Cap Classique range is hugely innovative, plus we have Protea, our everyday drinking wines – and Terra Del Capo, in homage to the late Anthonij Rupert and his passion to bring the finest Italian varietals to South African soils.
With a setting on the slopes of the Drakenstein Mountain range, the Estate comprises two historic farms: L’Ormarins and Anthonij Rupert. We house two tasting rooms, a rose garden, vineyards and the Franschhoek Motor Museum.
Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate Operating Hours
Anthonij Rupert Tasting Room: open Mon to Sat, 10am-5pm (pre-booking essential).
High Tea: open Tue to Sat 10am-5pm (pre-booking essential).
Terra Del Capo Tasting Room: open Tue to Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 8.30am-5pm (pre-booking essential).
Terra Del Capo Antipasti Bar: open Tue to Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 8.30am-5pm (pre-booking essential).
The Franschhoek Motor Museum: open daily, Mon to Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am-4pm. Last entry 1 hour prior.
Wyne Estate Package: available Mon to Sat, 10am to 5pm.
*PLEASE NOTE*
All times, prices and facilities listed are subject to change. We recommend checking latest details directly with the farm and pre-booking experiences wherever possible, to avoid disappointment.
Anthonij Rupert Wine Tasting
The Estate’s historic Manor House, furnished in the 19th Century Cape Dutch style, features beautiful period features, art works and antiques. The front rooms lead out onto a veranda with breathtaking views of the Franschhoek Wine Valley, whilst the back porch displays vistas onto the rose garden and Groot Drakenstein Mountains. Your wine tasting experience here may also be complemented by an indulgent High Tea (pre-booking for all experiences essential).
Also on the Estate is the Terra del Capo Tasting Room, designed to showcase the company’s Italian-inspired wine range of the same name. Tastings here are a relaxed affair with views of the estate and mountains, a spacious counter for formal tastings and an intimate lounge area for more leisurely catch ups. Light lunches and food pairing experiences are also available in the Antipasti Bar below (pre-booking for all experiences essential).
Should you wish to combine your wine tasting with a visit to the Franschhoek Motor Museum next door, please refer to the Tours section for the Anthonij Rupert Wyne Estate Package.
Wine Tasting Prices
In the Anthonij Rupert Tasting Room, there are 5 different tasting options. Choose from The Cape of Good Hope White Collection (3 for R60pp), the L’Ormarins bubbly Cap Classique tasting (R60pp for 3), the 4 Wines from Exceptional Vines (R70pp for 4), the Anthonij Rupert Red Wine Tasting (R85pp for 3) or the bubbly Cap Classique & Nougat pairing (3 for R95pp).
High Tea at the Manor House includes a selection of sweet and savoury treats, plus tea, coffee or a glass of L’Ormarins Brut, for R250pp.
In the Terra del Capo Tasting Room, there are also 5 tasting flights including Zesty Whites (R35pp for 3), Protea Whites (R30pp for 4), Protea Reds (R35pp for 3), The ‘TDC’ Italian Varietals (2 for R35pp) and the L’Ormarins bubbly Cap Classique tasting (3 for R60pp.) A Cheese and 4 Wines Pairing is available for R98pp, a 3 Shiraz and Charcuterie Pairing for R125pp or enjoy a range of platters, from R120.
Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate Restaurants
For light lunches and platters, visit the Antipasti Bar, located below the Terra del Capo Tasting Room.
Menus & Pricing
In the Antipasti Bar, expect Italian-inspired lunches and small plates of freshly prepared local ingredients including options such as salads, homemade pastas, fish cakes and arancini. Items from R75 per dish.
Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate Tours & Activities
The Franschhoek Motor Museum, located on the L’Ormarins farm just a tram ride away on the wider Estate, offers visitors a special opportunity to look back at more than 100 years of motoring history. The museum’s collection exceeds 220 vehicles – ranging from an 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo supercar – and more than 80 exhibits will be on view at any one time.
Visitors can pre-book their visit to the museum directly (from R80 per adult and R40 per child) or you pre-book the Anthonij Rupert Wyne Estate Package which includes entry to the museum, a scenic tram ride, wine tasting at both the Terra del Capo and Anthonij Rupert Tasting Rooms and lunch at the Antipasti bar. Price from R650 per adult and R40 per child.
When Lucy Visited
I’ve gotta tell you, my favourite red wine in the WHOLE WORLD is the Anthonij Rupert Wines 'Optima' (Bordeaux style red blend), so I jumped at the chance of visiting its home – and what a home it is! There’s more to this fascinating estate than meets the eye, so it’s vital to understand all the experiences on offer to ensure you make the most out of your visit.
So what makes Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate stand out?
Maybe you love visiting heritage wine farms, or maybe you want something a little more modern. Maybe you want somewhere which genuinely specialises in multiple types of wine, or heck maybe you’re not even that into wine and are looking for an elegant high tea. Well, this pristine wine estate will be PERFECT for you as it has all these elements interwoven, split into several sections.
The key element for wine lovers is Anthonij Rupert Wines produces several award-winning ranges from a diverse selection of premium vineyards. These include the flagship Anthonij Rupert wines, Cape of Good Hope, Jean Roi, L’Ormarins Cap Classique range, Protea and Terra del Capo. Whatever type of wine you like, they’ll have – and this really is quality South African winemaking at its best.
Note: ALL types of visits must be pre-booked. They do not accept walk ins!
The Location & Facilities at Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate
Situated around 50 mins’ drive from Cape Town and ideally located between Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch, the Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate can only be reached by car. If you’re staying in Franschhoek, it’s a very scenic 15 min drive from the centre.
The farm is actually called L’Ormarins (also the name of their stunning bubbly Cap Classique range) and it’s a large estate with two main public entrances. The first entrance is for the Anthonij Rupert Manor House/Tasting Room and the Terra del Capo Tasting Room. The second entrance is for the wonderful Franschhoek Motor Museum, also owned by the Rupert family and open by appointment only.
There is a tram, operated by the estate, which runs between these two locations subject to a timetable (you cannot walk). I would highly recommend looking at their complete 4 hour Estate Package if you would like to experience all they have to offer, which includes wine tasting at the Manor House and Terra del Capo, an Antipasti lunch, entrance to the Motor Museum and the tram, for around R650 per adult (check details for kids): www.anthonijrupertwyne.activitar.com/services/6126
Alternatively, if you don’t want to visit the Motor Museum, you can simply pre-book a visit to the historic Anthonij Rupert Manor House (pictured above) and/or the modern Terra del Capo Tasting room on their own.
The Cape Dutch Anthonij Rupert Manor House is a glorious example of 19th Century splendour, where you can wander around the impeccably preserved rooms which ooze elegance, history and romance. Here, premium wine tastings and High Tea are on offer, served either inside in the atmospheric reception rooms (adorned with chandeliers and exposed beams) or outside on the sunny terrace, in front of the expansive lawns. Note, the Manor House is open Mon to Sat only.
Just a short walk or 2 min drive away, the Italian-inspired Terra del Capo Tasting Room is much more modern. Here you can enjoy a slightly wider range of wines and food pairings/platters in their upper level Tasting Room, which offers views into their modern cellar. Seats are counter-style or on a few comfy sofas, perfect for groups. They also have a pleasant outside patio with garden views. At Terra del Capo they also have a ground floor Deli and gift shop, plus the wonderful Antipasti Bar. Though inside and with no outside view, the decor is warm and inviting and the view into the cellar is quite interesting (I think!). Please note Terra del Capo is open Tue to Sun only.
If you’re interested in history, motor racing, beautiful vintage cars, motorbikes and car memorabilia, I really would include the Franschhoek Motor Museum either as part of this one trip with wine tasting/lunch, or book it separately and go another time.
The setting is gorgeous and here, four huge warehouse style halls house over 80 exhibits at any one time (the collection exceeds 220!) which rotate and range from an 1898 Beeston motor tricycle to a 2003 Ferrari Enzo supercar. On a wider scale I wouldn’t say Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate is particularly geared for families (i.e. no jungle gyms or kids’ menus) but we took our two kids here on a separate day trip and they loved it (I think it was R220 for a family of four – remember you MUST pre-book!).
What About The Wine Tasting & Food?
On arrival at either Tasting Room, you’re offered a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival. Yes please! It’s worth noting that the different Tasting Rooms offer different flight options, so as Anthonij Rupert Wines produce so many ranges, it’s absolutely worth visiting both in my view to get a better understanding of the brand’s wonderful ethos.
Simply broken down? At the Manor House, the focus is more on their premium red and white ranges. At Terra del Capo it’s more about accessible, easier drinking styles. You may ask, what makes a wine premium? An example would be their Cape of Good Hope wine range, which are produced from some of the oldest vines in the country. Older vines (35 years+) produce smaller grapes and so have historically been replanted as they produce less yield for the winemaker (= less money), however Anthonij Rupert Wines are passionate about old vine grapes, which are smaller but packed full of intense flavour and texture. They may produce less volume but they are exquisite on the palate and are a true historical reflection of their terroir, cultivated over decades. Quality, not quantity.
At the Manor House you can choose a flight of Cape of Good Hope wines, however I opted for the 3 Anthonij Rupert flagship red wines for R85pp. Big, bold silky reds. Wow! Service was impeccable and they also offer a small menu of soft drinks, teas etc. I didn’t unfortunately see the High Tea but I know this is hugely popular – it would be the perfect setting. It’s such a lovely spot as you can wander through the heritage rooms, soak up the view outside and should you bring kids, let them run on the lawns.
I then enjoyed a tasting at the upper level modern Terra del Capo Tasting Room. They have a slightly wider range of tastings here (plus platters/pairings) including their hugely popular Protea and bubbly L’Ormarins ranges, plus you can try the Cape of Good Hope wines too. I absolutely adore their L’Ormarins bubbles and their COGH Altima Sauvignon Blanc – zesty with passion fruit and peach. This spot is ideal for winter or rainy days as it’s mostly indoors and little more informal than the Manor House.
In terms of food, it’s definitely worth booking the Terra del Capo Antipasti bar for lunch. It’s not huge but would be fine for small groups and its intimate setting adjacent to the cellar is pretty cool. The Italian ‘small plates’ menu varies seasonally and was totally delicious and like the rest of the estate, very reasonably priced I thought. Think Arancini Balls, Artisan Salads, Homemade Pastas, Seafood, Gnocchi.
In Summary
What an estate, with so much to offer! It goes without say this is a must visit for any serious wine lover and history buff – the hardest part will be deciding which experiences to book. The historic Manor House is great for premium full bodied reds and whites, whilst modern Terra del Capo shone for its wide range of easy drinking wines, bubbles and delicious tapas. The Rupert family are synonymous with winemaking in South Africa, so definitely one more for grown ups and I would allocate a whole afternoon here.
Top Tip!
As I’ve mentioned, if you’ve not been before try the Anthonij Rupert ‘Estate Package’ which includes wine tastings at both venues, entry to the Franschhoek Motor Museum, tram & lunch for R650pp. Or, if cars aren’t your thing, visit Terra del Capo for a tasting first then lunch, then pop up to the Manor House to round off a perfect day with some silky smooth bold reds. Just remember to pre-book!
