Rickety Bridge Wine Estate
Rickety Bridge Wine Estate
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This historic estate was originally part of the great La Provence farm given to French Huguenot farmers in 1694. Over the years the property was divided and the portion which is now Rickety Bridge was granted to Paulina De Villiers, one of the first female land owners in South Africa, in 1797. In the late 1980's the estate became known as Rickety Bridge due to the old railway sleeper bridge which crossed the Franschhoek River and provided the entry point to the estate. The rickety bridge was replaced in 1996 and the new bridge provides a safe crossing over the river. Today, Rickety Bridge is a stately Franschhoek winery which has gone from strength to strength in recent years and the memory and pioneering spirit of Paulina De Villiers is celebrated by the flagship range of wines, Paulina's Reserve. These distinctive wines, as well as the renowned Rickety Bridge classic range and the Foundation Stone Range, have received many accolades and high praise in recent years.
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Restaurants
63 within 3 miles
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46 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Mark VassalloValletta, Malta14 contributionsWine tasting stayNice place to stay if you want to do the wine estates tastings. Had a very good experience with very nice and comf room and good breakfast. Since on our last day we had to leave early, they prepared a boxed breakfast to take with us. Staff are very friendly.Dear MarkV1978, Thank you for taking the time to write a review of your recent stay at Rickety Bridge. We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your time with us and we look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back soon. Best regards, Rickety Bridge ManagementWritten November 7, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 21, 2023
- safarifiend2North Yorkshire, United Kingdom201 contributionsGreat fun!Four taciturn Yorkshire folk who have not laughed so much for a while. Our hostess, Zizi, was fantastic fun. She give us lots of info including a run down on the three main wine varietals we would use to create our personal blends. We were left to try as many combinations as we wanted before blending and bottling our own favourite to bring home. Plenty of tasting so not a day to be driving!Dear Safarifriend2, Thank you for taking the time to write a review of your recent visit. We are delighted to see that you had a great time creating your own wine blend. Our blends are carefully crafted to provide our guests with a unique and enjoyable experience, and it's great to hear that you enjoyed it. We hope that you will cherish the bottled wine you created and that it will remind you of the wonderful time you had with us. Thank you again for choosing our winery and we hope to see you again soon. Kind regards, Rickety Bridge ManagementWritten November 7, 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 1, 2023
- bernvinesLeicester, United Kingdom280 contributionsWhat a disappointmentComing back to this area, we only wanted to visit one vineyard and we knew which one, this one. How it’s changed. It’s lost the personal touch. It’s got far too big and we felt now they just wanted our money! We were shown to a table, reluctantly I might add as I was driving so only doing one tasting. We were sold still water, we were not told we could have a jug free! The water and glasses were put on the table and we were left. After a while I asked another lady if we could please have our wine ? She apologised , asked what we had chosen and served us. We had intended to buy wine and t shirts but tbh we didn’t bother. If they can’t look after the customer why should we spend more with them!Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 3, 2024
- paulkrismanRadlett, United Kingdom310 contributionsNice winery but needs to tell the story better.What a lovely place to stop in Wine Country nestled in the valley outside franschhoek. We had a basic tasting with cheese board and were pleased to try the Sauvignon. Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Victory Rose and a dry red. The Chenin Blanc got our seal of approval. 4 stars as the descriptions, whilst scripted, did not really bring the winery to life. We had no history or even why Rickety Bridge.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 28, 2024
- ramblingman46Manchester, United Kingdom88 contributionsWell set up for familiesWe visited for lunch on the day we were doing the wine tram. A vintage tractor towed us to the restaurant from the tram stop through the vineyards. We had lunch in Paulina's. The food was fine, not amazing. My partner and I had salads and my daughter a margherita pizza, which she decided she didn't want (it was very cheesy). After lunch we went to the playground and sat outside with a glass of wine (we wanted to do the wine tasting but were told you couldn't do this in the playground area). They also have boules and some other lawn games to play. Overall, a good experience with small children. Food is fine. Service was good.Dear Ramblingman46, We would like to express our gratitude for taking the time to leave a positive review of your visit to our estate. At Rickety Bridge, we take pride in being a family-friendly destination that caters to every member of the family, including children. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and we would be honored to have you back soon. Thank you once again for your kind words. Best regards, Rickety Bridge ManagementWritten April 10, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 11, 2024
- Prashan WilfredLondon, United Kingdom411 contributionsNice day outThe staff are amazing and really helpful. The scenery is nice. However the dirt track and the tractor journey was not great. Not sure why they cannot just make the road. We had a nice day out and lovely picturesDear prashan3253, Thank you for taking the time to review your visit to our Estate in March. We appreciate your feedback and are happy to hear that you had a positive experience. We would like to inform you that we have plans to upgrade our roads and infrastructure and refurbish our venues in the months to come. We are pleased to announce that the construction of our roads has already begun and we hope to provide a smoother arrival experience for our guests in the future. Thank you again for choosing Rickety Bridge Estate and we look forward to welcoming you back soon. Best regards, Rickety Bridge ManagementWritten April 10, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Traveled with familyWritten March 23, 2024
- Etienne N53 contributionsIf you are wondering, don't, book it!Rickety Bridge Winery served as the inaugural stop on our Wine Tram tour. Nestled in a picturesque setting, the winery offers sweeping views of the Boland Mountains from its outdoor dining area, coupled with an equally inviting interior tasting space. The staff's warm hospitality and attentiveness enhanced our experience. Opting for the Panna Cotta & Wine Pairing, which featured four delectable Panna Cottas paired with four exquisite wines, proved to be a divine culinary adventure. This experience stood out as yet another highlight of our Cape trip. A visit to Rickety Bridge Winery is highly recommended, offering not only exceptional cuisine and wine but also the opportunity to relish the breathtaking scenery. We've made a note to return, eager for another taste of their offerings and, perhaps, to indulge in a glass or two more of their exceptional wines.Dear Cruiser541872, We want to express our gratitude for your positive review following your recent visit to our estate. We are thrilled to hear that you and your guests had a wonderful experience. We are excited to announce that we will be releasing new winter offerings soon, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to experience them firsthand. Best regards, Rickety Bridge ManagementWritten April 10, 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 5, 2024
- Claire BDublin, Ireland6 contributionsWine BlendingBooked the wine blending and had a great experience, very good value and a brilliant way to spend some time. Blended our own wine, bottled it, corked it and designed the label. Came away with 3 lovely bottles of wine in a box. One little thing if you do book, bring a bag to put them into, unfortunately it rained pretty heavily and the box got wet and collapsed causing the bottles to fall as we got out of the Wine Tram, fortunately only one smashed so we did come home with 2 bottles, one of which was opened last night and was really lovely and we had a laugh telling family about our experience. We had a platter while blending the wine and our teenagers had pizzas. Food was really lovely and was complemented nicely by the wine. Definitely worth a trip.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 26, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
424 reviews
Excellent
198
Very good
146
Average
51
Poor
15
Terrible
14
john h
Clacton-on-Sea, UK48 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We visited as part of a group on a Saga tour. We were seated in an outside area enclosed on one side by plastic sheeting and a slatted roof. Due to the bright sunshine the roof was then closed and the tasting of 5 wines began. It got hotter and hotter in that enclosed area and most people wanted to end as soon as possible. We had preordered our food as it was a large group and despite this the vegetarian order was forgotten.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marketing Manager at Rickety Bridge
Dear John, we are sorry to hear about your experience and will certainly take it up with the various department heads. We sincerely apologise for the poor service and attention to detail. Please do let us know when you return so that we can restore your faith in our establishment.
Written February 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MRLC73
Hong Kong, China53 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
Rickety Bridge produces wines across quite a broad price range. I tasted their fizz and some of the higher end wines. Recommend the semillons and cabernets.
The tasting area is shady and comfortable. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. There are cheese plates and good pizzas on offer.
There is a charge for the tastings but the pours are generous, so it’s good value. In fact, so generous are the pours that I rather overdid it at lunchtime and had a very unproductive afternoon….
The tasting area is shady and comfortable. The staff are friendly and extremely knowledgeable. There are cheese plates and good pizzas on offer.
There is a charge for the tastings but the pours are generous, so it’s good value. In fact, so generous are the pours that I rather overdid it at lunchtime and had a very unproductive afternoon….
Written January 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
George
3 contributions
Feb 2020
4 ,below average wines presented at our wine tasting trip to this winery.
All 26 people in our party were surprised by the poor quality and the fact we were expected to want to buy some!
The meal we were given was a very long time arriving and was served in a hurry.
Not a good experience and strange as presumably Saga bring a lot of tours to them.
All 26 people in our party were surprised by the poor quality and the fact we were expected to want to buy some!
The meal we were given was a very long time arriving and was served in a hurry.
Not a good experience and strange as presumably Saga bring a lot of tours to them.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marketing Manager at Rickety Bridge
Thank you for raising your concern, Aubergibeface. We will definitely inform the department heads and take it further. We hope that we can change your perception in the future.
Written March 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
nauj63
South East England, UK972 contributions
Feb 2023 • Friends
First visited in 2002, this establishment has grown in size over the years but not at the expense of a terrific customer experience. The vineyard generally is attractive and the facilities/offering are excellent. Where this place excels is in its provision of a quality experience which oozes informality, fun and style. Service is less professional, more engaging and friendly and the tasting is generous. The food menu is tempting and varied. Alex was on hand to engage in great banter alongside top notch conversation that was both informative and insightful.
Written February 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicholas H
London, UK20,403 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Came here as part of a day’s curated wine tour on the Wine Tram and a wonderful time. My group spent almost three hours here, including a splendid three course lunch. Much better to take your time over a winery visit than the speed dating approach of trying to cram as many locations as possible into one day. Our wonderful guide, Roger made it a really memorable experience. He gave us the property’s history, took us on the tour round the facilities and conducted a fascinating tasting of seven wines, including some limited production specials. We tasted three more with our lunch, so I reckon we must have covered their entire range. There’s an interesting gift shop. Overall, one of the best winery visits I can remember.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marketing Manager at Rickety Bridge
Thank you for the wonderful review Nicholas, we are delighted to hear about your experience and hope we will be able to welcome you back in the near future.
Written February 17, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Douglas C
Somerset West, South Africa204 contributions
Nov 2023 • Business
We visited reluctantly (our first visit was solo) as part of a large U3a group. Rickety by name and in performance and certainly a bridge too far. We waited interminably for indifferent service and food: the red wines were served hot i.e. room temperature on a hot day and nothing came forth as commentary that was not in Platter. Sadly the lack of ownership and management presence makes for a significantly poor result. Not again for us.
Written February 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yns_10
Sydney, Australia1,450 contributions
Feb 2020
As this winery had been recommended to us, we selected it as our first stop on the wine tram. The tasting room was nice, but when we tried to order we were told we could only have the 4 wine (2 white, 2 red) tasting as we were on the wine tram (hop-on, hop-off). When we tried to deviate from this, we told no. The wines were good, but as we had wanted to try their MCC offering, just not what we wanted. The white wines came out quickly and then there was a long wait for the reds - obviously as the tram had arrived there were a number of tables to serve. We did therefore have time to check out the nice shop mid tasting and came away with a few lovely things. The serving staff were busy but friendly. This convinced us that the wine tram experience had been fun but it was time to revert to Uber!
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi yns_10,
Thank you so much for your review
I do apologise that you didn't have the greatest experience. We do try our best to manage the short time tram guests have with us therefor we offer the pre-selected tasting option.
We would however please like to offer you a complimentary glass of MCC should you still be in the area.
Kindest Regards,
Dani Neveling
Written March 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ronel J
6 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
Rickety Bridge is a little piece of heaven on earth. They literally cater for everyones needs, from the best wine and cheese tasting to the best wedding venue. We had such an amazing stay at Rickety Bridge and Eldorét the wedding coordinator and the team made sure that our fairy tale wedding is a dream come true. We could not have asked for anything more. Everything was just perfect. I can mot recommend this wine farm with its breathtaking views, mouth watering food, warm service and big personality enough!!! Thank you for everything!!
Written November 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marketing Manager at Rickety Bridge
Hi Ronel, it is our biggest pleasure. Thank you for putting your trust in our team and allowing us to make make your dreams come true. We hope that you'll celebrate many more occasions on our estate. Once a bride, always a friend of Rickety Bridge.
Written March 8, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
suntan47
Chelmsford, UK1,015 contributions
Mar 2023
Decided to “ hop off “ here on the Wine Tram Tour . We were given a taster of their Rose Wine on the tram . It was lovely & this made us stop here.
We were met at the “ station “ by a chap with a tractor to take us to the winery . We had about an hour to spend before the next tram to pick us up .
It was early, our tour group had the tickets supplied , so we didn’t get a chance to arrive later. We asked if there was any information on the wine tasting that we could look at . There wasn’t. None of the staff offered to tell us anything about what there was to see or do , we felt a real inconvenience to them .
It was a nice sunny morning so we made use of the tables & chairs on the terrace. We bought a glass of the Rose Wine , which was well chilled & really nice .
The building/ decor etc was modern & looked very nice . Shame about the staff members that we interacted with who were unfriendly and came across as rude .
We were met at the “ station “ by a chap with a tractor to take us to the winery . We had about an hour to spend before the next tram to pick us up .
It was early, our tour group had the tickets supplied , so we didn’t get a chance to arrive later. We asked if there was any information on the wine tasting that we could look at . There wasn’t. None of the staff offered to tell us anything about what there was to see or do , we felt a real inconvenience to them .
It was a nice sunny morning so we made use of the tables & chairs on the terrace. We bought a glass of the Rose Wine , which was well chilled & really nice .
The building/ decor etc was modern & looked very nice . Shame about the staff members that we interacted with who were unfriendly and came across as rude .
Written March 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Etienne N
53 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Rickety Bridge Winery served as the inaugural stop on our Wine Tram tour. Nestled in a picturesque setting, the winery offers sweeping views of the Boland Mountains from its outdoor dining area, coupled with an equally inviting interior tasting space. The staff's warm hospitality and attentiveness enhanced our experience. Opting for the Panna Cotta & Wine Pairing, which featured four delectable Panna Cottas paired with four exquisite wines, proved to be a divine culinary adventure. This experience stood out as yet another highlight of our Cape trip. A visit to Rickety Bridge Winery is highly recommended, offering not only exceptional cuisine and wine but also the opportunity to relish the breathtaking scenery. We've made a note to return, eager for another taste of their offerings and, perhaps, to indulge in a glass or two more of their exceptional wines.
Written April 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Cruiser541872,
We want to express our gratitude for your positive review following your recent visit to our estate. We are thrilled to hear that you and your guests had a wonderful experience. We are excited to announce that we will be releasing new winter offerings soon, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back to experience them firsthand.
Best regards,
Rickety Bridge Management
Written April 11, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hi, wanted to check on the closing time of the estate. It is the last stop of the RED wine tram route, and the timing of the last drop off is 1641H with pick up at 1741H. If the Rickety Bridge estate closes at 1700H, would spend more time at the earlier estates instead as the wine tram timings do not match. Wouldnt want to alight at this stop, only to find the estate 15min away from closing! Thank you.
Written August 22, 2019
Marketing Manager at Rickety Bridge
Franschhoek, South Africa
Hi Kayelle, thanks for getting in touch! Our last tasting takes place at 17h00 and only close once our tram guests have left and finished there tasting. Hope we see you soon!
Written August 24, 2019
Hi guys.going to a wedding in rickety bridge in February 2019.how do I get there from Cape town?
Shay
Written June 18, 2018
We drove, it’s about an hour in a car but I think there is transport to Franschhoek from Cape Town itself.
Written June 18, 2018
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