South Africa ( R45 Main Street, Franschhoek, ZA 7690 )
Rickety bridge is located in Franschhoek in the shadow of the Dassenberg Mountains. Right on the Franschhoek River with access to water which has become scarce in the last years. The main principal road was running right through the farm crossing the river via a small rickety bridge that consisted mainly of sleeper wood beams. It was too narrow for larger vehicles but was only substituted with a concrete Bridge in 1996. Over half of the 50 ha property is planted to vine.
In 1688 the first French Huguenots came to the Cape escaping religious persecution in France. They settled in an area knows as Oliphantshoek that soom became known as Franshoek and established 7 original farms, Chamonix, Dieu Donne, La Motte, La Dauphine, Cabriere and La Provence. Rickety Bridge was part of La Provence. Over the years these huge properties were subdivided and on the 13th of May the widow Paulina de Villiers was granted the land she called Paulinas Drift. At that time grapes were already planted on the farm and the purchase made her the second women in the world that owned a winery only perseeded by the widow Cilquot (Veuve Cliquot) in France. Paulina was quite a woman in her time surviving 4 husbands one of them a big game hunter who lost on his last encounter with a lion, another a known gambler who never returned after a card game. Today the restaurant Paulina’s is named after her in rememberance. In 1829 Elithabeth Catharina de Villiers took over what is now Rickety Bridge and initiated change. She planted 40.000 vines and produced grapes for wine and Brandy. She also planted a veriatal of trees that still shape the landscape of today. To commemorate her the range of Paulinas reserve is named after her. In her lifetime the Manor house was built still standing as an outstanding example of the Cape Dutch Arcitecture. Caroline and I stayed as the only guests at the Manor house and were warned by the housekeeper that Paulina’s Ghost could still be seen from time to time but unfortunately we were not worthy of a visit.
Cellar Master, Donovan Ackermann, joined Rickety Bridge in December 2018. Donovan started off doing cellar work at Rust & Vrede Wine Estate and harvesting at Guardian Peak Wines. He gained valuable harvest experience in France, Australia and California during the first years of his wine making career. He was assistant winemaker of Strandveld Vineyards from 2012 to 2016, and the winemaker at Gabrielskloof for two years before joining forces with Rickety Bridge. We strongly believe Donovan and his team will maintain and enhance the quality of Rickety Bridge’s wine.
