Nestled in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Marianne Wine Estate offers a unique blend of French winemaking traditions and the vibrant terroir of the Cape. This boutique winery, producing fewer than 100,000 bottles a year, embodies the essence of the French Republic, symbolized by ‘Marianne’ - a term used to describe the soul and face of the emerging Republic after the 1789 Revolution.
‘Marianne’ came to represent Liberty and Reason and was often portrayed as a strong and heroic young woman. The estate’s name reflects its French origins and winemaking expertise.
The tasting room at Marianne Wine Estate offers a spectacular view of Table Mountain and Paarl Mountains.
A French Connection in South African Winelands
There is a little bit of France in South Africa which isn’t in Franschhoek. The French connection is real and many of the people at the winery are French. In 2002, the Frenchman Christian Dauriac visited South Africa and was immediately enthusiastic about the winery. Over two hundred years later, French winemakers are coming back, attracted by the beauty of the region and the richness of its soil.
Christian Dauriac, the French owner, is deeply rooted in the wine business, owning two St Emilion chȃteaux, including Grand Cru Classé Château Destieux, as well as Château La Clémence in Pomerol. He intended the 17 hectares of vineyard to produce wines in the French style, showing structure, pliable tannins and elegance, and thought that this would combine well with New World terroir. He works closely with his superstar consultant friend Michel Rolland who has consulted for Marianne since its beginning and the two regularly discuss progress with new winemaker Jos van Wyk - who did two vintages in Bordeaux before joining Marianne in 2016 and is more French than many I suspect. Frenchman Thierry Harberer joined as a consultant at the same time. The last two vintages have been supported by not only Michel Rolland, but also Guillaume Dussans from Bordeaux.
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Wine Production at Marianne
Marianne Wine Estate is a boutique winery, producing fewer than 100,000 bottles a year, yet offers nine Estate wines. These are garagiste wines almost, with yields below 35hl per hectare, hand harvested, twice sorted berries, natural ferments, delestage (complete removal and return) for greater extraction and red wines seeing 18 to 24 months in new and used French oak then held three years before release. It also brings in grapes to supply export markets in China, Brazil, Holland and elsewhere under different labels, but its core is the premium releases and Sales Manager Tom has worked to grow its profile in South Africa, reducing its proportion exported dramatically from an initial 90%.
Marianne stands for a 21st century South African winery that produces French-style wine, which honours both the South African terroir and the 2000-year-old heritage of Bordeaux winemaking. The winery's flagships include the Desirade, the Merlot and the Floreal, which have already won numerous awards and honours.
About Marianne Wine EstateMarianne Wine Estate in Stellenbosch proudly boasts two state-of-the-art boutique wineries, each meticulously equipped to produce fine, hand-crafted wines. Drawing inspiration from their French heritage and international expertise, Marianne endeavours to create French-style wines infused with the vibrancy of South African influences. Embracing a philosophy of natural, minimal intervention winemaking, the estate firmly believes that the key to crafting exceptional wines lies in the vineyard and the breathtaking landscape that envelops it.
Within the confines of Marianne, two boutique wineries stand as testaments to the commitment to crafting exceptional wines. Marianne Cellar, a gravity-fed facility with wooden fermentation and open-top stainless steel tanks, is dedicated to creating red wines. Meanwhile, the petit boutique L’ermitage cellar focuses on producing white and Rosé wines, employing 500 L Acacia and 225 L French oak barrels for fermentation and ageing.
The most important building of all is the French-African style wine cellar with its precious wood facades, completed in 2005. Its modern design allows handling of the entire harvesting process by gravity on three levels.
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The French-African style wine cellar at Marianne Wine Estate.
Other than being more likely to hear French spoken than anything else, what sets Marianne apart is that for most wines three and often four earlier vintages are available for purchase.
Marianne always hold small parcels of stock back, so despite its small production there are five vintages of Floreal available at the winery. The 2007 is, in fact, Marianne’s best-selling wine. The latest release 2013 sells for R370 and offers fruity red berry forest floor notes, the 2009 a tomato-leaf and Ceylon tea lighter style, the 2007 had silky tannins, intensity and length, but the 2004 blew my socks off. At R1000 this 2004 Madiba ‘liquid history’ bottle, is a great deal. The 15.5% alcohol is invisible, the fruit is subtle, silky and layered. After tasting 23 wines I felt I had abused their generosity enough and left with a renewed Joie de vivre.
Wine Tasting Experiences
There are various experiences at Marianne’s stylish tasting room, including the popular Wine and Biltong and Madiba tastings. In the former, three red wines and two whites are lined up and paired with beef, kudu and springbok biltong. The biltong complemented the different wines beautifully, making it a tasting experience I highly recommend.
Marianne will pull out the stops for bespoke experiences, including vineyard drives, a winemaker experience, wine-blending experience or barrel tastings.
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Here's a summary of the wine tasting experiences offered at Marianne Wine Estate:
| Experience | Description |
|---|---|
| Boutique Wine Experience | A selection of five wines encompassing Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, and three reds. Includes exciting wine facts and history of the estate. |
| Wine and Biltong Pairing | Five wines paired with three premium cuts of biltong. |
| Cellar Tour | A 15 to 30-minute exploration of the entire wine production process. |
| Barrel Tasting | A 30-minute guided tasting experience with wine extracted straight from the barrel. |
Other activities include:
- Vineyard Tour: This 1.5-hour tour provides insights into the estate, the wine production process, and a visit to the cellar. The tour concludes with a wine tasting session.
- Wine Blending Lesson: A 2-hour session where you create your own wine blend and take it home.
- Virtual Tastings: Hosted by the estate’s Sommelier, Brian Braite, these YouTube videos explore the wines on offer.
Accommodation and Events
The winelands is not short of wine farms with beautiful views, but when you stay over at Marianne Wine Estate, you’ll enjoy some of the finest scenery that encompasses some of the finest accommodation options in the area. Marianne Wine Estate: From Lofts Among Trees To A Luxurious Seven-Bed VillaPlus, it’s a beautiful setting for a wedding or corporate retreat
Marianne Wine Estate is an excellent choice for corporate functions and seminars, and it’s gorgeous views make it an ideal setting for the romance of a wedding. Functions can be held either in the tasting room, on one of two decks, at the villa or in the beautifully landscaped gardens. The estate can accommodate up to 150 people and can cater for all needs.
Marianne Wine Estate
Accommodation Options
There are four lofts, a manor house with five rooms, and another with seven on the estate. The pitched ceilings give the loft a tent-like feel, and the warm coloured walls and parkay flooring make it cosy. All are en-suite with a living room and each has a balcony; a lovely spot for morning coffee, surrounded by trees and birds. The manor house and L’Hermitage are good for families or groups. The manor has five bedrooms, including a family apartment, a chapel, swimming pool and two terraces with panoramic views, plus it’s a five-minute walk from the cellar and tasting room. L’Ermitage villa is set among the vineyards and has seven uniquely-decorated bedrooms, as well as a lovely swimming pool and braai area. After a day of wine experiences, each accommodation venue is ideal for sitting back and reminiscing, perhaps over one more glass.
The Marianne winery offers its guests excellent service, high-quality facilities and a relaxed country atmosphere. Several rooms on the estate are divided between the main house and the loft apartments, all built in Cape Dutch style. The accommodation is surrounded by citrus groves, well-kept gardens and charming vineyards. Each of the spacious rooms is furnished with elegant and stylish furniture, the design is inspired by warm earthy tones and traditional African art. The two outdoor pools offer a panoramic view of Cape Winelands and Table Mountain. Guests can take a stroll through the countryside, relax at the swimming pool or taste the delicious Marianne wine while sitting on one of the terraces and enjoying the view of Table Mountain.
Dining
The restaurant is a short stroll awayIn a shady, cool spot alongside a pretty lily pond is the farm’s restaurant, Floréal Brasserie. Note: There are weekly Sunday wine sets at Marianne Wine Estate: fun-filled Sundays with wine, tapas and music from 3pm - 6pm. R100 entrance, which includes three tapas.
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