13/08/2026
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Franschhoek Wine Valley is one of those places that never seems to run out of reasons to visit. There are the beautiful mountains, the vast array of restaurants, the stunning scenery and of course, the star of the show ... the wine. So when we were invited to Holden Manz Wine Estate last week for the launch of their Reserve range of wines, I was very grateful for the opportunity to spend the day exploring a little more of what the estate has to offer.
It turned out to be a wonderfully relaxed day filled with good food, fantastic wine and even better company. Holden Manz really pulled out all the stops for the Reserve launch and it was lovely to experience the estate at a leisurely pace rather than simply popping in for a quick tasting.
And while the wine was obviously the main part of the day, what stood out to me was just how much there is to enjoy at Holden Manz. It's somewhere you can come for a wine tasting, stay for lunch, enjoy the surroundings and turn it into a proper Winelands outing.
We were taken through a selection of wines, including their Reserve range, with the added treat of tasting different vintages side by side.
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β’ Semillon Reserve 2023
β’ Chenin Blanc Reserve 2023
β’ Chardonnay Reserve 2023
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β’ Big G 2022 and 2016
β’ Merlot Reserve 2023 and 2018
β’ Cabernet Franc Reserve 2023 and 2018
β’ Syrah Reserve 2020
β’ Elysium 2022
One of the things I particularly enjoyed was being able to compare the younger and older vintages. Tasting the 2023 and 2018 Merlot and Cabernet Franc alongside each other gave us a lovely opportunity to see how the wines develop with age.
And then there was Big G, with both the 2022 and 2016 vintages available to taste. Because apparently one vintage wasn't enough for us!
And of course, an incredible wine tasting is always made better with lovely food and we were treated to a beautiful three-course lunch that was feast for the taste buds and the eyes.
For the starters guests could choose between the Trio of Venison which featured springbok, kudu and gemsbok carpaccio or the Textures of Carrot with carrot sorbet, carrot bisque, citrus cream and ginger meringue.
For mains, there was Local Grassfed Ribeye, served with Hasselback potato, seasonal vegetables and mushroom ragout, or Linefish with pommes purΓ©e, bok choy and West Coast mussels.
And then came the cheese course, because ending a wine-filled lunch without cheese would quite frankly have been rude. The cheese selection included Boerenkaas, Gouda and Cheddar with seasonal fruit.
It was definitely the kind of lunch that encouraged you to slow down, enjoy the food and wine and simply appreciate being somewhere beautiful.
One of the things I think is worth highlighting about Holden Manz is that it isn't simply somewhere to stop for a wine tasting before heading off to your next destination.
The estate offers wine tasting, dining and accommodation, so you can make a proper day of it, or even turn your visit into a longer Winelands escape.
And sometimes, honestly, "we deserve a nice lunch" is a perfectly valid reason to head to Franschhoek.
The visit to the farm was a lovely reminder of just how spoiled we are to have places like this on our doorstep.
I'm very grateful to the Holden Manz team for inviting us and for making us feel so welcome. It was one of those days where everything just came together wonderfully!
Just don't blame me when "we'll only stop for a tasting" turns into a three-course lunch and several hours later you're still sitting there with a glass of wine in your hand.
Some problems are worth having!
