La Bri Wine Estate

Nestled in the imposing amphitheatre of the Franschhoek Valley, La Bri is one of the oldest Huguenot-allocated farms in the region. The original land grant was among the first nine farms given to French Huguenots who sought sanctuary at the Cape in 1688. The name La Bri is almost certainly derived from the French for 'the refuge' -- a perfect description of this sheltered property, safely cradled by the Groot Drakenstein mountains.

Jacques de Villiers, son of the original grantee Jacob, settled on the farm in 1694 and became a successful farmer, eventually purchasing Boschendal from his brother Abraham's estate. Over the centuries the farm passed through many hands -- Pieter Eduard Haumann built the manor house around 1744 and enlarged it to its present H-shape in 1862, creating the severe-gabled Cape Dutch homestead that still stands. The name changed to Keurvlei before Michael Trull restored it to La Bri in the mid-1980s and put La Bri wines on the map.

The modern era dawned when Robin Hamilton bought the farm in 1997. He replanted vineyards, and in 2007 constructed a state-of-the-art 120-tonne gravity-fed boutique cellar in time for the 2008 harvest. The labels were redesigned to feature indigenous Cape flowers and herbs, playing on the symbiotic relationship between wine and fynbos. Each La Bri wine carries its own botanical sketch: the yellow Clivia for Chardonnay, the March Lily for Merlot, herbs for Syrah, the Wine Cup for the Affinity blend.

In June 2022, Mr and Mrs von Kuenheim took ownership, bringing fresh energy and a determination to unlock the farm's full potential. Winemaker and general manager Irene de Fleuriot oversees production from 15 hectares of diverse soils -- sandy loam to deep alluvial -- growing Chardonnay, Viognier, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Roussanne.

The portfolio spans three tiers. The Estate Range includes Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah and the celebrated Affinity Bordeaux blend. The Limited Release range features barrel-select Chardonnay, single-barrel Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon made only in exceptional years. The Double Door range introduces creative wines from estate and neighbouring grapes: Petit Verdot, Roussanne, a white blend, a red blend, and the Spark Cap Classique. La Bri's Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 earned a rare Platter's 5-star rating and 95 Decanter points; the Sauvage Cap Classique scored 93 from Tim Atkin.

The tasting room, open seven days a week, offers wine and chocolate pairings, Turkish Delight (lokum) pairings, biltong pairings, and a generous cheese and biltong platter. La Bri is a stop on the Franschhoek Wine Tram's Blue and Green lines -- a favourite way for visitors to discover this intimate estate where every bottle tells the story of a refuge.