Fodor's Expert Review Muratie Wine Estate

Ancient oaks and a cellar that truly seems to be more concerned with the business of producing wine than with decor make this a refreshing change from the "prettier" wineries. It's a small estate, specializing in rich, earthy reds and full-bodied dessert wines. Muratie's port is an old favorite in the Cape, and the well-balanced Amber Forever is a fortified dessert wine has pleasing citrus notes to counter the sweetness. Worth looking out for are the Pinot Noirs, from some of the oldest vines of this cultivar in the Cape. The farm's flagship wine is the Ansela van der Caab, a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, named after the freed slave who married the first owner of the farm, Laurens Campher, and helped set up the vineyards in the early 1700s. The Ronnie Melck Shiraz and Muratie Martin Melck Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon also come highly recommended. There are cottages on site and an unfussy restaurant serving steaks, salads and a few South African specialties.