Marianne Wine Estate

Marianne Wine Estate is a boutique winery situated on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain between Stellenbosch and Paarl, offering breathtaking 360-degree views over vineyards, mountain ranges, and Table Mountain in the distance. Established in 2004 by French owner Christian Dauriac, whose family owns three wine estates in Saint-Émilion and Pomerol in Bordeaux, the estate was created with the vision of treating Cape wine fruit to Bordeaux-style pampering while respecting the unique South African terroir. Working with renowned consultant and friend Michel Rolland initially, and now with winemaker Jos van Wyk, Marianne produces French-style wines with South African character. The estate is built on 36 acres and features two state-of-the-art boutique wineries. The Marianne Cellar is a gravity-fed facility with wooden fermentation and open-top stainless steel tanks dedicated to crafting red wines, while the petit boutique L’Ermitage cellar focuses on white and rosé wines using 500L Acacia and 225L French oak barrels for fermentation and aging. The diverse soil profiles combined with an amphitheater of slopes allow the estate to produce exceptional single varietals and award-winning blends. Embracing natural, minimal intervention winemaking, Marianne believes the secret to great wine lies in the vineyard and the beautiful landscape surrounding it. Grapes are handpicked into shallow crates, then bunch and berry sorted before processing. All wines undergo natural fermentation and are aged in exclusively French oak barrels specially selected for Marianne’s style, with a minimum of three years passing between harvest and release. The estate produces three signature wines: Germinal (Shiraz-based blend), Désirade (Bordeaux-style blend), and Floréal (flagship blend) – the first vintage of which was served at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday party at Buckingham Palace. Marianne has evolved into a comprehensive wine destination offering luxury accommodation in three distinct properties – four uniquely decorated African-themed lofts, a five-bedroom Cape Dutch Manor House with chapel and pool, and the seven-bedroom L’Ermitage villa nestled among vineyards. The newly-built spacious tasting room offers panoramic Cape Winelands views and is open daily 11am-6pm for walk-in visitors. Experiences include boutique wine tastings, the popular Wine and Biltong pairing, Madiba tasting (four vintages of Floréal), cellar tours, vineyard drives, winemaker experiences, wine blending, and barrel tastings. Floréal Brasserie restaurant, run by chef Ian Lilley, sits alongside a pretty lily pond serving modern European cuisine using the best local seasonal produce. The estate hosts weekly Sunday Wine Sets (3pm-6pm) featuring wine, tapas, and music. As an exclusive member of Wine Paths and part of the Michel Rolland Selection, Marianne has earned multi-award recognition for its bold, fruit-forward wines with well-integrated soft tannins and excellent aging potential. The estate accommodates up to 150 people for functions and 43 guests for accommodation, making it ideal for weddings, corporate retreats, and special celebrations.