Manley Wine Lodge

We loved walking around the beautiful property and taking in the mountain ranges and birdlife. We even spotted the Spotted Eagle Owl calling near our unit. A tip: bring mozzie mats or spray. The wine farm is in a beautiful setting just outside Tulbagh, and almost all the staff we met were friendly and helpful. We stayed three nights in a self-catering unit, but felt it was overpriced for the facilities, tired decor, and lack of maintenance. The bed was comfortable, the aircon worked well, and the bath and shower were good. The kitchen was very cramped, missing some basics, and awkward to use, especially with the oversized plates. It would work if you ate all your meals at the restaurant, at extra cost. The bathroom mirror was too high for me to see even the top of my head. The front door latch was broken, the wood was rotten, and the curtains needed washing. Little things added up to a feeling that the place lacked attention. The restaurant was a mixed bag. Two of our three meals were great. The burger was delicious, and the Carpaccio was a good sized light meal. The squid light meal was a rip-off, with barely more than two tablespoons of squid in sauce, no more than a starter portion.

Breakfast at Manley Wine Estate was a genuine feast, abundant, beautifully presented, and excellent quality. The rooms were spotlessly clean and well appointed, and the whole property is clearly cared for by a team that takes pride in what they offer. We visited with guests, and the wine tasting was engaging and so good that they’re still talking about it. Ria was a big part of what made the visit memorable. Even before we arrived, she was warm and attentive, and nothing seemed like too much trouble. She also shared generous, genuine knowledge about Tulbagh, the valley, and the wines. Her enthusiasm and expertise felt completely authentic. Set along Winterhoek Road against the Tulbagh mountains, Manley Wine Estate has real charm and hospitality that’s hard to find. It reminds you why the Western Cape wine country is such a great travel destination. It’s a destination in itself, not just somewhere to sleep between stops. My thanks to Ria and the whole team for a memorable visit.

The pizzas at Taste of Manley were faultless, and the wine was even better. We had a wonderful lunch in a beautiful setting, with lovely lawns for the kids to run and play. Kennedy was a super professional waiter. We’ll definitely be back.

The pizzas were actually quite good, but they couldn’t make up for the poor service and disappointing wines. It made the whole visit really unpleasant. Our waitress seemed to know almost nothing about the wines, which was surprising for a winery tasting room. When I asked how the Pinotage 2021 differed from the 2020, she said the 2021 was younger and the 2020 older. That’s obvious and didn’t help me understand the wines. At one point, she poured wine into the spittoon instead of the wine glass, which summed up the lack of care and professionalism we experienced. Several wines from the 2020 and 2021 vintages were already noticeably brown. I know wine changes color as it ages, but these seemed well past their best and weren’t enjoyable to drink. It was a very disappointing experience.