Under relatively new management and a young winemaking team, Franschhoek Vineyards (founded in 1945) has shed it’s old co-operative image in favour of a dynamic drive to make quality wines at affordable prices. New winemaking equipment was installed for the 2001 vintage and the wines now being produced are clean and well-made with good varietal character and weight of fruit for easy drinking. The Franschhoek Valley ward is a relatively small area which was settled in the late 1600’s by 200 Protestant Huguenot immigrants fleeing from Catholic persecution in France. The winemaking tradition is consequently very French with noble varietals dominating production.