Manley Wine Estate

Manley Wine Estate: Boutique cellar and country lodge in Tulbagh

Manley Wine Estate sits on Main Winterhoek Road in the Tulbagh Valley, a boutique private cellar wrapped by Saron Peak, the Witzenberg, and the Winterhoek mountains. The property is deliberately dual-purpose: a working wine farm with a relaxed tasting room and a country bed-and-breakfast / self-catering stay, plus a newer on-site restaurant. Visitors who only search “Manley lodge” or only “Manley cellar” often miss half the product—plan both if you want a full day or overnight in the valley.

Official website (current estate site): manleywineestate.co.za. An older lodge-facing domain (manleywinelodge.co.za) still describes the farm; prefer the wineestate site for bookings, tasting tariffs, and restaurant contact.

Lodge and wine under one roof

The estate was established by the late David Manley Jordan in 1996 and named for his middle name. Today it operates as Manley Private Cellar, a registered wine estate. In August 2020 the farm was acquired by Markus Ehehalt, later joined by business partner Elias Kuhl Mihopulos. Guest feedback on the official site frequently names tasting-room manager Ria Cronjé and winemaker Joshua as the human face of the visit.

Accommodation (official inventory):

• Seven large double / twin B&B rooms around a shaded courtyard beside the pool—en suite bath and shower, air-conditioning, mini-fridge, tea/coffee, DSTV guesthouse channels, Wi-Fi, in-room fireplace, and communal pool / braai.
• Two thatched self-catering cottages overlooking a small dam at the end of the property.

Direct website stays are promoted with a free bottle from the Cellar Selection—confirm the current offer when you book. Conferencing and wedding / private-party venue space are also listed on the official home page.

Wine tasting and cellar tours

Published tasting windows:

• Weekdays: during normal business hours (exact weekday open/close clock times are not spelled out beyond that phrase—phone ahead if you need a hard start time).
• Saturdays: 10:00–15:00.
• Sunday: not listed as an open tasting day on the wine-tastings page—confirm if travelling Sunday.

Tariffs (official):

• Tasting of 5 wines from the Cellar Selection — R80 per person
• Tasting of 8 wines — R120 per person
• Fee waived with purchase of 2 bottles of wine per person

Private cellar tours are available by pre-booking only, subject to winemaker availability. Pre-book tasting or tour via booking@manleywineestate.co.za or +27 (0)23 007 0009.

Wines on the shop / Cellar Selection span Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc (including Eikenmaat), Sémillon–Chardonnay, Grenache Rosé, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Viognier—stock rotates by vintage; buy at the tasting room or online shop.

The Taste restaurant

The Taste is Manley’s on-site restaurant, managed by chef Nadia Beutler. The official restaurant page stresses that menus change regularly and asks guests to follow social channels for specials. Published restaurant hours are not listed as a fixed daily block on the Taste page researched—enquire and book before you rely on lunch or dinner.

Restaurant contact (official):

• Email: thetaste@manleywineestate.co.za
• Phone: +27 (0)81 511 1818

Estate reception for stay / tasting remains +27 (0)23 007 0009.

Practical contacts and directions

• Address: Main Winterhoek Road, Tulbagh, 6820, Western Cape
• Tel: +27 (0)23 007 0009 (Ria Cronjé — Accommodation and Tasting Room Manager)
• Enquiries: booking@manleywineestate.co.za
• Office: office@manleywineestate.co.za
• Facebook: facebook.com/ManleyWineEstate
• Instagram: instagram.com/manleywineestate

Official directions: roughly 60–90 minutes from Cape Town CBD or the airport via N1 / R44 through Wellington, Hermon, Gouda, and Nuwekloof Pass; enter Tulbagh on Van Der Stel Street, continue about 1.5 km past town, turn left immediately after the bridge.

Place on a Tulbagh wine day

Manley suits travellers who want a slower tasting pace, possible overnight on the farm, and an optional farm restaurant meal. Pair with valley neighbours only after checking each cellar’s own hours—Tulbagh Sunday and Monday closures are common. Do not invent fixed weekday open clocks or Taste kitchen hours from tertiary blogs; use the estate phone and Taste line.

Historic Church Street in Tulbagh is a short hop from the estate—useful if you want Cape Dutch streetscape between tastings, but keep wine-route timing primary.

FAQ

Is Manley only a lodge or only a wine farm?

Both. Official copy markets boutique cellar / tasting and B&B plus self-catering cottages, with The Taste restaurant on the premises.

What does a tasting cost?

R80 for five wines or R120 for eight from the Cellar Selection; waived with two bottles purchased per person (official wine-tastings page).

How do I book a cellar tour?

Pre-book only via booking@manleywineestate.co.za or +27 23 007 0009; subject to winemaker availability.

Where do I eat on the farm?

The Taste restaurant (Nadia Beutler)—email thetaste@manleywineestate.co.za or call +27 81 511 1818; menu and hours change, so confirm before travel.

Which website should I use?

Prefer manleywineestate.co.za for current tasting tariffs, stay inventory, and restaurant contact. The older manleywinelodge.co.za domain still describes the estate but is secondary for operational detail.