
Holden Manz Wine Estate in Franschhoek
Holden Manz Wine Estate is situated in the southernmost part of the Franschhoek Valley, nestled between the Franschhoek Mountains and the two waterways, the Franschhoek River and Stony Brook. The 22-hectare property lies at around 300 metres above sea level. Only around 16 hectares are used as vineyards, allowing the estate to focus deliberately on selected parcels and small production volumes.
The winery received its present name after Gerard Holden and Migo Manz took over the estate in 2010 and fundamentally developed it further. Alongside the wine cellar, a tasting room, the Franschhoek Kitchen restaurant and a small country house were created. Winegrowing remained at the heart of the estate. The combination of scenic location, modern cellar technology and relatively small vineyard areas allows highly individual treatment of each vineyard parcel.
The estate vineyards are planted exclusively with red grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah are the main focus. Long, cool and rainy winters provide a pronounced dormant period for the vines, while warm, dry summers are followed by a comparatively mild autumn. Three different soil types and the sheltered elevated position create varied conditions for the individual varieties within the small vineyard area.
Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in particular shape the red wines of Holden Manz. Cabernet Franc Reserve is made from selected lots and matured for an extended period in French oak. Big G combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in a classic red blend, while Visionaire combines Bordeaux varieties with Syrah. The range also includes varietal Syrah and Merlot as well as the unusual Elysium blend, for which Merlot and Syrah are co-fermented.
For its white wines, Holden Manz deliberately works with selected vineyards outside its own farm. Chardonnay, for example, is sourced from high-altitude sites on the Simonsberg, from Franschhoek and partly from limestone-influenced Robertson. The Proprietors' White Blend combines grapes from Franschhoek, Banhoek, Wellington and Simonsberg Paarl. Chenin Blanc and Sémillon are also part of the range. Origin and composition are therefore considered individually for each wine.
In the cellar, smaller fermentation tanks allow individual lots to be handled separately. Natural yeasts, French oak barrels and extended maturation are used selectively, particularly for the red wines. The current cellar team combines this approach with gentle handling of the grapes wherever possible. Emil Kluge is now responsible for the estate's wines as Winemaker, while the official winery website continues to list Thierry Haberer as Cellar Master.
Holden Manz therefore combines the sheltered location of the upper Franschhoek Valley with a strong focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Syrah. This profile is complemented by selected white wines from different sites across the Western Cape. At Vin Africa, Holden Manz represents characterful South African wines with a clear emphasis on structured reds and carefully assembled blends.






