Feature: Winery

Glen Avon Lodge, Constantia, Cape Town

Glen Avon Lodge is real luxury in wonderful gardens conveniently situated for Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula

Glen Avon Lodge is one of our personal favourites. It is a gracious gem tucked away in the heart of the Constantia Winelands approximately 20 minutes drive from the centre of Cape Town. The hotel, which is a consistent favourite with our clients, has 11 beautifully furnished en-suite rooms. These are set in the wonderful traditional Cape Dutch gardens and present a very calm environment. There is a beautiful pool to relax alongside after a hectic day. The property is owner run and this adds to the excellence of the service you will find from a dedicated staff.

About Glen Avon Lodge’s Location

Glen Avon is very conveniently located. It is a good location from which to explore Kirstenbosch Gardens (10 minutes drive) and the Peninsula. The penguins at Boulders Beach are a 30 minute drive.You can also explore the Cape Winelands around Stellenbosch (40 minutes drive) from here.  The centre of Cape Town, the Waterfront and the Table Mountain Cableway are a 25 minute drive. You can request a truly romantic a candle lit dinner to round off a memorable stay. Here you will enjoy some of the finest cuisine in The Cape. You are also within easy access of some of the finest restaurants in The Cape. These include one of our favourites – Buitenverwachting Winery. This is just a 5 minute drive and provides fine dining during the evening and picnics most days, with some great wines. One of the Cape’s oldest wineries, Groot Constantia is a 10 minute drive. The winery has some excellent wines, a great museum in the splendid old Cape Dutch Manor House. There is also a good restaurant for casual eating.
River Place Manor, Upington

River Place Manor, Upington

Convenient and comfortably appointed lodge on the banks of the Orange River

Upington may be dry, dusty and hot for most of the year but you will enjoy River Place which is a wine estate with grounds leading down to the welcome cool of the Orange River. There are 10 suite-style rooms and one family suite. Accommodation is provided on a B&B basis and dinner can be provided on Mondays to Fridays. Barbecue (Braai) facilities are available and you can even Braai on the river on the Lodge’s floating Jetty. There is a beautiful swimming pool for those wishing to cool off after the heat of the day.

About the Location

The lodge has a canoe for those wishing to  venture onto the river or you might just wish to fish. There is river rafting, a river cruise, amazing bird watching and, of course, wine tasting. Choosing River place as a base also allows you to visit Augrabies Falls which is an hour and a half’s drive along the Orange River. This is also a good stopover en route to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. It is a 2 1/2 hour drive to the entrance to the Park at Twee Rivieren.


Maison Chablis

Franschhoek charm

This is a charming house with 7 tastefully appointed en-suite rooms – most with a private entrance. The grounds are compact but there is a reasonable sized shaded pool.

About the Location

The property is located in the oldest part of Franschhoek – the area known as the French Quarter with many properties dating back to the 1700s and the early French Huguenot settlers. The lively town centre is a short walk away and there are numerous fine restaurants to choose from. The South Africa Sun ‘Care Package’ will help you select the right one for you. The Franschhoek Valley abounds with fine wineries so a wine tasting tour (this can be arranged by Maison Chablis) is always guaranteed to be a memorable experience.


Summerwood

Home from home in the heart of the Cape Winelands

This is a gem set in the leafy University district of Stellenbosch. This is one of the premier universities in South Africa and ensures that the town is lively with an excellent atmosphere in the evenings. Summerwood was built in 1904 and has 8 larger than average and beautifully appointed suites. The gardens are a welcome retreat during the hot summer days with a great pool to lounge around. Unusually, the owners prefer not to have coffee and tea making facilities in the rooms but will provide complimentary refreshments when required. Each room does have a minibar as well as full air conditioning.

About the Location

The centre of Cape Town is a 35 minute drive away, so rather than stay in the centre of the city, why not relax at Summerwood and use this as your base from which to see Cape Town & Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula (45 minutes’ drive) and the winelands. Stellenbosch is often regarded as the centre of the winelands and it is easy to drive across the mountains to Franschhoek (20 minutes’ drive), Paarl (15 minutes’ drive and even Tulbagh (1 hour drive). There are numerous excellent wineries close by and you are spoilt for choice of restaurants to visit. We make this easy for you by suggesting some favourite wineries and restaurants.


The Overlook, Keimoes, Northern Cape

The Overlook is a wonderfully unique location and accommodation – definitely one of our favourites!

The Overlook is a small property with just three well appointed thatched, hut-style rooms. These are cool in the summer and have well equipped kitchenettes and bathrooms with excellent showers. We particularly enjoyed the little touches that provide a very African feel. The infinity pool is in a good position overlooking the vineyards and you can arrange a gourmet dinner to be served on the deck. The Overlook even has its own resident meerkats! The American / South African owners are attentive and will ensure a comfortable stay.

About The Overlook’s Location

Conveniently situated in the Orange Riverside village of Keimoes, The Overlook provides a convenient stopover between Upington and Springbok. It is only 50 kms from Upington but from your accommodation you will get beautiful views over the Winelands that skirt either side of the impressive Orange River. From here you can easily drive to the Augrabies Falls and up to the Kgalagardi Transfrontier Park. There is plenty to see and do in this area and we suggest spending at least three days exploring. Mid summer can be exceptionally hot so we suggest Spring, Autumn and late Winter. A stay here can be combined with Naries and the Kgalagardi Transfrontier Park.


Willowbrook Country House, Somerset West

Convenient location with great accommodation and cuisine

Willowbrook Lodge is a luxurious, small establishment with just 15 beautifully appointed rooms and suites. The restaurant is renowned locally and after a busy day sightseeing there is nothing better than relaxing by the pool with a glass of wine in hand.

About the Location

The lodge is situated on the edge of historic Somerset West with views stretching up to the impressive mountains that from this part of the Cape. There is an excellent ‘Blue Flag’ beach at nearby Strand on the False Bay coast and if you are seeking the shops there is a good mall a short drive away. Cape Town is a 35-minute drive along a motorway that will take you right into the city centre. While there are a number of good wineries close by, the university town of Stellenbosch that is surrounded by some of the finest wineries in South Africa is just a 15-minute drive. Willowbrook is one of the closest properties to Cape Town International Airport that we offer and so can represent a very convenient place to start your holiday or to wind down at the end.


Goudini Spa, Rawsonville, Worcester

Goudini spa is a family resort set around hot springs in the mountains to the north of Cape Town

This is a hot spring spa set in the Hex River Mountains not far from Worcester and close to the main N2 Highway. This is a busy resort with comfortable and fairly simple accommodation provided in rondavels or apartments and cottages.  Accommodation can be catered or self catering – the choice is yours.

About Goudini’s Location

The main pool is a hot spring and very therapeutic. There is a separate waterslide and nearby the countryside is good for hiking. The little town of Worcester is known for its agricultural produce and vineyards are never far away. There is an interesting folk museum nearby. The old Du ToitsKloof pass through the mountains to Paarl and Cape Town is spectacular and you will often see baboons near the road.


Rozendal Guest Farm, Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands

Rozendal Guest Farm is a well priced alternative set among the vines for families!

Rozendal Guest Farm is a well-kept secret in Stellenbosch, nestling beneath the Jonkershoek mountains. A key feature is the cottage style breakfasts complete with organic produce from the farm. The accommodation is set a little apart from the main house, across a farmyard, which reminds you that this is also a working (vinager) farm. The 16 bedrooms are contained in cottages, which are situated like a small village street. The decor is simple rather than luxurious but all the rooms are a good size with well-appointed bathrooms. Each bedroom has a stoep with a mountain or vineyard view. This is a quiet location but a good one for children who are encouraged to look at the farm.

Aboutd Rozendal’s Location

Stellenbosch is only 10 minutes drive away with its delightful historic centre, small shopping mall and restaurants. This is a good location for exploring the Cape Winelands with Franschhoek and Paarl just a 30 minute drive away. Cape Town, too, is just a 45 minute drive.


Franschhoek Country House Hotel, Franschhoek

An exclusive luxury boutique hotel in the centre of stylish Franschhoek

This is a small country hotel on the edge of Franschhoek. Note that you need to drive to the village centre.  The grounds are beautifully landscaped and overlook the mountains and vineyards, which are such a feature of the Franschhoek valley. The accommodation is very comfortable and decorated in a typically Cape style and some have private stoeps and balconies. The hotel has 25 bedrooms including 12  villa suites, which offer the ultimate in luxury and space and the peace, and tranquility of the surroundings is complemented by fine modern cuisine in the rated restaurant, which, in summer is served on the terrace overlooking the gardens. There is a swimming pool with wonderful views of the surrounding mountains.

About the Location

Here you are situated among some of the finest wineries anywhere in the world. From the hotel you can join the Franschhoek Wine Tram which offers a unique way to see some great wineries and sample their products without driving! Franschhoek has many fine restaurants and such is the popularity of this area, you will need to book some of the restaurants well in advance at the busiest times of the year – especially over Christmas and New Year.


Diemersfontein Manor

Diemersfontein Manor, Wellington

Diemersfontein is a beautiful winery with comfortable rooms and some luxurious cottages set in luxuriant gardens

This is one of our favourite places to stay in the Cape Winelands.  Diemersfontein, which is one of the most successful new wineries with some excellent wines, is set in its own extensive landscaped gardens full of the colours and scents of South Africa. The swimming pool is small but beautifully positioned within the gardens. The 10 bedrooms are either alongside the garden or in a separate cottage among the extensive vineyards. The rooms are air conditioned and decorated in a clean cut cottage style. The cottages are relatively basic and regarded as typically 3 star. The estate, however, has three houses set in the grounds which are 4 star and very comfortable. This are 5 bedroom houses and guest will rent the entire house. This is ideal for couples traveling together. The restaurant is receiving critical acclaim and the estate’s wines have won numerous awards. We recommend a wine tasting during your stay.

About Diemersfontein’s Location

The entrance to the estate is across the road from an unusually tidy township. Although some guests may find this a little off putting, once inside the estate the beautiful scenery will captivate you. Horse riding is available from the stables at the hotel and we would recommend an evening ride into the mountains followed by a sunset braai (barbecue) on the trail. This is a good base to explore the Winelands and with Cape Town only 45 minutes away along a first class motorway, there is excellent access to shopping malls, the centre of Cape Town and Table Mountain. Tulbagh in the Northern Winelands is a 40 minute drive. You can also explore two of the most spectacular road passes that navigate a way over the mountains that hem the Cape Town area to the north.