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Claire recently enjoyed a wonderful stay at Boschendal Wine Farm in Stellenbosch.
There is so much more to Boschendal Estate, set in the heart of the Drakenstein valley, than first meets the eye. As one of the historic winelands icons, Boschendal has a rich history dating back some 300 years and has long been a favourite for lazy summer lunches at their picnic venue beneath the trees. However, this beautiful grande dame has been lovingly restored and reinvented by a new team of owners in recent years and now offers fabulous accommodation in the Werf and Orchard cottages scattered across the estate, as well as Clarence Cottage and the superb Rhodes Cottage which sleeps up to 10 guests and offers a full housekeeping service, private gardens and private swimming pool.
We stayed in the Orchard Cottages, a cluster of converted labourers houses with a relaxed and welcoming feel. With beautiful views from their elevated mountainside position, the cottages share a simply fantastic round ‘farm style’ swimming pool and a central boma area surrounded by trees that I can imagine would make the perfect spot for lingering long into the night.
Our luxurious cottage offered a burst of colour and plenty of cosy comfort on what was a grey and wintery day. The bright orange corner couch was the perfect spot for admiring the view and making the most of the wood burning stove which quickly warmed the entire cottage. The gorgeous and cleverly thought out kitchen area was stocked with Le Creuset cookware in Flame Orange with quirky touches like the hanging bucket light and Consol glass jar lights. The cottages manage to strike the perfect balance between authentic farm cottage and contemporary comfort.
Two bedrooms and two bathrooms provided pure luxury in the form of super comfy beds and linens, bold protea print fabrics in grey and white and wonderfully spacious bathrooms done in a muted palette of natural wood and shades of grey. Both bedrooms boasted lovely views out over the shared garden area with the purple mountains in the far distance enveloped in cloud. A private shaded patio with built-in fireplace/braai and plenty of outdoor seating would be perfect for warm summer evenings.
Upon arrival we settled down with a lovely plunger of coffee and some of the delicious farm baked biscuits that had been provided. It was too rainy to explore outdoors, but we took some time to read, relax and enjoy the view. Come 6pm we headed into Franschhoek for an early dinner and we were thrilled with our choice of restaurant for the evening – Allora. Set back off the main road this classic Italian restaurant was just what we had been hoping for. We sat in the upstairs seating area with its lowered ceiling which made for a warm and cosy atmosphere on a cold night. Really good service and really good food, with special touches for the kids, made for a lovely evening. The restaurant was busy for a cold mid-week night, with what looked to be mostly locals who were greeted warmly by the manager – always a good sign! Deserting us after our main meal, our two girls went to sit at the ‘bar’ area with their cooldrinks where they chatted away happily, sharing their life stories with one of the lovely waitresses.
Back at the cottage later that evening we stoked up the woodstove and were all wonderfully snug and cosy overnight. The next morning dawned cold, but sunny and coffee in bed was the perfect way to start the day. Then, itching to get outdoors to explore we layered up and headed out into the gardens to take a look around. The setting at the Orchard Cottages really is beautiful, and as the estate manager Michelle explained to me later that day, it is proving to be a very popular spot for groups celebrating weddings or special occasions, and extended families wanting to stay nearby to each other, while at the same time having some personal space and privacy. The farm offers sign-posted hiking trails, mountain biking routes and plenty of dams for swimming and fishing and guests are invited to explore freely and to get stuck in to farm life – if they choose.
After our explorations we made our way down to the main werf for breakfast (it’s about 2km – so you can choose to drive, or to walk or cycle if you’re more energetic). Breakfast is served at The Farmshop & Deli and it’s obviously a popular stop-off for day visitors as it was bustling when we arrived. There are tables scattered outdoors beneath the years-old oak trees as well as indoors in a casual deli style setting with comfy seating, a fireplace and wooden shelves stocked high with all sorts of goodies produced on the estate from jams and preserves to olive oil and gorgeous lavender infused bath products (which you will find in the cottages as well).
We had a simply delicious breakfast, beautifully presented and with very good coffee. Almost everything served at Boschendal is produced on the estate in keeping with their sustainable philosophy - from the freshly baked breads to the farm fresh eggs and organic produce harvested from their extensive gardens. Highlights on the breakfast menu were the Banana Waffles served with bacon, banana and farm honey – and for those with really big appetites the Breakfast Burger made up of egg and bacon on an Angus beef patty with pickled mushrooms looked very impressive.
After breakfast we took some time to stroll around the estate – popping in to the historic Manor House and the simply stunning and highly acclaimed Werf Restaurant.
Flooded with light from large floor to ceiling windows overlooking the vegetable gardens and accented with natural wood, copper, blue and white – the décor alone is a thing of beauty. Another Boschendal highlight are the picnics which are served both casually on the Pavillion lawns or at the Rhone Homestead for the classic full-service picnics. (Closed June, July & August).
Our last stop, before we sadly had to leave, was to pop in to the Werf Cottages which are located alongside the historic original homestead. In contrast to the Orchard Cottages, the décor in these beautiful rooms is more traditional with soft muted colours, natural fibres, linens and warm wood.
The cottages offer fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, large luxurious bathrooms, pretty private patios and expansive views of the vineyards and mountain. Most of these cottages are 2-sleepers, with some able to accommodate small children on day beds.
I would be extremely hard-pressed to choose between the Orchard and the Werf cottages – although, the Orchard cottages are the more obvious option for families due to their extra bedrooms.
Our stay at Boschendal exceeded all of my expectations – not only does the estate have so much to offer, but the team leading it are clearly passionate about what they are doing which is reflected in their great service and the varied initiatives on offer. You could easily spend a few days simply exploring the estate, but for longer stays the endless delights of Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl are all within 20 -30 minutes making this an ideal winelands base.
We cannot wait to return for a longer stay in warmer weather!
