Stellenbosch has all the ingredients for an indulgent escape: luxurious accommodation, locally grown foodie treats, activities the whole family can enjoy – plus, of course, hundreds of wine farms and tasting rooms.
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Where to stay
Spier Wine Farm
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With its magnificent lawns, legendary picnics, picturesque pond and award-winning wines it’s easy to see why a day visit to Spier is so popular with Capetonians. But it has such a wide offering of family activities, it really is worth staying at the hotel for a couple of nights. The rooms are set in townhouse-style duplexes, arranged in rows on the far end of the estate. For pretty mountain views (the sunset colours are breathtaking), choose one of the rooms that face the little river that dissects the farm.
Start your stay with a walk around the farm, or jump on one of the bicycles that are available for hotel guests. Clearly marked trails take you across the river, past beautiful sculptures and impressive king proteas. You can’t visit Spier without being amazed by the array of contemporary South African art that seems to fill every space – indoors and out.
Make the stones sing while you wander through artist Jenna Burchell’s outdoor sound-sculpture installation, then visit the Mosaic Kraal, which showcases 16 powerful mosaic artworks. Also pop in at the Spier Artisan Studio – it’s wonderful to interact with the artists as they work on their commissioned bead and mosaic creations. To book: www.spier.co.za.
Where to eat & drink
Spier Hotel Restaurant
For dinner, book a table at Chef Wesli’s restaurant. The offerings vary according to the seasons, but the quality remains consistent. All of the meat is pasture-raised and supplied by the estate’s Farmer Angus. Expect flavour-filled dishes with a South African twist, like bobotie beef tartar or oxtail with truffle-flavoured samp. www.spier.co.za
Eight
This special space has an abundance of charm (the ceiling is made up of 10 000 flowers crafted from recycled plastic bottles) and warm service. Here you will have a genuine farm-to-table eating experience – all the produce is either grown at Spier or sourced from nearby farms. The menu changes depending on what has been harvested, but know that whatever you order will be a winner. www.spier.co.za
Tasting Room & Picnic
Before you pick up your picnic for lunch alfresco around the pond, stop in at the Tasting Room for their novel chocolate-and-wine-pairing tasting. Spier has a great selection of wines, and you can buy them here to take home at surprisingly affordable prices. Kids can be kept busy with a Grape Juice Tasting, which includes a lucky packet and a fun activity sheet. www.spier.co.za
What to do
Segway Tour
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Tourist in my own City 🤩❤️ #umhlabawethu #capetownliving #segwaytourspier
It makes for rather an odd sight, but it’s surprisingly fun to do a Segway tour of Spier. The hour-long excursion takes you through the vineyards and working farm. No under-10s allowed. www.spier.co.za
Eagle Encounters
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This special sanctuary is committed to rehabilitating and releasing birds of prey, and offers visitors the chance to enjoy falconry displays and up-close interactions with owls and other birds of prey. There are also various other farm animals and a fun playground. www.eagle-encounters.co.za
Glenelly Glass Museum
This secret gem is housed on Glenelly Wine Estate, about 12km from Spier, and showcases one of the biggest privately owned collections of rare and contemporary glass art in the world. Alongside pieces from the first and second century are striking glass artworks by Salvador Dalí and Lino Tagliapietra. www.glenellyestate.com
This article is an excerpt from the December issue of Good Housekeeping.
