VIEW FROM THE TOP

In the heart of South afrIca’S wInelanDS, SaYS JANE BroughtoN, DelaIre Graff eState haS aDDeD luXurIouS loDGeS anD a SPa for the chIceSt StaY

T he recently opened lodges on Laurence Graff’s

Delaire Graff Estate in Stellenbosch are proof

that the best things in life do come in small,

designer-wrapped packages. This is long-haul

holiday bliss: the ideal post-safari circuit bolt hole

– 10 exquisitely decorated, private lodges with a

spa attached, perched between majestic

mountains and rolling vineyards in the Cape winelands. Accessible

yet secluded, the boutique-scaled accommodation augments the

estate’s already impressive wine, food, art and design experience.

The opening of the pan-Asian restaurant, Indochine, in

addition to the well established Delaire Graff Estate Restaurant

means that there are now two excellent dining rooms on the estate,

further enhancing the reputation of the region as a gourmand’s

paradise. Better still, Cape Town’s legendary natural beauty and

city attractions are less than an hour’s drive away. The bar has been

raised for chic travel to the southernmost tip of Africa.

water featureThe main swimming pool is located in an idyllic position, with views over Stellenbosch and the iconic Table Mountain

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charge. Making up your own mini selection of

gourmet ingredients – think charcuterie, local

cheeses, berries fresh from the farm across the

road, organic yoghurt, decadent pastries and

Eggs Benedict – will cure the most ardent critic of

buffet breakfasts. General manager Jonathan

Lithgow has an experienced eye and attention to

the finest details is a defining point of staying here.

Throughout the hotel, colour is used

abundantly. At Indochine, rich blues combine with

battered copper and limed oak to provide an

incredibly sophisticated yet relaxed ambience

from breakfast through to dinner. On fine days,

lunch is best outdoors on the restaurant terrace

with its wraparound views of vineyards, olive

groves and mountains. If there’s any time between

spa treatments, wine tasting, vineyard walks,

sightseeing and sunbathing, the port red and grey

private cinema – only 10 seats – is an intimate and

inviting space for big-screen viewing.

At the heart of the hotel are the 10

generously proportioned lodges. Two of the

lodges, the Presidential and Owner’s lodges, have

huge living spaces, decks and pools, with an en

suite bedroom at each end for maximum privacy.

These are heaven for parents travelling with

children. Functioning like a private villa, each

lodge has a private, heated infinity pool sunk into

a wooden deck, a butler kitchen with a personal

host on call, and interiors with the sort of attention

to detail that should make anyone feel at home.

The 600-thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen

is Coleman Prowse, the marble bathrooms are

all-out pamper zones stocked with Jo Malone’s

lime, basil and mandarin-fragranced products, and

THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF GUESTS IN RESIDENCE AT ANY GIVEN TIME IS TWO DOZEN

elegant nature With so few guests in residence at any one time, the pool and Jacuzzi, left, make for a highly relaxing experience. David Collins’ choice of rich blue and copper in the Indochine restaurant, top right, epitomises his desire to create interiors of intense colour. Indochine’s Asian-inspired menu, above right, focuses on light and lean flavours

luxury lodge Inside the well-appointed lodges, imaginative details such as calming decoration tones and subtle paint effects, natural materials including bamboo, reed, and end-grain wood and the selection of sumptuous 600-thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen all combine to create a sensation of total wellbeing and utter pampering

When Laurence Graff acquired the historic boutique

winery known as Delaire, he was enchanted by its

unique setting on the Helshoogte mountain pass

linking Stellenbosch to the wine-growing regions

of Franschhoek and Paarl. In 2009, an ultra-

modern winery was launched along with a

flagship restaurant and tasting lounge; earlier this

year the David Collins-designed lodges and spa

were opened.

The creative stimulant for the entire estate

was Mr Graff’s considerable collection of

contemporary South African art, which also served

as a natural point of departure when it came to

developing the hotel’s design. This is most striking

in the hotel lobby with its art gallery proportions.

Avocado-green leather sofas and canary yellow

chairs in crocodile leather surround an epic marble

fireplace with an installation of National

Geographic magazines on either side. The

eye-catching colour palette exemplifies designer

David Collins’ passion for saturating his interiors

with colour, enriched with tonal and textural

contrasts. On arrival, guests are greeted by

Deborah Bell’s regal sculptures that recall ancient

civilizations and spiritual journeys. A series of

Lionel Smit’s over-scaled portraits, titled Malay

Girl, are impactful and visually powerful. Outdoors

on the lawn, rough-hewn bronzes of cheetahs by

Stellenbosch-based Dylan Lewis bristle with

pent-up tension.

The maximum number of guests in

residence at any given time is two dozen, so the

experience of staying here is highly individual

– the winelands equivalent of being in a luxury

safari camp or far-flung private island. Depending

on the season, tropical fruit smoothies or eggnog

laced with fragrant spices and Cognac are offered

on arrival. In the late afternoon, complimentary

Delaire wines and canapés, each one resembling a

miniature work of art, are standard. Breakfast may

be enjoyed in the privacy of your lodge at no extra

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the complimentary mini bar is pre-stocked with

your favourite drinks – the summery, estate-

produced Sauvignon Blanc included.

In the private, personal space of the

lodges, the use of colour is less intense, broken

down into paler hues with textures and tones

becoming more relevant. Soft, calming tones of

sea greens, ocean mist and aqua blues create a

cocoon-like sanctuary, encouraging total

relaxation. Bamboo and reed ceilings, polished

concrete floors, end-grain wood and pigmented

plaster in earthy tones were used to ground the

interiors. Collins also engaged talented South

African master craftsmen to produce furniture and

lighting to his studio’s precise designs. Cushions in

the bedrooms were given unique local provenance

with hand-embroidered detailing; imported

wallpapers have a bespoke finish, using colour

washes and subtle paint effects. The result is a

rare combination of original and international style

and intelligent functionality.

Since the opening of the flagship Delaire

Graff restaurant, with Christian Campbell at the

helm, dining on the estate has been elevated to an

art form. With the addition of Indochine, the

estate is fast becoming a destination for fine

dining. Indochine’s chef, Jonathan Heath, speaks

knowledgeably and passionately about the

synergy between the spa’s holistic approach to

wellness and the fresh, light flavours that

characterise his pan-Asian menu. Locally sourced,

mostly organic fresh produce and fragrant spices

equate to punchy explosions of flavour. Lunch

may begin in Southeast Asia with an elegant wild

mushroom salad layered with spiced bean curd,

bamboo shoots and coconut shavings and end up

in India with fiery tikka duck masala. For a local

twist, don’t miss the lightly seared salmon trout

from nearby Franschhoek with the fresh flavours

of chilli, lemon grass, basil and coriander.

The spa is an integral part of the hotel, and

takes a holistic approach to beauty and wellness.

It’s open to non-hotel guests too, who favour

all-day spa rituals with lunch at Indochine in

between. There are four light-filled treatment

suites, each with a private bathroom and hydro-

massage bath. Other facilities include an

enormous outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, sauna and

steam rooms, a Technogym-equipped private

gymnasium and a pilates studio. Specialised

anti-ageing treatments, medical consultations,

private nutritional counseling, even guided nature

walks in the mountains can all be arranged.

Therapeutic, restorative and rejuvenating benefits

found in the Aromatherapy Associates plant- and

flower-extract based oils and serums are designed

to relax or revitalise body and mind. For more high

powered, results-driven treatments, the anti-

ageing Swiss Perfection range, developed at the

renowned wellness centre La Prairie in

Switzerland, includes the active ingredient of the

Iris Germanica root, known to fast-track the skin’s

cellular regeneration

Most recently, a David Collins-designed

boutique of jewel box proportions has opened on

the estate, showcasing Graff jewellery and

watches, in addition to another boutique offering

exclusive white linen clothing by 100% Capri. This

chic Italian brand is the perfect match for South

Africa’s balmy Mediterranean climate.

Delaire Graff Hotel & Spa, Stellenbosch

(tel +27 (0)21 8858160; www.delaire.co.za)

THE DECOR OF THE LODGES IS SOFT AND CALMING, TO ENCOURAGE RELAXATION

tHe lodgeS Locally provenanced furniture, commissioned from South African master craftsmen, and soft furnishings which are locally hand-embroidered, help create comfortable interiors of original and international style combined with intelligent functionality

art of relaxation Arriving at the lobby, top right, guests are greeted by the splendour of Deborah Bell’s sculptures and Stephan Graff’s works of art. Lionel Smit’s portrait, ‘African Girl With Residues’, far right, creates a powerful impact. The Spa at the Delaire Graff Estate, right, is the only spa in South Africa to offer treatments using Swiss Perfection products

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