In essentially the most primary sense, Babylonstoren is a seventeenth century Cape Dutch farm that has been transformed right into a resort, spa and vineyard. However that simplistic description doesn’t do justice to this particular place, set within the lovely Franschhoek Valley.
Only a 45-minute drive east of Cape City, billionaire proprietors Koos Bekker and Karen Roos – who additionally personal a UK outpost, The Newt in Somerset – have created a wine lovers’ vacation spot that’s way over the sum of its elements.
There are huge acreages of manicured gardens, farm-to-fork eating with hyper-seasonal produce and a newly opened wine museum. Whereas stylish villas allow you to wake to views of Simonsberg mountain, Babylonstoren is the luxurious paradigm of a Cape Winelands property. No query: this place will get below your pores and skin.
A wealthy wine historical past
The tasting room at sundown
Wine has all the time been a significant a part of Babylonstoren’s story. In any case, that is the Western Cape, residence to esteemed vineyards producing every little thing from native Pinotage to Bordeaux pink blends. The property has grown grapes because the 1690s.
Right now’s winemaking group, headed by Klaas Stoffberg, makes use of a state-of-the-art vineyard to prove a core vary of 10 bottlings. They vary from peachy Viognier to brioche-noted Méthode Cap Classique Chardonnay. Behind the scenes, Stoffberg experiments with the likes of amphora and cement fermenters to make small batch, limited-release wines for the property’s wine membership members.
Stoffberg is in good firm within the area. Babylonstoren’s doorstep is affected by huge wine names from Franschhoek and Stellenbosch – many inside 15-20 minutes’ drive of the resort. Head to Delaire Graff Property to wander its sculpture-studded gardens and pattern its daring Cabernet Sauvignon. Go to Spier Wine Farm to savour a tangy Sauvignon-Sémillon. Or what about Black Elephant Vintners for an revolutionary music and wine pairing?
While you’ve returned to residence base at Babylonstoren, get pleasure from a flight of seven wines, tour the cellar, then discover the newly opened onsite wine museum, The Story of Wine.
On the menu
Regardless of the spectacular nature of its wines, the property’s 94ha of vineyards are solely a part of the agricultural image at Babylonstoren. First-class olive oils and rooibos teas are additionally produced right here, and there are bountiful fruit orchards, vegetable patches, cycads, protea and fynbos. To not point out hens and cows. Briefly, the rambling grounds – round 200ha in complete – are a veritable horticultural rainbow.
With such wealthy choices of produce, it’s solely pure that good contemporary meals options in a Babylonstoren keep. The onsite Babel restaurant, set in a refurbished cow shed, serves up no matter is in season within the backyard.
That might be heirloom cucumbers, sweetcorn or peaches. Breakfast options eggs from the hens, whereas meat from estate-reared Chianina cattle is dry-aged within the salt room earlier than starring in lunches and dinners.
It’s not simply concerning the eating places, both. A part of what offers Babylonstoren its cache is its complete farm store. It attracts guests each native and far-flung for its butchery, handmade dairy merchandise, bakery and ‘lekker’ (sweets) room. Common cookery or gardening workshops allow you to produce your personal nut butter, mix natural teas or make pasta, too.
Relaxation and loosen up
While you aren’t consuming or consuming, there are other forms of hedonistic pleasures in retailer for visitors: particularly a superb spa. Babylonstoren lately launched a brand new ‘scorching spa’, that includes vitality swimming pools, a hammam and a rasul mud remedy room. That is along with its current regime of bamboo stick massages and anti-ageing facials.
True to its roots, the lodging at Babylonstoren is about in Cape Dutch-style structure. However right here historic doesn’t imply staid. Proprietor Roos is the previous editor of ELLE Ornament South Africa, so reimagined former farm buildings put fashion on the forefront.
Basic white-washed exteriors meet floor-to-ceiling glass to let within the gentle, alongside plush minimalist furnishings. Curl up in entrance of a roaring fireplace with a ebook from the tome-stacked shelf, with a glass of Babylonstoren’s delicate Mouvèdre Rosé in hand, and also you’ll really feel like all’s proper with the world.
For extra info go to babylonstoren.com
