Mont Rochelle

Located about a five-minute drive from Franschhoek town, Richard Branson-owned Mont Rochelle is a resort-style wine estate, offering 22 hotel rooms, a working wine cellar and a private four-bedroom villa.

• Branson’s newly built four-bedroom Manor House that is perfect for family takeovers
• The Country Kitchen’s woven picnic baskets filled with local produce for guests to enjoy lunch on the estate
• The complimentary tour of the wine cellar and wine facility on property

The latest edition to the Virgin Limited Edition after its purchase by Richard Branson in 2014, the 100-acre Mont Rochelle wine estate offers a comfortable retreat with a focus on sustainability. The rooms in the main area are split into three wings: Garden, Manor and Vineyard with room categories allocated as grape varietals: Shiraz, Merlot, and Pinotage. The décor, which ranges from traditional floral patterns to whimsical bird motifs was specifically created for the property by a design team out of South Africa. The property also boasts a gym and spa with two treatment rooms and hammam. The spa carries local Africology products, which use natural ingredients found in Southern Africa. Africology created a special treatment called the “Cape Melee Spice Journey” for the guests at Mont Rochelle only.

Miko, the fine dining restaurant, was named in honor of the previous co-owner of the estate, Mr. Miko Rwayitare, who was the first black owner of a vineyard in South Africa. The more casual restaurant, the Country Kitchen, is located about a 3-minute golf cart ride away next to the wine cellar and Manor House, and is a stop frequented by guests on The Franschhoek Wine Tram. Diners can choose to have their lunch packed in a woven picnic basket equipped with flatware, a blanket, and of course, a bottle of wine, to enjoy on the estate. The property offers a tour of the wine cellar and production facility for guests during their stay, along with three bottles of Mont Rochelle wine in their room. The Manor House, which was built in 2016, is a private villa on property by the wine cellar with four bedrooms (one with stargazing windows over the tub), additional bunkroom, enormous kitchen and open central area, a library and gameroom,  as well as two swimming pools.

Families with young children will be impressed by the adorable ‘Little Corkers’ club, which offers activities that remain in theme such as juice tasting and cheese pairings, plus scavenger hunts on the estate.

When not out wine tasting at one of the many renowned wineries in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch, guests can relax by the pool, play tennis on the astroturf court or enjoy lawn games on one of the spaces around the main building. There is also biking, hiking and picnics offered in the area, as well as horseback riding and golf.

Young couples or families looking for a wine estate experience without the high price tag or luxe experience as La Residence, Leeu Estate or Delaire Graff. The four-bedroom villa is a great option for couples or a multi-generational family traveling together to have the privacy of a home and the facilities of a larger property.