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- Main lodge library
- Reception and Graff Diamonds Boutique
- Superior Lodge lounge
- Superior Lodge plunge pool
- Superior Lodge bedroom
- The Owner's Villa exterior view
- Luxury Lodge terrace
- Presidential Lodge lounge and terrace
- Presidential Lodge private pool
- Infinity pool and Jacuzzi
- Infinity pool and Jacuzzi
- Presidential Lodge bedroom
- Delaire Graff Restaurant terrace
- The Owner's Villa bedroom
- The Owner's Villa bedroom
- The Owner's Villa bedroom
- Luxury Lodge bedroom
- Presidential Lodge bedroom
- Infinity pool and Jacuzzi
Delaire Graff Estate
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Important Announcements
<b>IHG One Rewards members can earn & redeem points at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels.</b>
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This is an exclusive IHG One Rewards collaboration, however because these are not IHG branded hotels, other member benefits will not be available. Please contact the hotel prior to arrival in order to make the most of your stay.
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PROPERTY FEATURES
The Premises
There’s a twinkle in the eye of Delaire Graff Estate – which perhaps has something to do with its owner. The man behind this 24-carat Stellenbosch stay is Laurence Graff, a British businessman who progressed from humble beginnings in London's Hatton Garden to set up Graff Diamonds, one of the world’s largest jewellery empires. As you sweep up the snaking sculpture-lined drive, it’s plain to see that no expense has been spared to polish this 100-acre South African estate into a jewel of the Cape Winelands. There’s a parade of luxury lodges, some with infinity pools; a wine lounge, with views of the Stellenbosch Valley; and a celebrated art collection that includes one of the world’s most iconic paintings – Vladimir Tretchikoff’s Chinese Girl. Two restaurants certify this as a flawless gem…
SMITH EXTRA
Compliments of the House
Sparkling wine served with canapés in the comfort of your lodge, plus a small gift.
View Your Escape
At the Hotel
CHECK-OUT: 11am; earliest check-in, 2pm, not flexible.
Rates usually include breakfast, one standard wine tasting each and an art tour of the estate.
FACILITIES
Botanical gardens by renowned horticulturalist Keith Kirsten; a cinema room with free popcorn; free shuttle in/out of Stellenbosch; veg gardens and olive groves; vineyards, winery and tasting lounge; acclaimed art collection; shopping boutiques from Graff diamonds, 100% Capri clothing, Vana accessories and Africa Nova homewares. In rooms: kitchenette; Bose Bluetooth sound system; flatscreen television; Nespresso machine; minibar; robes and Charlotte Rhys bath products.
PACKING TIPS
Walking boots and cycling gear. After dining out on the area’s abundant restaurants and tasting rooms, you might be pleased to hear the Cape Winelands are also laced with scenic bike and hiking trails.
CHILDREN
Over-10s welcome, though this is really a hotel best suited to couples. Each lodge can accommodate one extra bed (suitable for children up to 12).
SPA
The serene spa has five elegant treatment suites, including one couple’s room with an ensuite shower and hydrotherapy bath. An extensive menu of massages and scrubs uses products such as Swiss Perfection, Aromatherapy Associates and Terres d’Afrique, while the Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion facial promises ultimate exfoliation. Full- and half-day packages invite you to up the indulgence with a welcome drink and access to the steam room and Swedish sauna. There are even treatments for children and teenagers, such as manicures, pedicures and bubble baths – though you need not necessarily tell them that.
POOL
Etched into a hillside, the 22-metre outdoor infinity pool has views of the undulating winelands. There’s also a heated Jacuzzi set into the water, plus cushioned daybeds and parasols on the adjoining deck.
ALSO
Golf cars are available for wheelchair users wanting to get around the estate and staff are able to assist at all times.
As well as an impressive indoor art collection, you’ll also find outdoor sculpture installations by the likes of Deborah Bell, Anton Smit and Dylan Lewis, whose bronze cheetahs prowl the grounds.
As well as an impressive indoor art collection, you’ll also find outdoor sculpture installations by the likes of Deborah Bell, Anton Smit and Dylan Lewis, whose bronze cheetahs prowl the grounds.
USEFUL INFORMATION
A 5% administrative cancellation fee will be applicable to all bookings confirmed with a deposit payment.
Rooms
With an exclusive collection of 17 luxury lodges, it’s hard to go wrong at Delaire Graff Estate. Ultimate privacy is the order of the day, whether you opt for views of the impressive botanical gardens or the neatly plotted vines. That said, the Luxury Vineyard Lodges take some beating, with their decks and heated plunge pools overlooking the Stellenbosch Valley – especially lovely at sunset.
Food & Drink
Unforgettable Features
The concept of ‘green gastronomy’ unpins boths restaurants at Delaire Graff Estate. Fruits, vegetables and herbs are grown organically on site, and free-range livestock is sourced from sustainable farmers around South Africa. The main Delaire Graff Restaurant is a culinary tour de force, with a terrace that’s worth the trip alone: overlooking the vineyards of the Simonsberg mountain and the sun-dappled Banhoek Valley. Head chef Kevin Grobler crafts the menu with a nose-to-tail, root-to-leaf philosophy and dishes evolve as the seasons shift. The lunch, dinner and nine-course tasting menus (the last inspired by the tasting notes of the paired wines) include the like of confit duck leg, yuzu-poached hake, langoustine ravioli and coffee-spice venison. Save room for the decadent desserts – creamy panna cotta, peanut butter blondies and salted caramel crème brûlée. Sister restaurant Indochine focusses on Asian-accented cuisine, again with a dramatic terrace that frames Delaire Graff’s scenic setting. Thai curries and Malaysian beef rendang defy notions that this is the hotel’s ‘second’ restaurant. Indeed, it’s regularly voted among South Africa’s best. The same commitment to culinary excellence prevails and sommeliers are on hand to advise on the best labels their tome-like wine menu.
Liquid Bliss
This being Stellenbosch, there’s a Wine Lounge in place of a bar, where you get a free tasting of five wines during your stay (no need to book; just turn up and taste). Art-lined interiors include works by South Africa’s leading talents – Lionel Smit, William Kentridge et al – and outside there’s a terrace with sun parasols and Indian-style seating that, again, boasts stellar views the vines. Just one more drink, then…
Experience the Extraordinary
Some of the world’s best restaurants converge in the Wineland towns of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. The university hub of Stellenbosch is the larger of the two, while little Franschhoek punches well above its weight for high-end eateries, wedged along its tiny high street. A great way to explore is on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, a vintage hop-on, hop-off bus, that offers six coloured-coded routes, each stopping at eight different wine estates. Our top tip? Even the most committed of drinkers will struggle to sample all eight estates, so select four of the best: perhaps starting with two tastings, followed by a lazy lunch and then one more for the road. Next, don’t miss the chance to explore the area’s dramatic peaks and vine-clad slopes on two feet or two wheels: Bike n Wines offers cycling and hiking tours; or if you’re keen to go it alone, make up a gourmet picnic from Grab & Go deli at De Warenmarket in Stellenbosch – where olives, cheeses, salads and sandwiches await for on-trail sustenance.
Transportation
Amid the soaring scenery of the Cape Winelands near Stellenbosch, Delaire Graff Estate stands at the crest of the Helshoogte mountain pass, surrounded by vine-stitched slopes and some of South Africa’s best restaurants, wine estates and tasting rooms.
Planes
Cape Town’s main international airport is a 30-minute drive to the west; the estate also has a private helipad if you really want to arrive in style.
Trains
Stellenbosch’s train station is serviced by the Metrorail from Cape Town, connecting city with countryside in an hour.
Automobiles
Driving is popular with visitors to South Africa and car hire is available at all major airports. Roads are well maintained and easy to navigate, especially along the main N2 highway that snakes from Cape Town, along the celebrated Garden Route, into the Eastern Cape. Delaire Graff Estate also offers a free shuttle in and out of Stellenbosch if you want to go car free, or explore the wineries without the need for a designated driver.
Location
Helshoogte Rd Stellenbosch, 7602South Africa
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Mr & Mrs Smith’s curated luxury and boutique portfolio accords IHG One Rewards members an unrivaled collection of the Earth's most exceptional excursions known and unknown. These hotels ensure that no detail is too small when it comes to premium accommodations and personalized service. IHG One Rewards members may earn and redeem their points at Mr & Mrs Smith hotels; however, because these are not IHG branded hotels, other IHG One Rewards benefits will not be available.
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