Posted by Carmen Arendse on
05 November 2019 8:05 AM
CAT
Embraced by the glory of the Cape Winelands, Santé Wellness Retreat & Spa has cultivated a resounding reputation for delivering holistic wellness services that are a blend of art and science, and high-tech and high-touch in a luxurious sanctuary. But it’s not just the opinion of guests that has painted such a glowing picture of this wellness retreat. Santé has just scooped up four incredibly prestigious awards this year, which officially recognize its exceptional caliber of service excellence.
Posted by Carmen Arendse on
04 November 2019 4:15 AM
CAT
The Festive Season is around the corner and it’s almost time to sit back, relax and enjoy this time with your loved ones. Christmas and New Year’s are special in South Africa as families and friends group together to reflect back on the year that was, make New Year’s resolutions and generally just enjoy spending some much deserved time together to celebrate.
Posted by Carmen Arendse on
01 November 2019 4:55 AM
CAT
Not only is it the height of awards season for the wine industry, but it is also full steam ahead for restaurants. With the 2019 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards around the corner chefs in and around the country are on tender hooks as they await news as to who has secured the top spot.
While we wait with bated breath there have also been a number of other awards – both local and international – bestowed on deserving Franschhoek eateries.
Earlier this month the The Hospitality Counsel hosted their annual Hosco-Audi Luxury Tourism Awards, and Le Petit Manoir Franschhoek secured 4th position overall on this prestigious list, which celebrates the finest contributions to the South African hospitality sector.
The finalists for the 19th Diners Club Young Winemaker of the Year awards have been released, and Thys Smit of Grande Provence has been included in the line-up of five winemakers who will vie for this prestigious title. The winner will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner at La Residence Hotel on 23 November 2019, with the lucky recipient walking away with a prize of R25 000.
Embrace the Christmas spirit by singing along to carols by candlelight on Christmas Eve before tucking into a sumptuous dinner. The Restaurant at Grande Provence offers guests a lavish six-course festive menu on Christmas Day. To welcome in 2020, a luxurious New Year’s Eve six-course dinner will sustain you till the magic hour.
The Franschhoek Wine Valley certainly packs a punch when it comes to tourism service delivery. Not only is the region regarded as one of the country’s leading wine producing areas as well as SA’s Culinary Capital, but tourism is also key in their continued efforts to stay ahead of the game and strive for what they believe in.
The passion and dedication of some of Franschhoek’s members were recently recognized at two leading industry events, reaffirming the valley as one of the country’s leading tourism destinations.
Celebrate Garden Day with us at beautiful Boshendal!
When : 20 October 2019
Time : 10h00 - 14h00
Where : Boschendal
With various ways to interact, learn, eat and play on our 11 acres of organically grown gardens, this will be a fun day out for the whole family. A number of experts from across SA will be joining us in the garden explaining practices such as seed saving, pruning, composting and general plant care. Learn how to create flower crowns and Christmas garlands, mix your own botanical infused cocktails and taste our delicious farm-fresh produce.
Kids will be entertained by our Tree House team with raised bed learning, bird feeder design and scavenger hunts.
We have invited like-minded suppliers to showcase their plant-based products, offering the chance to purchase fynbos, roses, seeds, books and organic/biological products to use at home. Entry to the garden is free, collect your map from the welcome station which will detail the location of all the activities.
Make a weekend of your Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival experience and book into one of the valley’s splendid accommodation establishments, ranging from the finest bed and breakfasts, to luxurious boutique hotels, all nestled in a picturesque and safe environment. This should also afford you ample time for a leisurely stroll down the main road, uncovering world-class shops and boutiques, allowing for an intimate and relaxed shopping expedition. Take time out to visit some of the award-winning wine farms in the region or enjoy that superb glass of Franschhoek wine with a delicious meal at one of Franschhoek’s fine dining establishments.
Set within 3,5 hectares (8 acres) of cultivated fruit and vegetables, the big garden at Babylonstoren is at the heart of the farm. It was inspired by the historic Company’s Garden in Cape Town, which supplied sailing ships of the Dutch East India Company with fresh vegetables and fruit during the days when the Cape was a halfway station between Europe and Asia. But we also link back to the mythological hanging gardens of Babylon. Those were thought to have been created by Nebuchadnezzar in the sixth century BC, for his wife who longed for the mountains and valleys of her youth.