Delaire Graff Estate

"From stunning Cape Dutch-style architecture and world-class restaurants to luxurious wine country hotels, South Africa’s wine country is truly suited to all tastes. After checking in at Delaire Graff Estates, a boutique hotel and winery near Stellenbosch, toast to your romantic getaway with a bottle of méthode cap classique (South Africa’s version of Champagne). You’ll want to set aside a few days to go wine tasting in Stellenbosch and the neighboring regions Franschhoek, Paarl, and Constantia, where the grape to seek out is Pinotage, South Africa’s flagship variety. For a vacation memory that’ll age like fine wine, splurge on the tasting menu at Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia."

"So, what is this place? Tell us a little about it.Delaire Graff Estate is a designer winery with wraparound mountain and valley views. The panoramic vista out front encompasses the undulating vineyards, deep valleys, and towering mountains. In winter, the deep leather sofas around the fireplace are the best seats; in summer, snag an outdoor table under the trees. Either way, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in an elegant hotel bar, one with an enviable art collection to boot—an apt setting in which to sip on Delaire’s subtly nuanced, terroir-specific wines. Sounds delightful; we can't wait to check it out. Who else are we likely to see here?Wine connoisseurs who appreciate the sophisticated surroundings. The crowd tends to skew international, and there are a lot of small groups with private guides. Perfect. Speaking of wine connoisseurs, can you tell us about the vino?These are superb wines that make the trek up the Helshoogte mountain pass worth it. Start with the Delaire Graff Sunrise Brut MCC (named after a hefty yellow diamond) and end with Sunburst, a noble late-harvest sticky that tastes like dessert in a glass. Winemaker Morne Vrey believes in minimal intervention, allowing the integrity of the grapes to tell their own story. That's an itinerary we can stick to. How about the food? Anything we can line our stomachs with, or should we bring some snacks along?The offering is simple but substantial. Choose between a cheese platter (with big chunks of cheese from a local fromagerie and fruit preserves), a vegetarian platter (with olive tapenade, olive paste, olives, and crudite), and a charcuterie platter. All are served with fresh artisanal bread from nearby Boschendal Farm. Excellent. What about the people who work there—did they seem to know what they were talking about?The smartly attired staff is well educated, yet no one’s afraid to let their personality shine through. Many folks here are studying toward further wine appreciation or sommelier qualifications through the country’s highly regarded WSET certification program. That's pretty legit. So, wrap it us: Why are we coming here?Delaire is known for its phenomenal art collection, ultra-modern winery, award-winning bottles, two restaurants, and exceptional suites and villas with a spa attached. Here, too, you’ll find the smallest Graff Diamonds store in the world, which showcases an exclusive collection handmade in London by Graff’s master craftsmen. Come for impressive wines, but stay for the the art and view." - Jane Broughton

"While most travelers visit the Cape Winelands in the spring or fall, Delaire Graff is a year-round destination. At the estate’s Wine Lounge, guests can enjoy a glass of wine on the outdoor terrace during the summer, or cozy up by the crackling fire in winter, enjoying the famous view through floor-to-ceiling windows. The wines here range from elegant reds with soft tannins to white wines that capture the freshness of the harvest. Those craving a more complete experience should know that Delaire is also a Relais & Châteaux property with an on-site spa and six separate lodges. Book a massage and you’ll enjoy full use of the pool, steam room, and sauna as well as a tasting in the Wine Lounge post-treatment, or stay overnight in the Owner’s Suite, which features a heated plunge pool and views of Table Mountain."

"Delaire Graff is an elegant and sophisticated choice in the Winelands with incredible restaurants and amazing views of the vineyards." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Meticulous attention to detail goes into designing each piece of Graff jewelry. But it can work on a bigger scale too. Such is the case at the Delaire Graff Estate, a bonafide classic high above Stellenbosch. Its high-altitude vineyards and excellent terroir combine to make first-rate vintages, the winery has its own restaurant with gunshot views of the smoky-blue Simonsberg mountain range, and a cluster of designer boutiques includes one of the smallest Graff stores in the world. The 10 lodges—brilliant examples of artisanal craftsmanship conjured by the David Collins Studio a decade ago—are so in demand that six new ones have just been added, all with heated pools and their own displays of original art and photography. For king-of-the-castle sophistication, there’s the enormous four-bedroom villa, carved into the mountainside, with a 45-foot pool. The gallery-like wall space has been filled with Laurence Graff’s personal selection of works from his vast collection of contemporary South African art: Find William Kentridge charcoal drawings and other masterpieces alongside mid-century-style furniture by Vladimir Kagan and side tables by artist Atang Tshikare. Delaire’s spa is fabulously well run, and guests settle into their surroundings on hiking and biking trails below the Botmaskop Peak, returning to roam the sculpture-filled estate gardens. This may be a high-achieving big hitter, but it’s totally rooted in the landscape and local culture. —Jane Broughton"