By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Delaire Graff Estate is the most glamorous place to stay in the Cape Winelands: a wine estate high on the Helshoogte Pass above Stellenbosch, looking across vineyards to the Simonsberg and the mountains of the Banhoek Valley. Owned by the jeweller Laurence Graff, a member of Relais & Châteaux, it combines 16 private lodges with heated plunge pools, a spa, two restaurants and an art collection of more than 400 works.
Delaire Graff Estate is the most glamorous place to stay in the Cape Winelands: a wine estate high on the Helshoogte Pass above Stellenbosch, looking across vineyards to the Simonsberg and the mountains of the Banhoek Valley. Owned by the jeweller Laurence Graff, a member of Relais & Châteaux, it combines 16 private lodges with heated plunge pools, a spa, two restaurants and an art collection of more than 400 works.
Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
The Cape Winelands, inland from Cape Town, are one of the most beautiful wine regions in the world, a landscape of vineyards and Cape Dutch farmsteads beneath dramatic mountain ranges. Delaire Graff stands on the Helshoogte Pass, the road that climbs between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, with sweeping views over the Banhoek Valley and the Simonsberg.
Cape Town is about 45 minutes away by road, and Cape Town International Airport about 40 minutes, so it combines easily with the city, the coast and the rest of the Winelands.
Lodges at Delaire Graff
There are 16 lodges and an Owner's Villa, all with views of the vineyards and mountains. Most are one-bedroom lodges of around 70 to 76 square metres, with private heated plunge pools; the two-bedroom Presidential Lodges face the Simonsberg, and the four-bedroom Owner's Villa, of around 660 square metres, has its own pool, gym and art collection. Interiors are rich and contemporary, with original art throughout.
Facilities at Delaire Graff
The spa has five treatment suites and a menu of sophisticated treatments, and there is a heated pool facing the mountains. Dining is in two acclaimed restaurants, Delaire Graff Restaurant and the Asian-inspired Indochine, and the estate's own wines can be tasted in the tasting lounge.
The art collection, with more than 400 works including many by South African artists, is displayed across the estate, and there are boutiques and a jewellery salon. Wine tours, vineyard walks and day trips to Franschhoek and Cape Town are easily arranged.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is a glass of the estate's wine on your terrace in the late afternoon, as the sun lowers over the vineyards and the Simonsberg turns gold, then a swim in your heated plunge pool as the valley falls into shadow.
In the morning, walk through the vines before breakfast, with the mountains of the Banhoek Valley all around.
Why Delaire Graff is one of the best mountain hotels
Delaire Graff earns its place for its setting, its lodges and the quality of everything it does, from the food and wine to the art and the spa. It is the finest base in the Cape Winelands, with the mountains always in view.
For wilder mountain stays in South Africa, see Bushmans Kloof in the Cederberg and Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse in the Drakensberg, and read our guide to the best mountain hotels in Africa.
When to go to Delaire Graff
The Cape's summer, from November to March, brings warm, dry, sunny days, ideal for the vineyards, terraces and pools, with the grape harvest from around February to April. Autumn, in April and May, is beautiful, with golden vines and fewer visitors, while winter, from June to August, is cooler and wetter but cosy, often with snow on the high peaks and good value.
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Questions, answered
- Where is Delaire Graff Estate?
- Delaire Graff is on the Helshoogte Pass above Stellenbosch, in South Africa's Cape Winelands, about 45 minutes by road from Cape Town.
- How many lodges does Delaire Graff have?
- There are 16 lodges and a four-bedroom Owner's Villa, most with private heated plunge pools.
- Does Delaire Graff have a spa?
- Yes. The spa has five treatment suites, and there is a heated pool with mountain views.
- What restaurants are at Delaire Graff?
- There are two acclaimed restaurants, Delaire Graff Restaurant and the Asian-inspired Indochine, as well as a wine tasting lounge.
- When is the best time to visit the Cape Winelands?
- November to March for warm, sunny weather, and February to April for the grape harvest.
