The Great Indoors
Winter Experiences at Delaire Graff Estate
Today’s discerning travellers seek the luxury of privacy, harmony and tranquillity. Yearning to discover havens away from the madding crowd, sought-after destinations create space where one can still one’s mind, sharpen the senses, and physically recharge.
Discretely positioned at the highest point of the Helshoogte Pass, guests are welcomed at Delaire Graff Estate by rolling vineyards and olive groves in quiet splendour. The architecture itself follows the contours of the landscape making for an impressive external appearance.
The winter months in the Cape Winelands are a time of hibernation. The snow-capped peaks of the Drankenstein mountains this week encourage us to enjoy the magnificent view from the floor-to-ceiling windows around the estate, from the warmth and comfort of the great indoors. Each aspect of Delaire Graff Estate has been designed with the discerning traveller in mind, with the David Collins Studio curating thoughtfully conceived interiors as equally impressive as the landscape which surrounds the estate. This winter, journey inwards with cosy indoor experiences at Delaire Graff which inspire the soul and envelope the senses.
GUIDED EXPLORATIONS
Art is central to Laurence Graff’s biography. Not only has art been the source of long-lasting friendships, but it has also shaped his understanding of hospitality. A discriminating art patron who prizes ambition in the artists whose work he collects, when Mr Graff opened Delaire Graff Estate in 2009 he handpicked the South African artists whose works went on display. Today, a private collection of more than 400 pieces created by a diverse array of influential artists adorns the walls and gardens of Delaire Graff Estate. Guests can explore the collection for themselves on their next visit, or enquire about a guided Art Walk before a dining experience or during a stay at the Lodges & Spa.
Framed by gallery-like windows, our 450-tonne gravity-fed cellar is a fascinating space to explore. Here, accomplished South African winemaker, Morné Vrey, is relentless in his pursuit of quality. Only available during the winter months, guests are welcome to reserve a Cellar Tour to accompany their wine-tasting or dining experience where they will uncover more about our meticulous approach to winemaking and the superb portfolio of wines produced at Delaire Graff.
WINE & DINE
Upon entering the Delaire Graff Wine Lounge, the overwhelming nature of its serene beauty is immediately apparent. It is irrefutably a promise of the Estate’s splendour. The warm and inviting interior is a fusion of ultramodern design elements combined with local provenance and indigenous styling. Allow our wine tutors to awaken your senses to the unique qualities of our wines with a Tutored Wine Experience, or explore the collection for yourself with a seasonal platter and wines by glass and bottle accompanied by a crackling log fire.
Continue your palate’s journey with a choice of flagship restaurants.
From the Wine Lounge, wander across the peach-pip floors through art-lined walls, and discover Delaire Graff Restaurant where exceptional seasonal provenance is reimagined through bistro-chic menus paired with our award-winning wines. Take your seat in the elegant fire-warmed space on the curving tangerine banquette inspired by Xhosa-culture, and enjoy artworks by William Kentridge, Dylan Lewis, Deborah Bell and other artists.
At Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa, Head Chef Virgil Kahn has crafted a bespoke Afro-Asian fine-dining experience at Indochine Restaurant with an inventive menu of beautifully balanced dishes. Beneath the enigmatic sculptural installation by Andre Stead and Lionel Smit, Swallows in Flight, set forth on a journey across the five flavour profiles – sweet, sour, spicy, salty and bitter. At Indochine, the evolving menus reflect an insatiable appetite for authenticity, yet offer a distinctive contemporary twist.
WINTER WELLNESS
Neighbouring Indochine, Delaire Graff Spa carries guests on a holistic journey of wellness, drawing on an understanding of ancient Eastern wisdom while utilising advanced new-world technology. Through results-driven treatments and restorative spa rituals, time at Delaire Graff Spa is a transcendent experience beyond our everyday world. Take refuge in within the peaceful halls and world-class facilities to reset the natural ebb and flow of the body’s rhythms with seasonal spa rituals, all-day spa journeys, and sophisticated single-treatment options. Unwind in the sauna, reflect in the steam room, and allow a sense of peace to wash over you within the relaxation room or heated jacuzzi.
STAY A WHILE
The pairing of Delaire Graff Spa and the estate’s accommodations with a quiet corner of the gardens offers a serene atmosphere that speaks of unlimited secluded relaxation. Guests can drift between the spa and the lodges, needing never to encounter the activity of the main estate. Delaire Graff Estate’s idyllic Lodges offer all who spend time here a genuine retreat. Bespoke materials and soft furnishings reflective of European flair have been carefully chosen to complement textures and tones inspired by Africa. The combination achieves a modern yet timeless appeal, taken up a few notches once again by Mr Graff’s personal selection of rare objects and artworks to create focal points for the interiors.
Cocoon within the art-filled interiors of each individual lodge suite where spacious king-sized bedrooms and adjoining private living spaces spill out to private terraces and heated plunge pools. Exclusively for Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa guests, reserve the private theatre in the Main Lodge for a screening of a chosen film, perfect for a winter’s day.
