A day in the Winelands by Ilanga Travel

On a cold and rainy day in June our entire team went on a little trip to the beautiful winelands to get to know some new, and revisit some old properties. Even though the sky was cloudy and grey, our wine region is still lovely during winter. What is better than a warm fire place and a nice glass of wine?

Let us take you through our day 😊.

The Lanzerac Hotel

Our first stop was the gorgeous Lanzerac. This hotel dates back to 1692, making it a historic landmark.

We started our morning with a delicious breakfast at the Manor Kitchen which serves breakfast daily from 07h00 to 10h30. They have the option of baked goods, cold meats, cheeses, fruits, fruit juices, etc. There is also an a la carte menu.

After breakfast we set off on a tour of the hotel and wine estate.

The Manor Kitchen also serves High Tea every Saturday between 14h00 and 17h00 & a Seven-course Experience every Friday and Saturday evening from 18h00 onwards. In addition, the hotel also has a second restaurant, called The Taphuis. There is also a tasting room & deli, and the Craven Lounge which offers a range of the finest local and international spirits, a carefully curated wine list, and a wide range of craft beers. There is a tapas menu for those who want to dine in the lounge.

The hotel has four room categories – Classic, Junior Suite, Luxury Room and Suites.

All rooms are very spacious  – even the entry level Classic Rooms.

The rooms are elegantly styled with antique furniture to showcase the hotels rich history. They have also incorporated modern touches to lighten the space up. Each room has an en-suite bathroom, coffee and tea facility, fully stocked mini bar, safe and hair dryer. Some rooms also come with a private plunge pool.

The hotel has several communal pools, one of which is heated, and there is also a gym and a spa.

Banhoek Lodge

The small reception area opens up into a breakfast area that invites you to start the morning with a view of the beautiful wine valley. The dreamy theme of the view runs through every bedroom, all of which have king-size beds and are equipped with fireplaces and underfloor heating for colder days.

There is a Nespresso machine, a wonderful mini-bar, and a selection of various wines from the region to try. Each room has a seating area by the window and on the terrace or balcony to relax –  perfect for morning coffee or afternoon wine, allowing you to truly enjoy the spectacular surroundings. The bathrooms are also well-equipped with fluffy towels and useful toiletries.

Banhoek Lodge offers a mobile spa treatment as an optional extra, which is set up in your own room and is completely private.

Breakfast is the only catering option that Banhoek provides, as there are plenty of high-quality restaurants in the vicinity. For some exercise and fresh air, you can take a walk through the vineyards, which also lead to neighbouring wine estates such as Thelema or Zorgvliet.

Only children over the age of 12 are welcome. Unfortunately, since the majority of rooms are located on the upper floor, it is not wheelchair accessible.

Knorrhoek Guest House

Our visit to Knorhoek was a short, but beautiful stop on a very rainy day.

Nestled in the country side, this large and beautiful property is a 3-star spectacle. The individually decorated rooms offer the clients a homey stay at an affordable rate.

Amongst the wonderful rooms, there is an amazing 5-bedroom house, which is perfect for families. The house comes with a private pool, beautiful views, and all the amenities required for self-catering holiday!

Besides the lovely rooms, Knorhoek has a very welcoming team that can host you for wine tastings with in-house wines, or premium wines from their neighbouring farm – Quoin Rock.

It is a must visit for any client looking for an affordable experience on a wine farm in the winelands.

Spier Hotel

We were warmly welcomed and were immediately blown away by the new interior design of the reception hall and bar. Warm tones and lights in harmony with the surrounding nature also continues to the rooms and suites. A modern and yet classic approach to farm-style living and interior.

The hotel has 80 rooms in a village-style that makes you feel at home rather than staying in a big hotel. The spacious and light filled rooms are decorated in warm colors and have beautiful heritage-style bathrooms.

The Luxury Rooms with interleading and accessibility options, offer views of the indigenous Cape gardens from Juliet balconies or private verandas.

The Luxury Suites alongside the Eerste River have private dressing rooms, private dining & living areas and farm-style kitchens. The suites can accommodate up to 3 people and are also suitable also for families.

What has always been remarkable about Spier is the love and support of local art. You will see it everywhere – from the manor house to the curated walls in the rooms. Spier Arts Trust is one of South Africa’s largest contemporary collections.

At the charming Garden Room Restaurant and the rustic Veld Restaurant you can enjoy the "soil to table" concept, where you can feast on good South African cuisine with products from the farm's own garden and local farmers.

The large pool and outdoor areas are impressive and perfect for families with children! Kids can move around freely – there is always something to do and see or you can mingle with the many visitors to the wine farm.

We hope that you enjoyed reading our day out as much as we did and that we were able to showcase a wide variety of products in our winelands.

Stay tuned for our next newsletter where we will take you on safari again!

Your Ilanga Travel Team