There are a few things you might already know about Allée Bleue in Franschhoek - that it’s a wine farm where you can taste and buy, it has a bistro, it’s where most of the herbs you find in supermarkets are farmed, and you can have picnics, or a wedding.
But did you know you can also spend a night there?
I did not, and I am delighted to share this find with you. There are three historic properties on the estate: the Manor House, Mill House and Kendall Cottage, which is where I stayed. Utterly glorious, it dates back to 1920 and was opened as a “luxurious retreat for newlyweds, business guests or small groups” in 2009.
I fell in love with the bougainvillea-draped front veranda and the “stable” front door. Inside there is a huge central lounge with gas fireplace, bar and kitchenette with tea- and coffee-making facilities (no cooking).
The fridge is fully stocked with drinks including fresh milk. At a small table in front of one of the windows there was a cheese platter and a bottle of wine in an ice bucket, a standard welcome for all guests.
On either side of the living room are double bedroom and bathroom suites with separate toilets. There is sexy modern lighting, lots of little toiletries, huge tubs, showers, and walls of mirrors. In the bedroom I chose (and not for this reason) there was an interesting ring bolted to one of the ceiling beams. Very Fifty Shades of Grey.
Part of the charm of Kendall Cottage is that you can tell its age by all the little steps up and down through the different doorways because of the uneven floors. That’s combined with all the mod-cons you need, as well as some quite spectacular and interesting art, some of it painted or drawn directly on the walls.
Out back there is an elevated deck overlooking the vineyards, lavender and rosemary fields, and if you take a walk to the end of them you will find yourself on the river border of Solms-Delta. It was a Friday evening and I was entertained by the sundowner sounds of the live music from that neighbouring farm, carried on the warm breeze, which was enchanting.
There is a table and more chairs on this deck, under the oak trees but I should warn you, there are hundreds of very busy squirrels and acorns are frequently dropped.
I’d had a big lunch that day so dining on the cheese platter was sufficient for me (and the wine, always the wine), but of course, you can take a drive into Franschhoek itself and go to any one of the fine restaurants there; if you’re staying longer, lunch on a wine farm is as easy as pie, and of course there is Allée Bleue’s own bistro.
Breakfast is included with your stay, and mine was delivered the next morning to be taken on the back deck: bacon, sausage, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, bread, and coffee. There is a continental option of pastries, fruit, cheese, jam, and muesli.
Another wonderful thing besides the excellent wi-fi was, as far as I could tell (there were no other cars in the parking lot), I was the only person staying on the farm that night apart from the security guard, who I spotted once or twice before sunset, while I was lying on the grass reading my book. For a city gal, being so isolated in a peaceful location, watching the moon rise, that’s quite a treat.
*Allée Bleue is at the intersection of the R45 and R310, Groot Drakenstein (I call it Franschhoek, and the R310 is the road to Stellenbosch). Visit www.alleebleue.co.za, e-mail [email protected] or call 021 874 1021.
Biana Coleman, Weekend Argus