A trip to South Africa’s Mother City, Cape Town is
widely regarded as incomplete without paying a visit to the
picturesque village of Franschhoek in Cape Town’s nearby
winelands. After all, with some of the world’s best wines of
recent years coming from this area, it’s easy to see why one
in six visitors who travel to South Africa make time for a
stay in accommodation in Franschhoek.
Travel time from Cape Town is little more than an hour
so there’s plenty of time to explore the many wine estates
dotted around the village. Once arrived, for those wanting
to get in some wine tasting, there are plenty of tasting
venues within walking distance of the main drag and its
great cafés and boutiques. If you want to minimise your
travel time during your day of wine tasting and estate
hopping, hire a bike to cruise through back-to-back
vineyards or even make the journeys on horseback through
Franschhoek.
However you choose to go about your wine tasting
experience, there’s a lovely little guesthouse that I
discovered on my latest stay in Franschhoek that sums up all
that’s great in the winelands – relaxation, natural beauty
and indulgence. Gooding’s Groves Olive Farm is situated just
outside town of Franschhoek in the foothills of the
Wemmershoek mountains and has views stretching both ways
into the valley. As the name suggests, the country-chic
styled farmhouse is nestled away among thick olive groves
which provide olive oil and jars of olives on your doorstep
– well, on your bed really, as a very welcome gift. The
eight spacious rooms are individually designed but are all
beautifully decorated. The focus is on light and airy, just
as bedrooms in the countryside should be. Pristine linen and
a white bath robe are indicators of the touches of quality
found all over this guesthouse in Franschoek.
Whether relaxing in the drawing room talking to Malcolm
over a single malt or discussing interior designing with
Salomé, the proud owners of Gooding’s Groves will make your
stay in Franschhoek a memorable one. For lazy days when even
wine tasting is one activity too many, relax by the pool
with a book or absorb the views and beautiful scene around
you in the flower-filled courtyard. Also, for ultimate
downtime after a day of wine tasting the valley’s finest
vintages, spoil yourself with a beauty treatment or massage
in the comfort of your own room.
So, join the one in six people who
visit South Africa’s well-known winelands gem and come and
stay in Franschhoek’s new hidden gem - Gooding’s Groves Olive Farm.
The owners of Gooding's Groves Olive farm,
Malcolm and Salomé Gooding
