With ever-changing mountain views over the vineyards and the fruit orchard, Simonsrust is an utterly peaceful sanctuary.
Waking to the sound of horses neighing nearby is bliss… an instant reminder that a weekend of enjoying the wine and gourmet delights of the valley is about to begin, whether it’s here – in what is a dream kitchen for cooks – or in Franschhoek itself. We found it hard to tear ourselves away from the feast of recipe books and were thrilled to discover appliances fit for a chef.
This is definitely a house for all seasons: with two fireplaces indoors it’s toasty and warm in winter, while summer’s balmy breezes allow all the double doors to be opened up to the vine-covered stoep and generous-sized pool. Life here is about relaxing alfresco meals and chilling around the pool – the perfect antidote to city life or a great base for exploring the winelands.
The individual design style of Cape architect Wynand Wilsenach is immediately recognizable: all the windows and doors have elegant heritage-style interior wooden shutters, klompje bricks are used decoratively – from the kitchen to the fireplace – and pebbles and stonework add character both inside and out. Lofty thatched interiors, together with fans and air conditioning make this a really cool house in the heat of summer.
Reviewed by Michelle Snaddon