Located at the very end of Devon Valley Road, resting on the slopes that neighbour some of the most celebrated wine estates in South Africa, Monticello is a graceful, glorified playground for large, multigenerational family gatherings, milestone celebrations and small weddings.
Monticello invites you to savour all that the Stellenbosch valley has to offer. With hectares of Cabernet Franc vines, old olive groves and fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, rolling lawns, a dam, a soccer pitch and heated, saltwater swimming pool, Monticello is a weekend getaway gift that keeps on giving.
Comprising of a manor house with large ensuite rooms and family suites enough to accommodate as many as 18 guests, a grand farm-style country kitchen, copious dining, entertaining and reclining rooms, long terraces and al fresco feasting spaces, cosy reading nooks, ample open fireplaces and a fabulous pizza oven. Each space beautifully appointed by the revered Cécile and Boyd.
Gather, feast and create lifelong memories
With his farm-to-fork philosophy, the chef owner implores you and your clan to centre your experience at Monticello around food.
Take to the grounds and picnic in the herb and vegetable garden, dine amongst the vines and settle around the many seating areas for hours on end as you marvel at the magnificent views that surround. You’re at liberty to self-cater entirely, or make use of his culinary skills in the kitchen, having your meals tended to with an Italian-French finesse. There’ll be sustainably sourced, local produce from all areas of the province at the table too. The choice is yours.
There are of course plenty of excursions away from the farm that you’ll enjoy participating in. Wine tasting and exploring the food culture of the valley. Hiking and biking trails, market visits and traversing the town.
For everything else, and more than you could anticipate, Monticello awaits the unravelling of yet another gift. Evening pizzas under the pergola, night dips in the pool, games on the lawn and around the tables. You’ll be up early with the birds, meandering the vegetable garden with your hot brew, or sitting on the terrace watching the sun rise in all her splendour. What’s to come of the new day is unknown. An unwrapping of each moment; ribbons of new discoveries and gems of lifelong memories with the whole clan.
Edited by Dawn Kennedy