Leeu Estates
An easy hour’s drive from Cape Town lies the Franschhoek Valley. And it’s here, on the lower slopes of the Dassenberg Mountain, that you’ll find Leeu Estates (opening early 2016). An elegant and private Winelands retreat, Leeu Estates blends all the elements that Franschhoek is famous for together: luxurious accommodation, gourmet cuisine, an award-winning winery and magnificent views.
Leeu Estates has a number of accommodation options. At the heart of the farm, the 19th-century Manor House has six guest rooms and suites (each with its own lounge and fireplace); along with a living room, dining room, and intimate book-filled reading room. Or choose from one of six spacious cottages set amongst rows off hand-tended vines, pomegranate and plum orchards.
A stay at Leeu Estates feels like an escape to an elegant country home. Each room and suite is beautifully decorated with a calming colour scheme and carefully curated artwork. And while such magnificent surroundings encourage leisurely time away from screens, each room does have a high-definition smart TV and a media hub with unlimited free Wi-Fi access (and iPad on request) should you want it.
Alongside the Manor House is the estate spa, which offers massages by expert Thai therapists as well as holistic treatments using natural products from the Himalayas. There’s a TechnoGym with a 15-meter outdoor heated pool, or stretch your legs on one of the hiking, jogging and cycling trails that crisscross the estate.
Leeu Estates is the home of Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines; a collection of handcrafted premium wines made by husband-and-wife team Chris and Andrea Mullineux (winners of the prestigious 2014 Platter’s Winery of the Year Award). So start your Franschhoek wine tasting with a visit to the estate’s sleek tasting venue, a short stroll from the Manor House.
