Boschendal

OVERVIEW:

Boschendal is South Africa’s second-oldest wine farm! Its name, meaning ‘wood and valley’, was inspired by the farm’s beautiful location, within the valley of Franschhoek. Founded in 1685, just five years ago Boschendal had fallen into disrepair, but thankfully a period of reliable investment saw the farm recover, and thrive. Various rates packages are available, so please contact a member of the YZ team for further details. The farm is open all year round.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The farm can be accessed via approximately an hour’s drive from Cape Town International Airport. It’s situated in the Franschhoek Valley, between the mountains of Simonsberg and Drakenstein.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT BOSCHENDAL:

There are seven categories of guest accommodation. The options that’s right for you will depend on the size of your party and also, in some cases, how close you’d like to be to the main hub of the property, where you’ll find the majority of the restaurants, bars, and other attractions. The Werf Garden Suites are nearest to this central area. Each offers a double or twin bedroom, featuring bedside tables and lighting, a writing desk and chair, an armchair, and some pictures of plants and flowers. There’s a lounge too, with two more armchairs, a coffee table, a television, and a cosy fireplace. The en-suite washroom contains a flush toilet, twin washbasins, shower, and freestanding bathtub. There’s also a small kitchen, and all suites enjoy access to a shared pool!

Other options at Boschendal include the Orchard Cottages, about 2 kilometres from the Werf zone. Stylishly converted from former labourers’ cottages, these benefit from a kitchenette apiece, an outdoor dining area for braais (BBQs), and, again, a shared pool. At a similar distance from the Werf, there’s Rhodes Cottage, which sleeps up to six people in its main building and a further four in a garden annexe, and Trout Cottage, accommodating up to four adults and two children. Farther out, there’s Bertha’s Retreat, a collection of 18 semi-detached cottages, and, finally, there’s the very impressive Mountain Villa. These are farthest from the Werf and boast six bedrooms as well as two lounges, a spacious terrace, an outside bar area, a braai, a pizza oven, and its own swimming pool, amidst impeccably kept gardens, complete with lawns and a private lake!

The Werf itself at Boschendal is home to the farm’s exciting variety of dining options. These include The Werf Restaurant, which runs according to the mantra, ‘A collaboration with nature on every plate.’ Chefs pride themselves on rustling up contemporary farm-to-table dishes, using the finest locally sourced ingredients. The Restaurant also offers an extensive wine list, a well-stocked bar, and a memorable setting in the former cellar of the farm’s Manor House. Nearby, there’s The Deli, once Boschendal’s wagon house, for delicious snacks and meals, in addition to the farm’s fowl run, herb garden, olive press, and shop-and-butchery, where guests can purchase such items as beef, pork, eggs, bread, jam, and pastries. Neighbouring this spot is a picnic area, one of many on the site, and The Tree House, a new edu-play centre for children (for more on this, see below). Venture past the Werf Garden Suites, and you’ll arrive at another area, which has two eateries – Rhone Homestead and Cellar Door – as well as the farm’s main winery and fragrant rose gardens that are perfect for picnicking!

ACTIVITIES AT BOSCHENDAL:

Boschendal offers an exhilarating assortment of things to do, as follows:

• Farm tours

  – Why not begin your stay by looking around the farm? In the company of a knowledgeable guide, you’ll find out all about the site’s history, as well as the sustainable food growing and regenerative farming practices that take place here.

• Cellar tours

  – Also accompanied by an expert guide, this activity involves wandering through the farm’s winery and enjoying a few tasting sessions!

• Vineyard adventures

  – These experiences include tastings too. You’ll explore Boschendal’s extensive vineyards, stopping for drinks and some tasty snacks as well.

• Horse riding

  – Please note, this activity has a minimum age requirement of 7 years. Rides are offered in the morning and afternoons. Every type of rider is welcome, from beginner to experienced levels. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the farm, trotting through the vineyards with the spectacular mountain backdrop!

• Mountain biking

  – Bike rides through Boschendal are a lot of fun too. Recently the farm has opened a trail centre, offering a great range of routes. There’s something to suit every biker, and of course the scenery is well worth the exertion. Skilled bikers will particularly enjoy the Orchards track, with its berms, camelbacks, tabletops, and gap jumps, but smoother routes are offered too!

• Golf

  – As mentioned, the farm is located between a number of world-class golf courses in the Winelands region. Please get in touch with us if you’re interested in getting in a few rounds during your stay.

• Children's activities

  – Youngsters aged 4 to 14 years can head to Boschendal’s Tree House edu-play centre, to take part in a fab farm programme. For example, there’s farm foraging, which involves learning about animal stewardship and vegetable preparation. Outdoor cooking naturally follows from this activity, and kids can also enjoy art classes. And the Tree House has a super playground!