A slice of paradise in the Boland

With its famed gardens, imaginative tours, luxurious cottages and restorative tranquillity, all set against a beautiful mountain backdrop, Babylonstoren is everything a getaway should be, says Brian Berkman.

- Brian Berkman.

Karen Roos, owner of renowned Babylonstoren farm, was once the editor of Elle Decoration magazine, and it was the skills she honed in this media environment that helped her create an exceptional lifestyle destination. So much so, that Babylonstoren’s renowned gardens, which nestle at the foot of the Simonsberg in the Franschhoek wine valley, have become the second-most-visited in South Africa, after Kirstenbosch.

OLIVES, WINE AND VINEGAR

Babylonstoren, which has been in operation for 10 years, offers numerous activities. One of its latest is the olive and balsamic vinegar tour, which includes a tasting. Franco September, one of the more than 300 staff members on the farm, is a tour guide who walks guests through the process from olive to oil.

While free for residential guests, day visitors are welcome at R200/ person, which includes a blend-your-own olive oil kit for home use. The olive- and olive oil-tasting experience includes a walkabout through the olive production plant and press. Following the Italian tradition of making balsamic vinegar, barrels of different volumes are used to age this condiment. The balsamic vinegar cellar is adjacent to a high-tech juicing and water-bottling plant where fresh produce is cold-pressed and their juices preserved.

THE DAILY GARDEN, FARM AND FACILITY TOURS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DAY VISITORS

Wines, too, comprise a substantial commercial activity at Babylonstoren. The farm has about 160ha under vineyards and produces four white varieties, one rosé, four reds and one Méthode Cap Classique.

A FEAST FOR THE SENSES