WINE TOURISM Babylonstoren
Franschhoek Valley, South Africa
O
ften described as “paradise found” by co- owners, designer Karen Roos and her media
baron husband Koos Bekker (CEO of multinational media group Naspers), Babylonstoren is a visionary project. Set on 590 acres in the Drakenstein
Valley in South Africa, the gateway to Franschhoek, the property was initially destined to become a personal weekend retreat and with a manor house dating from 1777 and a well-pre- served, complete farmyard in the Cape Dutch style, the couple believed they had a real opportunity to realise some- thing special in terms of outdoor living. However, soon – according to Roos
– they decided they needed “to make it into a place people could share.” They’ve gone on to create a ‘farm hotel’ (capacity 48), with guests staying in 14 five-star suites in restored farm work- ers’ cottages with the exclusive use of the manor house. The Garden Spa pro- vides tranquility overlooking the garden, while the restaurant – Babel – has a ‘garden to plate’ concept.
The core of the project is the garden, which is modeled on the historic ‘Company of Gardens of the Cape’ which the Dutch East India Company
established on the Cape in 1652 to grow all the produce needed to replen- ish trading ships en route between the Indian and Atlantic oceans. Roos and Bekker hired Patrice
Taravella, creator of the gardens at Prieuré Notre-Dame d’Orsan in the Loire Valley in France, to design the plantings. The orchards and gar- dens sit within 200 acres of vineyards
Designer Karen Roos (above) converted the 250-hectare fruit farm into a hotel and spa, with vineyards and extensive gardens
The design of the guest suites was influenced by the traditional Cape Dutch farm buildings 56 Read Leisure Management online
leisuremanagement.co.uk/digital
producing Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, and Viognier and the extraordinary tapestry of fruit, vegetables, herbs and horti- culture is overseen by head gardener, Gundula Deutschlander. In July 2012, Forbes magazine described Babylonstoren as “effortless chic,” saying “Each of the soothing, all-white, minimalist rooms – designed by Roos, with a small library of books chosen by Bekker – has a kitchen and guests are permitted to pick and eat garden ingredients at will. Babel has become a Cape Town draw, with its sophisticated farm-to-table cuisine.” On this farm – one of the oldest Cape Dutch farms in the Western Cape – an intriguing visitor experience is emerging. This is defined by its creators as “a place where days are intentionally unscripted, leaving guests to do as they please.” According to Roos and Bekker, “This is a place where we’re not looking for different things but, simply looking at things differently.”
ISSUE 3 2013 © cybertrek 2013
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