Vineyards and mountains of the Franschhoek valley at golden hour

Franschhoek, Cape Winelands

Where the valleykeeps its secrets.

Twelve suites. One vineyard. No hurry.

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Our philosophy

We planted for patience. The valley gives its fruit slowly, and so we keep the hours long, the rooms few, and the welcome quiet.

Maison Aurelle has stood at the head of the valley since the first vines were laid in 1694. Twelve suites look over forty two hectares of granite soil, olive groves and slow water. Everything here is made on the estate, poured by the people who grew it, and served without ceremony.

A house of five star comfort, kept deliberately small.

Stone cellar doorway framed by vines with barrels resting inside

The suites

Twelve rooms, each one facing the valley

Suite bedroom with full height windows opening onto vineyard rows at sunset

Vineyard Suite

64 square metres / Two guests

R 12 500per night

Stone bath set before a window with a wide mountain view

Mountain Suite

72 square metres / Two guests

R 15 900per night

Vaulted stone suite lit by candles with wine barrels beyond a glass wall

Cellar Suite

58 square metres / Two guests

R 18 400per night

Cape Dutch residence with a long pool reflecting the last light of the day

The Aurelle Residence

240 square metres / Six guests

R 46 000per night

The estate in figures

The estate in figures

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Suites
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Hectares
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Year founded
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Restaurants

The cellar

Four wines that explain the valley

Reserve a tasting
Plate of garden vegetables, herbs and edible flowers on pale ceramicLine caught fish with shellfish and sea herbs in a shallow brothBeef cooked over open coals with charred fennel on a dark plate

Dining

Three courses, three landscapes

Picked at first light from the walled garden, dressed with herb oil and estate olive.

A day at the estate

From first light to the last candle

  1. 7 am

    Sunrise vineyard walk

    Mist lifting from vineyard rows beside a gravel path at sunrise

  2. 9 am

    Breakfast on the terrace

    Breakfast of fruit, pastries and coffee laid on a shaded stone terrace

  3. 11 am

    Cellar tasting

    Red wine poured into a tasting glass in a barrel cellar

  4. 3 pm

    Spa

    Spa treatment room with stone walls, warm light and folded linens

  5. 6 pm

    Sunset aperitif

    Two glasses of sparkling wine on a stone ledge as the sun sets over the vines

  6. 10 pm

    Dinner by candlelight

    Dinner table set with tall candles, crystal and linen in a dark room

Journal and press

Winelands Hospitality AwardsCape Travel CollectiveThe Quiet Luxury IndexValley Table GuideSouthern Vintners CircleSlow Journeys AnnualWinelands Hospitality AwardsCape Travel CollectiveThe Quiet Luxury IndexValley Table GuideSouthern Vintners CircleSlow Journeys Annual

Guest letters

  • We arrived for two nights and asked to stay a week. Nothing is rushed, and nothing is missing.

    Elise Van Reenen

  • A world class table with none of the theatre. The cellar tasting alone was worth the drive.

    Thabo Mokoena

  • From check in to the last candle, every detail was considered and quietly done.

    Marguerite Fourie

NFRANSCHHOEKMAISON AURELLE

Finding us

At the head of the valley

Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa. The last kilometre is a gravel avenue of oaks, planted three centuries ago.

Cape Town
75 minutes
Stellenbosch
30 minutes
Cape Town International
60 minutes

Private transfers arranged

Stay in touch

Letters from the valley

Four letters a year on the harvest, the kitchen and the quiet season.