Mont Rochelle is Sir Richard Branson's stunning South African hotel and vineyard, spread over 100 acres of the sun-dappled western cape winelands and less than an hour from Cape Town. Centred around a beautiful thatched roof manor house, the hotel is boutique in style and the vibe is friendly and informal, with ample opportunity to sample the sublime wines and world-class gastronomy of the Franschhoek region. Walking trails wind their way through the scenery and once you’ve finished exploring this beautiful region, you can pamper yourself at the spa which comes complete with a hammam and heated pool.

A 45-minute drive from Cape Town airport.

In the town of Franschhoek, set amongst beautiful hills and vineyards and 35 minutes from the Stellenbosch, Paarl and Somerset West wine routes.

There are just 26 rooms and suites, plus a four bedroom villa, decorated in a chic and contemporary style with plenty of natural light and splashes of colour. Rooms are all well appointed with air-conditioning, a king size bed, flat screen TV, BOSE bluetooth speaker system, Nespresso coffee machine and complimentary mini bar. Each of the room categories has a private terrace and is named after a variety of grape - choose between Shiraz Rooms with courtyard or valley views or the spacious Merlot and Cabernet rooms, each with fabulous views of the surrounding valleys. The four Pinotage Suites and two Cap Classique Suites each include their own separate lounge and the Cap Classique Suites also have their own plunge pool. The luxurious four bedroom Manor House Villa is ideally suited to families or large groups, accommodating up to eight adults and six children, with its own kitchen, two pools and a gym.

The main restaurant, Miko, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a gourmet international menu with a South African flavour, accompanied, of course, by great local wines. The Country Kitchen is more informal, serving lunch and light bites throughout the week, and opening for dinner at the weekend. The kitchen will also prepare a picnic that you can take with you when you’re out exploring the grounds. The cosy bar with its lovely outdoor terrace is the perfect place for a sunset cocktail or glass of wine.

Bed & Breakfast

Enjoy the wonderful views of the Franschhoek Mountains from the heated outdoor pool, book yourself in for a soothing spa treatment or play a round of golf on one of the nearby courses. There is also a Hammam, a gym and a tennis court, as well as the 100 acre vineyard to explore. Daily wine tastings are offered in a variety of locations around the property, and visits can also be arranged to the estate’s 150 year old wine cellar. The surrounding area can be toured on foot, by bicycle or on the famous Franschhoek Wine Tram.