Rolling panoramas frame the valley and accentuate the drama of the surrounding Rocky Mountains – the South African wine country is an hour’s drive from Cape Town
French Protestant Pierre Joubert
More than 325 years ago, French Protestant Pierre Joubert hid his Bible in a loaf of bread and fled his hometown of La Motte-d’Aigues in Provence to escape religious persecution. In 1694, he arrived with other Huguenots at ‘Olifantshoek’ (Elephants Corner; later renamed Franschhoek).
Pierre married another person on the Bergchina, after the death of his first wife on the same trip, and he and his new wife, Isabeau Richarde, prospered on their farm and acquired other local farms, including Belingchamp, L’Ormarins, La Motte and La Roche. In 1732, at the age of 67, Pierre died, leaving to future generations acres of vineyards and examples of Cape Dutch architecture, including the Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate.
Count Riccardo Agusta
Another owner was Count Riccardo Agusta, after whom two of the estate’s wines are named. Count Riccardo Agusta, a conservationist and businessman, purchased Grande Provence in 1991 and added it to his family’s many and varied estates.
Dutch, French and Belgian
In April 2004, the Grande Provence Domain was purchased by a consortium of Dutch and Belgian businessmen who thus satisfied their passion for fine food, fine wine, exceptional hospitality and their love of Africa.
Franschhoek has a micro-European atmosphere and is known as the food and wine capital of the Cape. Wine estates, restaurants and other local delicacies tantalize the taste buds. Feel the history in the museums that document the exodus of French Huguenots to Africa.
After years of persecution as heretics by the Catholic Church, large numbers of Huguenots left France and sailed for the Cape of Good Hope on Dec. 31, 1681. The Huguenots were French Protestants who belonged to the Reformed church founded by John Calvin in 1550. However, François Villion and his brothers François and Guillaume du Toit had already settled in the Drakenstein Valley in an area they called Franschhoek.
This large-scale immigration was a beginning to the growing colony, as many of the French immigrants were merchants and skilled winemakers. The Dutch East India Company lent tools, seeds and other implements to those who wanted to cultivate to achieve commercial yields.
The Gallery at Grande Provence
This gallery is one of the most prestigious in South Africa. The exhibition specializes in contemporary works of various kinds by some of the country’s most renowned artists, but it is particularly known for high-quality sculpture. An annex sells small works, decorative items, and selected African objects.
The gallery is directed by Jean-Marie Olivier and curated by Pieter Lategan. Olivier was appointed the gallery manager and now shares the curatorship with Lategan. Before her appointment, she was curator for Agapanthus in Kalk Bay and Knysna Fine Art.
The Gallery offers advice to clients on collecting and restoration, as well as valuations for insurance and probate.
The interior design: Virginia Fisher
New Zealand interior designer Virginia Fisher came to public attention for her first project, HukaLodge in Taupo, New Zealand. When Alex Van Halen bought the resort in 2004, he commissioned Virginia Fisher to design an interior that would complement and enhance the place. Fisher accepted the challenge. Using the hotel’s heritage, she created an interior and ambiance that remains relevant to this day. Thanks to her attention to detail and knowledge of the guest experience, construction of the hotel and the addition of new floors continues.
Landscape design: Suzanne Turley
After a career in fashion, Suzanne Turley started a new career as a landscape designer. Perhaps this is the reason why she has an color sensibility and an innate understanding of the importance of texture. Susan’s garden design work utilizes both of these cultivated skills.
Susan’s consultancy work complements the talents of architect Pascal Tibbets and landscape architect Aaron Bell Booth. The three now work together as a team.
The wines at Grande Provence
Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate is home to the Grande Provence Wines and the Angels Tears lifestyle collection. The collection of wines is available for purchase at the farm and there are several different tasting and pairing options available, as well as a dedicated tour of the cellar where guests can interact and learn about the wine making procedure. The wines are divided into three categories: House wines, premium wines and flagship wines. Each category consists of three to six wine variations.
The Grande Provence winery
Main Rd, Franschhoek, 7690, South Africa. Located in the Franschhoek Valley in South Africa’s Western Cape, the vineyards cover 47 hectares.
