Theres something distinct about the fresh country air that reminds me of home. Probably because I grew up on a wine farm and as a child I spent countless hours following my grand-dad at the crack of dawn every day, watching with an intrigued expression as he checked on his vines. Now, several years later, I am back here in Stellenbosch admiring the vineyards that surrounded me as a child.

What brought me back? An exclusive little guest house, Villa Grande, in all its splendour. Its not home, but its quite close to it.

1920s Villa
For years everyone I knew raved about Villa Grande. My friends, my colleagues and my unsuccessful dates, who tried to woo me into a weekend away at this intimate little luxury accommodation spot situated in the heart of the Cape winelands. And I must admit that although the gesture scared me, the idea of a quiet getaway so near to the place where I grew up sounded ideal. So I decided to take a break from the corporate madhouse and make a reservation at Villa-Grande.

Seeing as I know Stellenbosch pretty well, it wasnt too difficult finding the place. When reaching the end of the drive leading up to the renovated 1920 villa, the building peers out from behind lush greenery; what a picture perfect moment. I was greeted with a warm-hearted smile as Neil, the owner walked me to my room.

Being the explorer type which I am, I wanted to see every corner of this guest house and thats exactly what I did. The lounge has a warm, homely feel to it, inviting you to relax and enjoy a warm pot of coffee by the wood-fire.

The guest house is near to the town centre, where I spent way too much money in cute curio shops. At this point Im realising that if Im going to spoil and pamper myself I might as well go all the way, so I booked myself for a day trip to visit the stunning wine estates that surround the area; for a spot of wine tasting of course!

A bit of wining and dining if you please
Now good wine deserves to be enjoyed with some good cuisine, so after the wine tasting trip I had a craving for a gourmet dish. Can you imagine that? In the middle of the countryside my stomach sends that strange message to my brain. I decided to try the guesthouses restaurant and Id say the craving was satisfied. Mouth-watering dishes that look and taste equally delicious lured me back to the restaurant for dinner on my second night too. The town is lined with top notch restaurants, literally around every corner and I had to visit them too for a bit of variety after all!

At the end of my stay I was so relaxed and content that I didnt want to leave. Unfortunately all good things come to an end. Reluctantly I packed my clothes back into my suitcase and gathered my belongings from the charming en suite bathroom; I was now ready to go.

Reality bites
After a well deserved break I am back at the office, nostalgically reminiscing on my four day stay at the cosy Stellenbosch guest house. Although my stay was way too short for my liking, it was blissful nonetheless. I reckon I will definitely go back for more soon. Very soon.

Villa Grande offers luxurious guest house accommodation in Stellenbosch. The guest house is situated in the historic centre of the picturesque Cape Winelands.