Country Living: The Village at Spier Hotel

A weekend at this expansive Cape Winelands holiday destination promises to be choc-a-bloc with activities to suit every personality type...

This luxurious country getaway is situated on a sprawling wine estate just outside the historic university town of Stellenbosch. The extensive range of activities on offer at the estate, make the Spier Village Hotel a holiday destination in itself (Some even consider it a part of Cape Town's Big Six).

Enjoy lakeside picnics; wine tasting sessions; a smorgasbord of culinary delights (The estate boasts 5 different eateries); leisurely games of golf at De Zalze; horse riding; romantic horse-driven carriage rides (and pony and cart rides for the kids); one-on-one cheetah and eagle encounters; shopping for trendy crafts, contemporary art exhibitions; open-air theatre; rejuvenating spa treatments, and more - all one estate.

The Village at Spier has been designed to recreate the intimate atmosphere of a quaint rural village. The rooms are spread out around six private courtyards. The pebbled walkways wind through Cape-styled buildings, past lush indigenous fynbos gardens.

Rooms have a relaxed, yet stylish country feel with wooden furniture; fireplaces; French shutters and doors; spacious balconies or verandahs; and beautiful views of the estate.

All rooms are stocked with complimentary sachets of coffee, tea and delicious homemade biscuits baked by the Khayelitsha Cookie Company (a social upliftment company). Instead of the traditional mint on your pillow - expect blocks of handmade Nougat dipped in dark chocolate at turndown every evening.

The hotel's four spacious suites face the scenic Eerste River. The suites have their own kitchens, lounges and dressing rooms. Guests will find a complimentary bottle of wine from Spier's ‘Classic' Range and a small box of handmade chocolates in their rooms upon arrival. The hotel also has nine villa rooms, consisting of three en-suite bedrooms and a communal lounge.

Spier is renowned for its environmental and social practices that stun and inspire others in the industry. Sustainability is the core of Spier's philosophy and the estate is internationally recognized for its ethical business practices.The estate employs ecologically sensitive building practices wherever possible (F.e. Spier makes it's own environmentally friendly bricks).

The estate also recycles the hotel's waste water and solid organic waste; redresses social inequality through job and skills creation and land reform; and are actively involved in a host of environmental awareness and education projects. On top of this, Spier prides itself on being a custodian of the arts (The hotel grounds boasts an impressive selection of South African art) and believes in the potential of art to transform societies.

Whether you are seeking contemporary art, award-winning theatre productions, sport, wildlife, wine, good food, a memorable holiday experience or pure pampering pleasure - a visit to Spier should be at the top of your holiday to-do-list.

Molo Says: "The Spier estate is a 15 minute drive from Cape Town International Airport; 30 minutes from Cape Town and 10 minutes away from Stellenbosch. Dine at Spier's various restaurants; enjoy a wine tasting; visit the Cheetah Outreach Project and the Eagle Encounters Raptor Rehabilitation Centre; and spend a night in one of The Village Hotel's new art rooms. Also subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more things to do in Cape Town and surrounds."