Thatched Cape Dutch gables rising from a 39-hectare vineyard estate in Franschhoek, with the Franschhoek Mountains stacked in blue-grey layers behind them — this is the visual proposition that Virgin Limited Edition inherited when it took over the property and commissioned Cape Town studio Hotcocoa to refurbish it for a September 2014 reopening as Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard. Kritzinger Architects oversaw the structural work, preserving the 1800s manor house while grafting a curvilinear thatched dining pavilion onto the ensemble — its circular form, visible in the images, allowing an almost unbroken ring of floor-to-ceiling glazing that frames the valley below on three sides. Hotcocoa's interiors manage the distance between farmhouse warmth and contemporary ease with convincing lightness. Guest rooms divide into two distinct moods: some sit beneath steep exposed timber roof structures with skylights cut directly into the pitch, the pale pine trusses providing their own architecture above linen-upholstered beds and dark oak credenzas; others present crisp white walls and wide-plank oak floors, botanical prints hung in grid arrangements, and corner windows directing the eye straight to the vine rows and mountain ridgeline beyond. The dining room brings the two sensibilities together — raw log purlins radiating from a central apex, diamond-patterned upholstered chairs in mustard and terracotta adding warmth against the cooler tones of the oak floor. Outside, a colonnaded pool terrace extends the whitewashed geometry of the Cape Dutch tradition toward the valley.

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Mont Rochelle is Sir Richard Branson's stunning hotel and vineyard just under an hour's drive from Cape Town in the town of Franschhoek in South Africa. Situated in an area internationally renowned for its winelands and stunning scenery, Mont Rochelle boasts a unique hilltop setting with views over the Klein Dassenberg mountain range and private vineyard encompassing 39 hectares. The hotel comprises of 26 rooms and suites including a stunning Manor House; a private four-bedroom villa available for exclusive use year-round. There are five room types and all rooms can be made up with twin beds on request. Children are very welcome to stay at Mont Rochelle year-round and some rooms can accommodate children on single beds. There are two restaurants at Mont Rochelle: Miko and the Country Kitchen. Miko is the main restaurant and is the setting for some fantastic gourmet meals including those for special occasions. Adjacent to the winery is the Country Kitchen, an ideal spot for a light lunch or a take-away picnic. All our room rates include breakfast which is served in Miko. Both restaurants are open for non-resident guests but we do recommend you call in advance to book a table. At Mont Rochelle wine tasting isn’t just a special event – it’s an everyday occurrence. Both hotel guests and day visitors can enjoy wine tastings in a variety of locations and our Mont Rochelle wines are available to purchase. When you're not enjoying the wine, why not take a dip in the main outdoor heated swimming pool or relax at the Mont Rochelle Spa with a spa treatment or Hammam. We use the eco-friendly Africology ‘Authentic’ range of spa products which are made from 100% essential oils using natural plant extracts.