The document describes a stay at Auberge Clermont, a bed and breakfast located on a 10 hectare farm in the Franschhoek valley of South Africa. It offers a variety of luxury accommodation options surrounded by vineyards, orchards, and gardens. The property produces its own wine and olive oil. The reviewer enjoyed delicious meals at restaurants in the area and the decadent breakfasts at the B&B. Auberge Clermont provides a relaxing getaway surrounded by nature.

1. F
OUR star, five star, B&B,
guesthouse, boutique hotel
and others. The grading
system in South Africa is
bewildering. Auberge Clermont in
the Franschhoek valley is a four-
star bed and breakfast, but not in
my book. It’s a Goldilocks place –
just right in so many ways.
As the name suggests, the style
is French Provencal done well:
pretty, fresh, tasteful.
Accommodation varies. There is
a private, self-catering villa with a
large swimming pool fit for a
gaggle of friends or family;
delightful loft rooms among the
oak tree branches; a gorgeous
honeymoon suite in a converted
wine cellar, with a hand painted
ceiling above the huge bed and
Louis Quinze furnishings, and
garden suites overlooking the
vineyards and orchard.
Ancient towering oaks, shrubs,
lavender and flowers are in
abundance.
I loved the skylight in my
garden suite bathroom beneath a
tree, but probably should have
closed it when the wind blew up as
it had a leaf and acorn carpet the
next morning.
All the rooms have DSTV, air-
conditioning, under floor heating,
ceiling fan, heated towel rails,
wi fi, Nespresso machine and a
fridge with fresh milk and Auberge
Clermont wines on an honesty
bar system.
Clermont farm is almost
10 hectares with vineyards, plum
orchards and an olive grove. The
farm supplies grapes – sauvignon
blanc, merlot and shiraz – to
several estates, but also bottles its
own wine in limited quantities and
also produces fine, award-winning,
olive oil. If you time your visit
during the short harvest season
you could get handsy and take
home your own oil.
Jane Havercroft and Pauline
Müller, with a wellspring of tips,
suggestions and insider info about
Franschhoek, kept me busy.
No sooner had I arrived than I
was out again and up to the top of
aptly named Uitkyk Street and to
Roca Restaurant on Dieu Donne
wine estate. Roca boasts that it
“has the best views in town and
combines good service with good
value for money”. No arguments
here. It really is a stunning place to
begin one’s visit to Franschhoek,
summer or winter, as guests are
allocated what is called a mirror
table: one outside where they start
off and should they choose to go
inside, their second table awaits.
My meal choice was made for
me by eavesdropping a tour guide’s
recommendations – pork belly
starter – with aubergine puree,
caramel chilli and ginger glaze,
accompanied by Dieu Donne
sauvignon blanc. Excellent, and
followed by the chef’s superb take
on Eton mess – Madagascan
vanilla panacotta, crushed
raspberry meringue, lemon curd
ice cream and mint jelly.
Back down the hill, I had time
for a swim and a ziz, then it was out
to eat again, this time at Café Des
Arts in the village. Franschhoek is
Foodie-Ville with plenty of classy
eateries. Cafe Des Arts is more
casual, charming, down to earth
and vibrant with a very diverse
clientele. Auberge Clermont buys
yellowtail fish if the restaurant has
any to spare so that seemed a good
recommendation – and certainly
was, served on crushed boiled
potatoes with crushed olives and a
hint of lemon. I rounded off with
the just yum salted caramel
cheesecake and Terbodore coffee.
It’s not hard to see why Auberge
Clermont’s tennis court is popular,
what with all those calories to
work off.
And then there are the decadent
breakfasts. Shortly after one of
those I was back up Uitkyk (Pauline
again) to visit Black Elephant
Vintners, who buy grapes from
Clermont. Pauline assured me that
the Franschhoek ladies consider
Black Elephant MCC Brut the top
tipple in the valley. I concur. Former
Bluff boy Kevin Swart and his
partners have done good, very good!
I sampled Two Dogs a Peacock and
a Horse, Timothy White, La Petite
Vigne – Deep Red Rosé, Nicholas
Red, Amistad Syrah too. These are
boldly characteristic, personal and
special wines in my opinion.
Somewhat like Auberge Clermont.
Enchante!
Call 021 876 3700 or visit
http://clermont.co.za
7Win
SundayTravel
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
JUNE 7 2015
Win Win Win
A CAPE BREAK
We are giving away a four-night bed and breakfast
stay for one couple in the honeymoon suite at
Auberge Clermont worth R10 400.
First Car Rental will sponsor a vehicle (R2 600).
Weparkyoufly (www.weparkyoufly.co.za) will collect
and return the winner’s vehicle at King Shaka
Airport (R443.23). Flights not included.
Enter with SMAuberge as the subject. Provide your
name, subscriber number or delivery address and
telephone number. Tell us the size of the farm.
Competition closes June 16.
A GAME RESERVE GETAWAY
We are giving away a four-night stay for two adults
and two children in Gwahumbe Reserve’s Riverbend
cottage with two dinners for four, two game drives
for four, a men’s timeout package, mom’s retreat
package, kids’ spa, kids’ guided walk, Gwahumbe
junior ranger books, and a welcome bottle of wine –
all worth R20 000.
Enter with SMGwahumbe as the subject. Provide
your name, subscriber number or delivery address
and telephone number. Name a bird species. See
www.gwahumbe.co.za Competition closes June 9.
HOW TO ENTER
The competition SMS number is 33258 (SMSes
charged at R1.50). Our competition e-mail address is
sm.leisure@inl.co.za.
By entering our competitions, you give us the right to
contact you for marketing. Prizes are not
transferable. T&Cs apply.
For enquiries, call 031 308 2584 during office hours.
For subscriber enquiries, and to save 30 percent on
the price, call 0800 204711.
OUR WINNER
RAMESH Gugrajah, won a four night stay for two at
Onze Rust.
Boldly characteristic and special, like its wines
From decadent breakfast to a heavenly harvest, Auberge Clermont has it all, writes Adrain Rorvik
Lavender bushes outside and skylights in the roof make the garden suites amazing options.
An aerial view of Auberge Clermont in the Franschhoek valley.
A gorgeous bedroom, with a nod to the French Provencal style.
Enjoy the views and traquillity under the towering ancient oaks of the
hectares of vineyards and olive orchards.
FIRST Car Rental is proud to be the car hire company of choice to
drive the Sunday Tribune’s Adrian Rorvik to the Western Cape,
experiencing the best in luxury
lifestyle. Adrian stayed at the
gorgeous 4-star Auberge
Clermont B&B in the
Franschhoek valley. This country
retreat is the perfect getaway
with six individually decorated
luxury en-suite rooms and a
sparkling pool overlooking plum orchards. Experience the Cape with
First Car Rental – www.firstcarrental.co.za