Mont Rochelle Hotel
Mont Rochelle sits on a hilltop estate above Franschhoek, with its own working vineyard spread across 39 hectares of the valley floor below. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition runs the property. As a result, it carries the same playful, country-house character found across the group’s other hotels. The hotel rebuilt on the site of La Couronne, a previous property gutted by fire in 2006. Cape Dutch thatch and a hilltop setting above the Dassenberg Mountains define the estate today.
Setting and Character
Views stretch across the Franschhoek Valley from almost every angle of the property. Surprising, fun touches set the tone throughout. Some rooms tuck into the eaves, with balconies peeking out under the thatch. Others have oversized floor-to-ceiling windows looking straight onto the mountainous valley. The overall feel leans English country-house, suitably adapted to its South African setting. Award-winning wines, two acclaimed restaurants and genuinely grandstand views come as standard, rather than reserved for the top room categories.
The Manor House
A separate four-bedroom villa, the Manor House, sits a ten-minute walk from the main hotel, near the estate’s working winery. It suits families or small groups wanting their own space, with two swimming pools, a games room and a gym attached. The villa sleeps up to eight adults, with a bunkroom for a further six children. Exclusive-use bookings, in addition, include breakfast and either lunch or dinner at the estate’s flagship restaurant.
Why Stay Here
- A working 39-hectare vineyard estate above Franschhoek, with views over the valley from almost every room
- 26 individually styled rooms and suites, several with private terraces and plunge pools
- A separate four-bedroom Manor House, available for exclusive-use family or group bookings
- Two acclaimed restaurants on site, alongside regular wine tastings and a complimentary tasting with every stay
- Part of Virgin Limited Edition, pairing naturally with the group’s other African property, Ulusaba in the Sabi Sand
Accommodation
26 rooms and suites spread across the Garden, Manor and Vineyard wings. Shiraz Rooms offer courtyard or valley views, while the larger Merlot Rooms add king-size beds and sweeping valley outlooks. Cabernet Rooms include private terraces in the Vineyard Wing. Pinotage Suites extend further still, with a separate lounge, and the two Cap Classique Suites top the range, each with a private terrace and heated plunge pool. The separate Manor House sleeps up to eight adults and six children for exclusive-use bookings.
Dining
MIKO, the estate’s flagship restaurant, serves seasonal cuisine with 180-degree views over the Franschhoek Valley. The Country Kitchen, meanwhile, offers a more relaxed lunch alongside the estate’s wine cellar. Wine tastings and picnics can both be arranged directly through the hotel.
Experiences
Wine tasting is the estate’s natural focus, with the option to explore further afield on the Franschhoek wine tram. Hiking and mountain biking suit more active guests, while the Mont Rochelle Spa offers two treatment rooms and a hammam for a quieter afternoon. Tennis, lawn games and simply walking the vineyards round out the activity list, alongside complimentary shuttles into Franschhoek village.
Best For
Couples and wine enthusiasts wanting a working vineyard estate as their base, families or groups considering the Manor House, and travellers pairing a Winelands stay with Virgin Limited Edition’s Ulusaba in the Sabi Sand.