Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / South Africa / Franschhoek / Mont Rochelle
Mont Rochelle
Franschhoek, South Africa · Virgin Limited Edition · High Luxury
Set on a roughly 100-acre working vineyard in the hills above Franschhoek, Mont Rochelle is a 26-room Relais & Chateaux hotel built around a Cape Dutch manor. Kritzinger Architects led its redesign for Virgin Limited Edition, and Hot Cocoa Interiors furnished a four-bedroom Manor House villa, converted from an old Cape Dutch homestead on the property, which joined the hotel in 2016.
- 26 rooms
- Opened 2014
- Neighborhood: Stellenbosch Ward 1
- Architect: Kritzinger Architects
- Interiors: Hot Cocoa Interiors & Design
About Mont Rochelle
- The estate traces to land granted to Huguenot settler Jacques de Villiers in 1715, with a 150-year-old wine cellar originally built as a fruit-packing shed.
- In 2001 Rwandan-born telecoms billionaire Miko Rwayitare bought the estate, making it South Africa's first black-owned wine estate.
- Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition bought the fire-damaged property in 2014 and reopened the 26-room hotel that September.
History
Mont Rochelle is a hotel and vineyard set on a wine estate in the hills above Franschhoek, in South Africa's Western Cape winelands. The estate's land traces back to the early 1700s, when it was part of a farm granted to Huguenot settler Jacques de Villiers in 1715, and its centrepiece Cape Dutch manor and 150-year-old wine cellar (originally a fruit-packing shed) reflect that heritage. In 2001 the estate, then known as La Coranne, was bought by Rwandan-born telecoms billionaire Miko Rwayitare, making it South Africa's first black-owned wine estate; after a fire in 2007 it was rebuilt and reopened as Mont Rochelle.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Limited Edition purchased Mont Rochelle in May 2014 and, after an extensive refurbishment, reopened it to guests on 1 September 2014. The 26-bedroom luxury hotel sits on a roughly 100-acre working vineyard and was joined in 2016 by the four-bedroom Manor House villa, converted from an old Cape Dutch house on the estate.
Restaurants and bars
- The Country Kitchen, Mont Rochelle — Restaurant
Experiences
- Bespoke proposals — Flexible proposal experience with mix-and-match options such as flowers, photography, coordination and choice of setting and add-ons.
- Private dining room — Cellar dining room for private tastings or small events for up to 10 guests, described as a luxurious and elegant cellar experience.
- Celebrations and events — Milestone birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers and get-togethers planned by the hotel team; the whole hotel of 26 rooms and suites can be hired.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Fitness center
- Tennis
Open Mont Rochelle in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More Virgin Limited Edition hotels
- Ulusaba — Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa · High Luxury
- Kasbah Tamadot — Asni, Morocco · Apex Luxury
- Finch Hattons — Tsavo West National Park, Kenya · Grand Luxury
- Mahali Mzuri — Maasai Mara, Kenya · Grand Luxury
- Necker Island — Necker Island, British Virgin Islands · Grand Luxury
- Son Bunyola Hotel & Villas — Banyalbufar, Spain · Grand Luxury
More hotels in Franschhoek
- Akademie Street Boutique Hotel — Independent · High Luxury
- Le Quartier Français — Independent · High Luxury
- Leeu Estates — Independent · High Luxury
- Leeu House — Independent · High Luxury
- La Residence — Independent · Grand Luxury
- La Petite Ferme — Independent · Core Luxury
Virgin Limited Edition in The Maison: the brand's idea, history and every house on the atlas.