Driving through Val de Vie Estate is like driving through a dream. The manicured lawns, magnificent properties and gorgeous scenery are the epitome of luxe living. It’s no wonder Val de Vie was recently named the top residential estate in the country.
It’s highly likely that they will retain this title, as they have some great plans for the estate. Earlier this year they took over Pearl Valley and are already constructing some exciting new additions. The latest gem to open on the property is the L’Huguenot Venue & Vinoteque. We headed to a preview of the venue to see what you can experience there.
The L’Huguenot Venue & Vinoteque is located far into the estate overlooking the most gorgeous view in the Paarl-Franschhoek Valley. The first thing I noted when getting out of the car is how incredible it smells. Being a spring evening, the fresh, floral scents added a little something special to the venue.
The first part of the L’Huguenot is the Alfresco Lawn Venue. A porch lined with tables, chairs and umbrellas overlook the vineyard beyond. We enjoyed welcome drinks here while watching the sunset. There is a nice green lawn in front of the porch that guest can spill into to take pictures, socialise or simply enjoy the view. It’s perfect for those outdoor spring/summer events.
L’Huguenot is a vineyard and wine brand headed by Hein Koegelenberg. The vineyard by the venue is 25 hectares and is harvested to make L’Huguenot wine that is exclusively produced for China. He has chosen to place the L’Huguenot Venue & Vinoteque at Val de Vie, not just as a venue but as a cellar. That means the other spaces within the venue have wine at their core.
The Tasting Area is a classy space that is perfect for conferences, dinners and parties. There is an area and a huge fire place for those chillier nights. This opens up to a passage with huge steel tanks on either side of the wall.
It’s really great being so close to where the wine is being made, and just when I thought the tanks were great, we were ushered into the Maturation Cellar. Here barrels upon barrels of wine surrounded us, giving off a divine smell. And yes, you can use this space for your event too.
The last space we were shown was the Vinoteque. A slightly smaller space, it has a high ceiling, stunning chandeliers and a huge glass room displaying L’Huguenot’s collection. Here we enjoyed a tasting of Leopard’s Leap, La Motte and Val de Vie wines, including Ryk Neethling’s very own wine.
Ryk Neethling, who is the marketing director and shareholder at Val de Vie Estate says:
‘Although the cellar is rich in history, we look forward to hosting many successful events at the L’Huguenot Venue and Vinoteque, where plenty of new memories will be made and many a glass will be raised, amongst residents and guests, to the ‘life worth living’.’
While the cellar itself has been there for years, the new refurbishment of the venue will add new life to the place. Each space has its own look and feel that will greatly add to whatever function you are planning.
OF NOTE
Where Val de Vie Estate, R301, Jan van Riebeeck Drive, Paarl
Contact +27 21 863 6100, [email protected],www.valdevie.co.za
Photography courtesy Dei Gratia (taken by Daniel Saaiman, Val de Vie)