Last month we had a
truly horrendous winelands getaway. A night that was meant to celebrate our two
month wedding anniversary turned into something from a bad TV show. I was
disappointed and angry – and took my frustrations out on Twitter – where Holden Manz saw this and invited Luke and I to stay the night and see what winelands
luxury is meant to be.
Embarrassingly, my
knowledge of Franschhoek generally ends at the Huguenot Monument – the drive to
Holden Manz alone took us down a road we'd never been before. Trying to keep
our expectations down to a minimum, we arrived at their front door with high
hopes. After being welcomed with a glass of water and warm, moist towel – these
weary travelers know this stay would be different.
Owned by Gerard Holden and Migo Manz, Holden Manz is not only a working wine farm, but also an elegant 5 star oasis. The Country House is large, bright and airy – accommodating only 10 guests at a time, there are numerous seating areas,
reading nooks and little lounges to ensure that you don't bump into anyone
else, should you so choose. It's easy to see the owners have an appreciation
for architecture and art – with the house being tastefully decorated and all
space being maximised.
We stayed in the
Oliphant Suite – which instead of having a balcony, has a second bedroom,
naturally. We joked that I could kick Luke there if he started snoring, or
perhaps see if any friends were in the area and needed a place to stay.
The room was
beautiful without being pretentious. Our fireplace remained lit throughout our
stay, two chairs faced the window to help you appreciated the view, and the
walk-in closet ensured you remained comfortable and well-dressed no matter how
much you packed.
The bathroom was spacious and the shower utterly blissful -a highlight in
itself. After checking-in, we lit our fire, took in the view and just relaxed
until tea time -served to guests between 15h00 and 16h00. Unnecessary, but a
good excuse to leave the warmth and comfort of our room and head downstairs. We
were greeted by a selection of teas, scones, pastries and quiches which we
could enjoy at our leisure. The lovely man ordered a rather special cappucino
and after nibbling on all the scones I could muster, we headed back to our room
for a nap. As an aside, our slothfulness was partly due to the constant drizzle
and grey skies overhead, the equally constant lure of a bedside fireplace and
the blissful quiet that enveloped the Country House.
The bathroom was spacious and the shower utterly blissful -a highlight in
itself. After checking-in, we lit our fire, took in the view and just relaxed
until tea time -served to guests between 15h00 and 16h00. Unnecessary, but a
good excuse to leave the warmth and comfort of our room and head downstairs. We
were greeted by a selection of teas, scones, pastries and quiches which we
could enjoy at our leisure. The lovely man ordered a rather special cappucino
and after nibbling on all the scones I could muster, we headed back to our room
for a nap. As an aside, our slothfulness was partly due to the constant drizzle
and grey skies overhead, the equally constant lure of a bedside fireplace and
the blissful quiet that enveloped the Country House.
We awoke in time
for dinner, which was to be at Holden Manz' restaurant – The Franschhoek
Kitchen. On the property and a short drive (or slightly longer walk) from the
Country House it was convenient but getting in the car still gave the sense of
'going out' for dinner. Having no expectations, we walked up the stairs to the
restaurant, and were a little in awe. We were greeted by chandeliers, an open
kitchen, soft lighting - and generally
wowed.
We were given the menu wen we checked in for the night and I had already
pretty much decided what I was going to have. Full from a bubbly lunch on our
way to Holden Manz, I had the starter of blue cheese gnocchi for mains while Luke
had the Spiced Duck Breast salad with garden fresh herb salad, local berries, red onion, pickled shimeji mushrooms to start. While his
was rich, meaty and satisfying, mine was phenomenal. I could have easily had a
bucket of that blue cheese sauce and slurped it from there. Horrendously
unattractive, but it was honestly that good. I still want to try and recreate
it at home, but I already know it will fall short.
I couldn't manage
the thought of a main course (no matter how delicious they seemed) but Luke
fought the brave fight and ordered the duck breast scaloppini and duck braciale confit with Holden Manz good sport sauce, parsnip puree. Another
beautiful dish, generously portioned and perfect for a chilly winter's evening.
Having forgone mains, I allowed myself dessert – miniature cinnamon
sugar
doughnuts with an espresso semifredo. Light, sweet and the perfect
ending to my
meal. The lovely man went straight for the heart with a chocolate
fondant. Absolutely perfectly cooked, it was a wonderfully hearty meal
for a
mid-winter's escape.
Happily satisfied,
we were soon back in our room, enjoying our fireplace and some mindless TV
before swiftly drifting off to sleep. Full bellies, tired eyes and all of that.
We woke, blissfully
rested the next morning and made our way downstairs for breakfast. The plan was
to explore a little first – with a large river running through the estate, with
picnic spots for the summer – but the on-off drizzle kept us snuggly inside. We
enjoyed a breakfast of poached eggs, Hollandaise and salmon with more of the
legendary cappuccinos. With a slightly later check-out time, we enjoyed a few
more hours relaxing fireside before making our way back home.
If this is
winelands hospitality, sign me up. Quiet elegance, overflowing with generosity
and truly fantastic food, it really couldn't get any better.
Note : We were invited to stay at Holden Manz for a night and enjoy dinner
at The Franschhoek Kitchen. I was not remunerated or asked to write a review.
All opinions and images are my own
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