Knorhoek Wines and Guest house
Situated on a Wine Farm in peaceful gardens, with a tempting rock pool and rustic outdoor lapa, the 3-star guesthouse spoils guests with traditional Cape hospitality and fine food !
SA Tourism – 3 stars, AA travel guide – highly recommended
Portfolio Collection - Comfortable selection
A wine cellar in the garden
Experience a grape harvest first hand !
Great summer pool lunches
10 top golf courses within 20 minutes
Vineyard walks with views of Table mountain from the top of the farm
Resident Spotted Eagle owls
Cape Town's beaches all within 30 minutes
Cape Peninsula within 40 minutes
Beautiful Stellenbosch town within 10 minutes
Local knowledge and advice for unforgettable day trips
Originally a clay and stone structure housing stables, a blacksmith room and coach house, Knorhoek Guest House offers modern comfort with old world charm. Wake up to birdcalls and farmyard bustle and let us spoil you with a traditional Cape breakfast. Relax at the pool sipping crisp white wines, or in winter, lounge beside an open fire savouring a glass of Knorhoek Cabernet or Pinotage in anticipation of a dinner of outstanding quality. The Cape Dutch style building dates back to the 18th century, and is surrounded by spectacular mountains, gardens and vineyards.
Physical address:
Knorhoek Farm
Knorhoek road
off R44 between Stellenbosch and Klapmuts / N1
Rates and seasons:
Valid from 1 Nov 2006 until 31 Oct 2007:
4 x Patio Rooms: R 340
3 x Attic Rooms: R 375
1 x Self Catering Flat: R 750 excluding breakfast
R 850 including breakfast
Rates as set out above are quoted:
- Patio and Attic Rooms: per person sharing; Self Catering Suite: per unit (2 pax)
- Inclusive of 14% VAT; exclusive of 1% Tourism levy
All 8 rooms have television with MNET, telephone, safe for valuables, coffee and tea making facilities, en suite shower and/or bath. Room service every day.
For bookings or enquiries click here
The Guest House offers:
7 Bedrooms en-suite (bath or shower)- Wooden ceilings and antique brass chandeliers
- One self-contained suite (breakfast optional)
- Cosy lounge and dining room with patio to use at leisure
- Coffee and tea trays in rooms
- Dinner available Mondays to Thursdays by prior arrangement
- Lunches at the Lapa during summer Tuesdays to Sundays
- Secure parking
So much to do…
Knorhoek and environs offer numerous outdoor activities and facilities, inlcuding:
- Wine tasting
- Tennis
- Landscaped rock pool and barbeque area - unique pool area in the bend of a mountain stream, 100m from the guest house
- Vineyard walks
- Bird watching
- Horse riding and hiking trails
- Golf - 10 of the top golf courses in the Western Cape less than an hour's drive from Knorhoek. Pre-bookings can be done on request.
- Dinner on request (Mondays - Thursdays) The South African cuisine inlcudes Kingklip, Bobotie, Oxtail and Aromatic Malay chicken
- Lunches at Lapa during summer (Tuesdays - Sundays)
- Small conference facilities (team building)
We can also advise you on interesting day trips, find restaurants to suit your taste and help you discover everything that the Winelands has to offer.
General notes:
- Single Supplement: R100
- Check In: from 14h00; Check Out: 11h00. Guest are welcome to leave their luggage if they are flying out the evening
- We offer a Set Menu Dinner from Monday – Thursday by prior arrangement
- Please book dinner at least 1 day prior to arrival
- Children 12-17 years of age sharing room with parents: R125-00
- Third adult on sleeper couch: R125
- Breakfast residents R50
Terroir
Knorhoek lies some 200 - 380 meters above sea level on the gently sloping foothills of the Simonsberg mountain, and is part of the world-renowned Stellenbosch wine region.
With its characteristic russet-red oak leaf soils and favourable aspects (warm northern-facing slopes for traditional red cultivars and sea breeze-cooled western slopes for slower-maturing whites), Knorhoek is ideally situated for growing fine wines.
The farm today has 105 ha of vineyards, with 85% under state-of-the-art drip irrigation, computerised and regulated according to soil probe data. Over the last 6 years the farm has undergone sweeping changes, with as much as 60 ha being replanted with superior, disease- resistant rootstock. The attractive old wine cellar is constantly being upgraded in order to maintain the high quality of Knorhoek wines.
At Knorhoek, only a selected 15% of the grape production is used for labelled estate wines. The balance is sold to well-known wineries. The result - consistently top quality wines that remain value for money wherever they are enjoyed.
The Heritage of Knorhoek
As early as 1694 farmers recognised the potential of the fertile foothills of the Simonsberg mountain. By 1793 the legendary Martin Melck had acquired most of this land and it was probably he who changed the name from the original Kleygat (Clay-hole) to Knorhoek, called in a contemporary document 'de plaats waar de leeuwen knorren' - the place where lions growl.
This gives one an indication of how wild the environment was at that time. Feline predators scaled the high kraal walls at night and preyed on domestic livestock. The Cape Mountain lion became extinct by the late 1700's, Caracal are occasionally seen on the farm and leopard sightings still occur in the higher reaches of the surrounding mountains - hence the use of the leopard on the Knorhoek estate wine labels.
Melck's daughter inherited Knorhoek and her son, Jan Andries Beyers was the first of many generations to farm here. A devastating phylloxera plague forced most farmers in the area to sell, but by an interesting quirk of fate, Knorhoek went back into the family.
In 1887 JGB van Niekerk bought a neighbouring farm and chanced to marry the great-granddaughter of Beyers, the original Knorhoek patriarch. She convinced him to buy back Knorhoek, and now four generations later, the Van Niekerks have created a fine balance between producing excellent wines and conserving a little of the wild spirit of the past.
A visit to the family cemetery behind the guesthouse makes for interesting reflection on a colourful past.
… And Present
Today the Van Niekerk brothers are the 5th generation to own and work this beautiful farm. Following in the footsteps of their father, Hannes, who was awarded the prestigious Smuts Trophy for his wines, they continue the long and honourable family tradition of winemaking.
James, in charge of the vineyards, and Hansie, responsible for winemaking and marketing, together with their wives Carol and Ingrid, form a vibrant young team, passionate about wines and delighted to share their heritage with visitors and guests.
Situated in peaceful gardens, with a tempting rock pool and rustic outdoor lapa, the 3-star guesthouse spoils guests with traditional Cape hospitality and fine food. Knorhoek is a popular venue for weddings, conferences and other functions.
For bookings or enquiries click here
Deposit structure:
Credit card details to confirm booking (or other arrangement made personally) - all cards accepted
50% of full amount 2 months prior to arrival
One night bookings – full amount 2 months prior to arrival, no refund
Cancellation policy:
One day bookings – no refund (discretion will be applied)
< 30 days prior to arrival – no refund
>30 , < 60 days prior to arrival – refund 50% of deposit
> 60 days prior to arrival – full refund of deposit
Rates exclude:
- Telephone and fax
- Laundry services
- Lunches, dinners and bar purchases
Children policy:
Children welcome
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