La Petite Ferme Winery Suites Review: A Dreamy Escape in Franschhoek

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My first winelands getaway of 2024 was in the heart of the Cape’s iconic wine country, Franschhoek. Situated less than three minutes from the centre of Franschhoek village, with arguably the best view of the Franschhoek Valley, La Petite Ferme makes a perfect getaway for both summer and winter escapes. Having stayed at La Petite Ferme’s exquisite Manor House not too long ago, my expectations were riding high for a return to the boutique hotel and winery for a 1-night stay in the newly refurbished Winery Suites.

Unsure of what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised to find that, as always, La Petite Ferme went above and beyond, setting a new standard for luxury and comfort, with this exceptional accommodation offering.

The seamless fusion of luxurious accommodations, a refined dining experience, and breathtaking vineyard views made this stay in the new Winelands Suites one worth gushing about. This little pocket of Franschhoek is breathtaking and is the place to be for those looking for a romantic, restorative place to stay in Franschhoek.

After months of extensive renovations of what was previously an old Wine Cellar, La Petite Ferme’s five, all-new, chic Winery Suites opened in December 2023. The award-winning, luxury boutique hotel and wine estate’s stunning new Winery Suites boast contemporary, upmarket interior design with a subtly updated exterior that still reflects its previous Cape Vernacular style as a tribute to the heritage of the wine farm and the area.

Each suite captures the essence of luxury living in its own unique way. All the renovations, décor and finishings were individually selected and customised for each room. The bathrooms of each suite feel oh-so-opulent, with high-end fixtures and fittings, heated floors, a rejuvenating rain shower, and a luxurious ‘showstopper’ bath that occupies pride of place. This showstopper element is carried through and mirrored in the wallpaper of the bedrooms of the suites. Each suite and its decor visually links to the name of the particular suite which celebrates a La Petite Ferme wine label.

The Verdict is in: A suite wrapped in luxury

I spent my time in the Verdict Suite — named after La Petite Ferme’s premium The Verdict red wine varietal, this suite is charming personified. Both the wine and suite pay tribute to the Honourable Chief Justice JR Dendy Young, a man with integrity and high moral principles. The elegantly decorated suite features light oak flooring and furnishings in calming blue and white hues, florals and red berry tones to celebrate the red wine and its elegant flavour profile. It’s a space that exudes a tranquil charm that is hard to beat.

Glass double doors open onto a private balcony overlooking the shared guest pool and breathtaking wineland scenery. Bathed in natural light filtering through delicate linen curtains, this sun-kissed space offers a serene escape — perfect for those seeking curated simplicity and a peaceful retreat.

Thoughtful details like an in-room bar fridge, complimentary rusks, fresh fruit, a coffee capsule machine and luxury amenities round off a decadent in-room experience. Whether it’s a getaway for one or a romantic escape with a loved one, the sublime Winery Suites offer the perfect place to get away from it all.

The Winery Suites are the latest addition to the broad accommodation offering at La Petite Ferme joining the five Manor House Suites (also with a shared pool), and five luxury Vineyard Suites, each with a private plunge pool.

Dining at La Petite Ferme

In addition to its deluxe accommodation, La Petite Ferme is home to an award-winning restaurant open to hotel guests and visitors alike. The winery also produces world-class, hand-crafted wines which are available to taste in the restaurant and by reservation.

While La Petite Ferme is in exceptional company, with some of the country’s best-rated restaurants as neighbours, the farm’s award-winning restaurant holds its own against the best of the best.

During my 24-hour stay I had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the La Petite Ferme restaurant, sampling a variety of the dishes available on the menu. With each meal, the kitchen delighted us with visually dazzling dishes that were as much a feast for the eyes as they were for our taste buds.

If you’re of the opinion that eating good food while drinking exceptional wine is one of life’s greatest pleasures, then you’ll absolutely adore everything La Petite Ferme brings to the table.

Serving country cuisine with a fresh contemporary touch, the menu at La Petite Ferme’s restaurant will allow you to indulge your inner gastronome. To conjure up these creative dishes, the kitchen team revels in the joy of experimenting with various flavours, ingredients and textures to create an authentic menu showcasing seasonal produce from the area.

Standout bites

Breakfast is a true highlight at La Petite Ferme. For hotel guests, mornings bring the delight of a full English breakfast included in the per-night accommodation rates. The breakfast menu includes a buffet spread with freshly baked treats like croissants, bread, and muffins as well as a bountiful offering of fruit, hand-made muesli, cereals, yoghurt, cured meats, local cheese, and fruit juice. The buffet breakfast spread is so generous it could easily suffice as a satisfying start to the day.

An a la carte hot breakfast menu is the cherry on top of an already impressive offering. The breakfast menu offers a choice of hot breakfast dishes made to order with options including Benedict, a Smoked Salmon Sandwich, and a warm Breakfast bowl.

For the hot breakfast option, I chose the French Toast — the obvious choice when you’re deliberating over what to order. It was the promise of freshly baked brioche that won me over and I was salivating at the thought of a soft poached egg served with vanilla cream cheese, bacon, blueberries, and maple syrup. The beautiful combination of the highest quality ingredients ensures the memory of this elevated version of French Toast lives on as the best you’ve ever had.

Lunch and dinner are just as memorable with the option to indulge in a Two-Course Menu at R810 per person or a Three-Course Menu at R910 per person. The menu is constantly being updated so there is always something new to try.

Bookings Now Open for De Hoop Nature Reserve Beach Clean Up Weekend in May

A standout dish during my stay was the Cape Malay Seafood Curry with Cape Malay curry sauce, garlic prawns, mussels, line fish, and cuttlefish ink linguine. Bursting with flavour, this dish was an ode to the depth of local flavours and ingredients.

Come for the views, stay for the exquisite wines

The unmatched views at La Petite Ferme may be what brings you in the door, but it’s the wines that will have you lingering a little longer. The hand-crafted wines from this intimate boutique-style cellar are truly exceptional. Managed by winemaker Wikus Pretorius, La Petite Ferme offers a full range of wines which includes red, white, rosé and Method Cap Classique.

The Franschhoek area is well known for its terroir which produces wines loved for their subtle yet full-flavoured characteristics. At La Petite Ferme, each wine delivers on the promise of being an exceptional example of what the Franschhoek terroir has to offer.

My personal favourites from the wines we tasted were the La Petite Ferme Viognier (available with the 6 wine tastings) and the La Petite Ferme Barrel Fermented Chardonnay.

If you only taste one thing, I recommend you make it the Chardonnay. If you love a lighter, more subtle Chardonnay, then this will be right up your alley.

La Petite Ferme offers two wine-tasting options for wine lovers to sample the range and find their favourites. At R150 per person for four wines and R200 per person for 6 wines, you can sample a good selection of the range with formal tastings taking place at 10:30, 12:00, 13:30 and 15:15 most days. Pre-booking is required.