A small town with a big heart

Writer: Hedda Mittner.

While the charms of Stanford are no longer a well-kept secret, this historic town on the edge of the Kleinrivier has managed to retain its rural atmosphere and village character. The residents all know one another and in true entrepreneurial spirit, this close-knit community supports one another’s business ventures and charitable causes, be it a restaurant, specialty shop, market, fundraiser or festive concert.

Encapsulating a lively community spirit and the pleasures of country living at its laid-back best, the Stanford area is well-known for its flourishing wine farms and culinary destinations. Unsurprisingly, the two often go handin-hand, as is the case with Sir Robert Stanford Estate and Stanford Hills, both located just before the turn-off to the village, and the Springfontein Estate situated on the other side of the village closer to the Kleinrivier Estuary. Here visitors can enjoy both wine tasting and delicious meals in idyllic country settings.

Only 25 km from Hermanus, the peace and quiet of Stanford seems much further removed from the hustle and bustle of Hermanus. “People come here to get away and unwind,” says Jami Kastner of Stanford Hills Estate, a boutique wine and flower farm that envelops one with a deep sense of relaxation as soon as you turn off from the R43 onto the dirt road leading up to the farm. “Here people can forget about their problems and just be happy and enjoy themselves.”

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