Indulgent One

INDULGENT LIONEL SMIT

ARTISTE EXTRAORDINAIRE

INTERIORS

WHEN DOES A TREND BECOME A TREND

AN ORIENTAL IN

PARIS

DIAMOND STUDDED PLEASURES OF

DELAIRE GRAFF

IMPERIAL EASTER DELIGHTS living a bespoke lifestyle

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INDULGENT one

Interior Architecture Fashion Lifestyle

News from the Publisher's desk Why live an ordinary life if you could live an INDULGENT one? It is amazing how content one feels when you are self-indulgent.

INDULGENT will be a quarterly publication that will share with you designer interior spaces, fine artists, architectural marvels, and exclusive holiday destinations that will inspire you to surround yourself with beauty and experience adventure. And of course, no bespoke lifestyle is complete without haute couture fashion from the catwalks of Paris, or bespoke fashion from Jermyn Street, London.

I am so privileged to feature Lionel Smit - an artist who at an early age has achieved unprecedented success - on our first cover. Something that really draws me to Lionel's work, are the eyes of his subjects, and the eyes on this issue's cover art is simply indulgent. Lionel's work is highly sought after locally and internationally for his unique style of painting and dwarfing sculptures.

Publisher Kobus Wilmans Editorial & Creative Director Kobus Wilmans indulgentmag@gmail.com +27 71 412 3341 Subscription & Feature Enquiries Kobus Wilmans

They say that music is the food of the soul, but follow me to Stellenbosch - our food valley - and discover how soulful the best food and wine will make you feel. In this issue I present to you an acclaimed destination many foodies have already discovered, the restaurants at Delaire Graff Estate.

INDULGENT will not feature lengthy forewords or articles, but rather be a photo exposé of a lifestyle many people aspire to.

I trust you will enjoy my self-indulgent project as much as I have enjoyed bringing it to you.

Kobus

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The world of stylish hotels and bespoke beds

H채stens bespoke hand-crafted beds are not only found in some of the most sought after homes in the world, but also in top hotels that cater to every whim of discerning travelers.

Some hotels that offer the comfort of H채stens beds to their guests Eccleston Square Hotel - London The Amsterdam Canal Hotel - Amsterdam Qbic Hotel Amsterdam WTC - Amsterdam Hotel Stein - Salzburg La Ciliegina Lifestyle Hotel - Napels The Scarlet - Singapore Fabriken Furillen - L채rbro, Sweden Taj Hotel - Cape Town

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Crafted by hand and with passion since 1852 Some A-Listers who want the very best know something that you don't know yet.

Hästens beds are handcrafted - using only the finest natural materials - in the quaint town of Köping, Sweden. Here, in a pristine factory, craftsmen and craftswomen work with pride to craft the finest beds by hand.

The way Hästens has been doing for 5 generations of this family-owned business.

The employees of Hästens take pride in producing the finest beds in the world, and, this is evident in the finished product.

At Hästens, their passion is sleep. It is their mission to change the world through sleep.

So, to deliver the best sleep to the world, they create the Best Bed. And as Sweden's oldest manufacturer of beds, they've been perfecting it since 1852.

Their vision of giving the world the best sleep, and therefore the best bed, allows

for no shortcuts. They use only the finest natural materials in their beds. Sustainably resourced horsehair, cotton, wool, flax, Swedish pine and steel provide the ultimate comfort, support, quality and durability.

It is because of the natural materials, that Hästens beds can offer deeper, natural sleep, which is more restorative and rejuvenating.

It brings you natural energy, an improved mood and a more youthful appearance, each night and every day. The benefits of sleep extend into your improved life, through greater health and happiness.

In 1995 King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden appointed Hästens as proud purveyors of Below, left to right Proud Hästens craftspeople beds to the Royal Court.

The difference is not something you can see. at work.

It is something you can feel – and feel good

about. To think, you can actually change the world, if only by a little every night, in your sleep.

A lot has changed since 1852, but what has not changed is the Hästens commitment to crafting the finest beds in the world. And after 160 years, Hästens continues to maintain distinction in the industry through focus on quality craftsmanship, natural materials and exquisite design. text + images courtesy of hastens.com

Above The many accolades and awards of Hästens.

Left Master Craftsman, Jan-Eric Leander, showing the Vividus, which bears his signature of approval after 180 hours of crafting by only the most skilled craftsmen in the factory.

TT Villa An architectural marvel that will leave you breathless in Phuket.

Designing for perfect surroundings, asks for a building, which gives an optimal experience of the environment.

This is the case with TT Villa, which is situated on a westfacing hillside near the sea, among vigorous vegetation, spanning from tall palm trees to rhododendron.

The Danish ďŹ rm, WE Architects, designed the villa. The team consisted of Marc Jay, Julie Schmidt-Nielsen and Hochung Kim. The aim was to create a building where both interior and exterior had equal contact to nature and sea, an inhabitable oasis in the midst of the wild that also

feature the commodities of modern living.

The building steps down the hill, providing interior and exterior access between the arrival on the top of the building and the beach below. Along these paths the layout of the villa provides terraces connected to the different functions of the building, a space where nature can flourish unobstructed between building volumes. text & images courtesy of WE Architects http://we-a.dk

Nettleton Ridge

It is common knowledge that the only place to live in Cape Town is definitely Nettleton Road.

A recent development, Nettleton Ridge - just below Nettleton Road - by Land Equity Investments, is proof that bespoke homes are definitely very much in demand.

The team of designers at Land Equity exceeded all expectations with these renderings for Villa No. 3.

The interior of this home may never be published once the owners have taken occupancy, but these renderings succeed in giving us a glimpse of what the finished product will look like. A pristine, uncluttered space to showcase unique architectural elements in the unsurpassed setting that is unique to Nettleton Road. images courtesy of Land Equity Investments

Art that overwhelms the senses ‘Lionel Smit was born in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1982. He started exhibiting straight after attending art school at Pro Arte Alphen Park. He now lives and works in Cape Town and is best known for his contemporary portraiture reinterpreted through monumental canvases and sculptures.

Smit exhibits locally in South Africa where he is considered one of the country’s youngest investment artists. He has recently exhibited in art fairs in Amsterdam, Germany, India, Miami, Monaco, London and Hong Kong. Over the past ten years he has established a substantial international following with works in collections ranging from the Standard Chartered Bank to the Laurence Graff Art Collection at the Delaire Graff wine estate. Smit’s work has been exhibited at the National Por-

trait Gallery in London, where it was chosen as the ‘face’ of the BP Portrait Award in 2013.

He was recently honoured with a Ministerial Award by the Department of Culture for Visual Art, and a highlight of his career has been the publication of one of his paintings on the cover of a recent Christie’s auction house catalogue.

Some of the most sought after private collections in the world feature Lionel’s work.

His process is adaptive, inventive, and physically engaged. He paints abstract canvases and lets them sit around the studio, ideas gestating, until he is ready to project photographs of the model on them, in a mode that recalls Andy Warhol’s approach to portraiture.

But Smit does not work with reproductive processes like silk screens, as that American

pop artist did, instead relying on his hand to transcribe form, and frequently reworking images multiple times, such that colour and line merge, breaking down both.

Grey grounds allow him to scatter colour and splinter form, while giving more contrast to hot tones. Smit goes at the canvases with a variety of implements: house paint rollers, homemade India rubber squeegees, and big buckets of paint. The overall effect is one of immediacy in terms of painterly surface, and a vivid presentness conveyed in the model. The broken brushwork is in harmony with the sketched and suggested image – it is the opposite approach to that of Alex Katz’s similarly-sized and equally brightly toned heads that that New York artist has been producing since the 1960s, with their saturated backgrounds and sharply drawn contours.

‘Cumulus’ is Latin for ‘heap’ or ‘accumulation’. Heap, gives a more apt description of the idea of aggregation in Smit’s heavy and colouristic forms, than the more modern associations of ‘cumulus’ with particularly cottony, evanescent clouds. No lightweight confections, in their additive processes, scale, and brazen colour, Smit’s recent work makes a remarkably forcible impact.’ text + images courtesy of Lionel Smit

Works featured in this article form part of Smit's body of work, Cumulous.

To view more of his work, visit www.lionelsmit.com

Fabergé perfected for an Imperial Palate.

With Easter approaching, most of us take delight in the knowledge that we will search our gardens on Easter Sunday for delicately crafted Easter eggs by Parisian Chocolatiers such as Patric Roger or Pierre Hermé.

Few things in life are as indulgent as Easter and the anticipation of Belgium chocolate morsels that linger slightly longer than a moment, melting on the tongue.

Although these artisan chocolate delights are a feast for any palate, the Empresses of Imperial Russia had a affinity for a different kind of Easter egg.

They preferred them jewel encrusted and enamelled, with filigree of precious metals, and miniature clasps and locks to keep the gems hidden inside, safe from wondering hands.

From 1885 to 1917, Peter Carl Faberge and his company crafted a limited number of jewelled eggs, for Tsars Alexander III and Nicholas II as Easter gifts for their wives and mothers. These eggs were also known as the ‘Imperial’ Faberge eggs.

Tsar Alexander III commissioned the first egg for his wife, the Empress Maria Fedorovna. Known as the Hen Egg, it was crafted from gold, its opaque white enamel ‘shell’ opens to reveal its first surprise, a matte yellow gold yolk. This in turn opens to reveal a multicoloured

gold hen that also opens. It contained a minute diamond replica of the Imperial Crown from which a small ruby pendant was suspended. Sadly, these last two elements have been lost.

Empress Maria was so delighted by the gift that Alexander appointed Faberge a ‘goldsmith by appointment to the Imperial Crown’ and commissioned another egg the next year.

About 50 eggs were made, and 43 have survived. Another 2 were planned for 1918, but because of the Russian Revolution were not delivered.

After the Revolution, the Faberge family left Russia.

The Faberge trademark has been sold several times since, and several companies have retailed egg-related merchandise using the Faberge name. The trademark is now owned by Faberge Limited, which makes eggthemed jewellery. images courtesy of faberge.com

when is a trend a trend?

This is the question that forms the starting point for trend experts from several continents in their search for new materials, patterns and colours. Based on this research they identify international trends, which they then develop and visualise exclusively for each edition of Heimtextil.

They immerse themselves in quite diverse worlds in order to investigate influences and tendencies for the home textile sector - from fashion, lifestyle and architecture, to art and music.

Each year a different team acts as the lead organisation for the development of the Trend Book and the concept for the presentation. This year FranklinTill from London will have this task.

The 2014/15 trends are structured into two major categories – “Progress!” and “Revive!”. Each of which is subdivided into two themes: “Generate Collision! and Engineer Nature!”, and “Exalt Purity! and Rejuvenate Craft!”, respectively – dealing in detail with the exploration of progress and renewal of

Right Emerging materials and technologies allow replicable, unique and personalised results.

textiles in interior design.

PROGRESS! Look forward. A brave new world in which science and technology are the driving forces behind innovation across the design industry.

GENERATE COLLISION! Harness technology to generate uniqueness.

Emerging materials and technologies allow replicable unique and personalised results. To accommodate the demand for unique, individualised products, designers increasingly experiment with novel materials and technologies.

Computer algorithms and similar technologies facilitate the mass production of customised items because, for example, panels of fabric can be printed digitally without the design having

to be repeated.

Similarly, playful printing and marking techniques enable uncontrolled artistic expression.

Colours are swiped over or drawn, dabbed or splattered on surfaces. Designers experiment with ways to allow production processes to determine the look and texture of the final product.

ENGINEER NATURE! Synthesise the natural world for a sustainable future. The convergence of science and the natural world uncovers progressive synthetic solutions for a more sustainable future.

New textile techniques intertwine living systems with biological, and, texture technologies copied from nature to form novel fabrics. Designers technicise nature by growing their own materials and copying nature’s processes.

This innovative approximation of biology to materiality goes hand in hand with new responsibilities; designers also are beginning to rethink the consequences of modifying their

Above Materials are celebrated in their purest form with EXALT PURITY. Left ENGINEER NATURE - Synthesising the natural world for a sustainable future.

Above REJUVENATE CRAFT to revive and renew traditional craft techniques

former lifestyles.

Where the design sector turns biology into a new medium for creativity, scientists leverage the complexity of living systems using technical processes.

REVIVE! Look back. In the pursuit of more meaningful and authentic experiences we appreciate the importance of learning from the past, rediscovering and reviving the value in tradition.

EXALT PURITY! Strip back to reveal purity and integrity. In search of a sense of spirituality natural materials are celebrated in their purist form. As a response to mass production, the interest in objects that have personalities and are accompanied by stories is increasing. In the quest for meaning, this movement honours natural materials by embracing their imperfections and highlighting their origins deliberately.

The results are primitive yet modern aesthetics. Wild and coarse nature with its unadulterated colours, textures and shapes acts as the generator of ideas. In this way, designers focus

on the humble, the pure, and the unadorned.

Pristine, untreated materials are used, and resource-saving production processes and the longevity of products define the main criteria.

Animism, essentialism, minimalism and reductionism prove to be the decisive trends.

REJUVENATE CRAFT! Revisit tradition to enhance authenticity. Reviving and renewing traditional craft techniques to enhance narrative and meaning to objects.

Designers work with recycled materials, conjuring up the concept of an improvised lifestyle as a counterpoint to our technology-dominated society. Uniformity is replaced by the collage look to stage the unexpected and evoke alluring visual tension.

Using the language of traditional craft techniques such as embroidery, weaving or knitting, designers tell stories about their lives. The revival of craftsmanship gives rise. text courtesy of heimtextil.com art direction by FranklinTill photography by Jeremias Morandell

Unit 3 Media Quarter Cnr. Somerset Road & De Smidt Street De Waterkant, Cape Town 021 419 5445 www.livingkitchens.bulthaup.com info@bulthaup.co.za

Mirror, mirror on the wall In a rapidly changing world of technology and entertainment, there are very few brands that stylishly enhance your environment.

Mirror Edge Networks is a specialist in hidden audio video solutions, bringing you technological precision with style and sophistication.

As the appointed representatives for Ad Notam in South Africa, Mirror Edge Networks imports the world’s leading Mirror Television brand to South Africa, encompassing the first partnership in innovation and style. Partnered with Artcoustic loudspeakers, the idea of hidden audio video solutions has become a reality in your own home, business, hotel, spa and many other avenues. Projects span properties such as Ellerman House - Villa No. 2 and Eagle Rock.

Managing Director Morgan Irwin, who has more that 11 years’ experience in the Audio Video industry, including 3 and a half years at Bang & Olufsen, heads Mirror Edge Networks. Morgan is passionate about top quality service delivery and customer satisfaction. Appointed as the Ad Notam representative in South Africa meant a

new challenge, ensuring professional service to the most discerning clients. Every order is tailored to the client’s needs, with the highest of professionalism and efficiency by Morgan and his team of skilled specialists.

He heads the team with Lionel Brown – Installation and Service Manager, and Shamil Albertus – Service Centre Manager. An insightful understanding for what clients are looking for has become one of MEN’s strengths in a forever-changing technical niche. This highly professional team delivers effective customer-centric service with every project they complete.

If you want to give your home or business that extra acoustic edge, then you should not settle Below left for anything less than a Mirror Edge system.

Private residence installation text + photographs courtesy of Below Mirror Edge Networks Mirror television at Ellerman House, Villa No. 2

Ellements by design

Above + opposite page Egg Chair by Fritz Hansen

Below Shanghai dining chair, Mood dining chair and Longhorn occasional chair, all by Weylandts.

Achieving the look that top designers showcase in their projects may look easy, but do not dismiss the importance of employing a designer to assist you in your quest. This will ensure that all elements are combined in the correct manner as to achieve a cohesive and polished interior to suit the style of your home and your personality.

In South Africa, one of my favourite destination stores is Weylandts. Chris Weylandts has undoubtedly perfected the concept of designer retail with his polished signature style, bringing all the latest international trends to your home.

They have branches in most major centres of South Africa, and have recently launched in Australia.

Unique design and use of the best materials available locally, as well as internationally is what defines Haldane Martin

as an international design icon. His contemporary designs are innovative, and he finds inspiration in the most unusual natural elements. Martin’s Songolola Sofa and the Polyhendra Coffee Table are internationally acclaimed.

In the Netherlands most trendoids know about Jan Des Bouvre. Den Arsenaal - his famous showroom - is an oasis of pristine white with Jan’s cutting edge design leading an international trend setting elite.

Should you wish to have a more tailored feel about your home, then opting for Philippe Starke, Fritz Hansen, and Counot Blandin would be the way to go.

Whatever your design style or motivation may be, choose well and purchase quality investment pieces that will enhance your lifestyle.

Above + Left Songololo Sofa and Polyhendra coffee table by Haldane Martin

by Kobus Wilmans

closets fit for a queen Everyone knows that you can never have too many pairs of shoes, or too much closet space.

Closets have evolved over the years, from the unimaginative walk-in closets of my teens, to overcrowded cupboards - clad in bland Formica doors, popular in the 70’s - to design features essential to every well-designed bedroom. Most modern closets are also large enough to swing several cats in.

These essential features of modern homes feature state of the art technology. With air-conditioned interiors, essential in keeping one’s curated collec-

tion of designer clothing flawless.

Featured here are some walk-in marvels that will set your Gucci heart aflutter. They were designed and installed for international clients by Gruppo Euromobil Zalf.

A defining trend of these designer closets is ecofriendly engineered woods, but some high-end companies also offer discerning clients the option of exotic woods.

In South Africa, companies such as Bulthaup, Poliform and Eclipse do equally bespoke dressing rooms and closets.

These companies offer excellent products with innovative and technical-functionality for quintessential closets and wardrobes. All fully inserted into a unique design concept that includes systems and furnishing accessories of high quality and integrated solutions.

Whatever you require for your Imelda Marcos collection of Louboutin or Corthay shoes, be sure to employ only the best company to build your ultimate fashion hide-away. It may even entice you to spend more time admiring your fine collection of bespoke suits.

by Kobus Wilmans images courtesy of Gruppo Euromobil Zalf

The Ladies of

Louis Vuitton

Marking Marc Jacobs’ final campaign for Louis Vuitton, the spring 2014 season features six of his muses including Catherine Deneuve, Sofia Coppola, Gisele Bündchen, Fan Bingbing, Caroline de Maigret and Edie Campbell. Steven Meisel captured the women in New York for a series of evocative images. The black, feathered looks from the spring runway show are highlighted in the campaign.

Even though Marc Jacobs has already bid adieu to his creative post at Louis Vuitton, the designer has left us with one last farewell in the form of a powerful final campaign for the French fashion house.

Louis Vuitton’s newly released ads feature the Spring/Summer 2014 collection, Jacobs’ last for the brand, along with the Noé bag.

Sitting for a series of dark, Steven Meisel lensed portraits, the allstar model cast of Jacobs’ muses, which include Catherine Deneuve, Sofia Coppola, Gisele Bündchen, Fan Bingbing, Caroline de Maigret and Edie Campbell, perfectly captures the ethos of the designer’s swan song.

“It’s not a melancholic campaign,” said Frédéric Winckler, Vuitton’s communications and events director, “It’s really celebrating women

who inspire Marc.”

Each lady featured in the ads truly did make indelible marks on the brand during Jacobs’ 16-year tenure. Coppola not only designed the SC bag in 2009, but she’s also collaborated with Louis Vuitton on designing store windows. Denueve, a living French style icon (a phrase we don’t use lightly), has appeared in the brand’s ads in the past, as has Bündchen. Oh, and Campbell was the good sport who traipsed down Jacobs’ final Vuitton runway in that massive headpiece.

by Rebecca Adams The Huffington Post images courtesy of louisvuiton.com three

Creative Director of Gucci, Frida Giannini’s unique talent and modern vision have fueled her rise as the leading creative force behind one of the world’s most celebrated fashion houses.

Under Giannini, a new design oeuvre for Gucci has emerged. One which celebrates the house’s inimitable past and its expertise in luxury craftsmanship, all the while adding youth, color and a playful extravagance. text + photos courtesy of gucci.com

The Mandarin Oriental Paris on rue Saint HonorĂŠ is the perfect contemporary luxe base for any discerning traveler who wants to explore Paris haute couture.

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The spa and wellness centre is an oasis of Oriental well-being. This tranquil hideaway offers expert treatments, with a collection of exclusive facial therapies by Guerlain, world-class therapists and restorative facilities. The spa boasts single, as well as couple's treatment suites with steam showers and vitality pools. A 14-meter lap pool, and a ďŹ tness centre featuring state of the art equipment will ensure you keep ďŹ t whilst enjoying the best restaurants Paris has to offer.

From the moment you step into the lobby of this elegant hotel on rue Saint Honoré, you realize that you should stay longer than you had originally planned. The fact that it is within earshot of some of the world’s most exclusive fashion houses and the attractions this phenomenal city is known for is simply an added bonus.

Rue Saint Honoré, the most fashionable street in the world, lies in the heart of this wonderful city.

Surrounded by haute couture and only steps away from the Louvre and other attractions, the hotel is the ideal base to explore Paris. The Mandarin Paris

exudes elegance with exceptional interiors, dining by Thierry Marx and legendary service.

The beautifully designed and luxuriously appointed suites are among the most stylish and spacious Paris has to offer. A muted colour palette was used in the decor, with accents of rich jewel tones adding to the understated opulence.

The use of abundant green spaces throughout the hotel enhance the overall feeling of tranquillity and well being of the guests.

by Kobus Wilmans Images courtesy of Mandarin Oriental

Restaurants with an edge Some dining destinations are worthy of accolades because they have transcended what others can only aspire to.

The three sophisticated dining experiences that await you at the Delaire Graff Estate, range from Indochine - at the Lodges & Spa, to the Delaire Graff Restaurant or a private dining for up to 18 guests at the sophisticated and discreet Vinoteque.

Indochine offers a contemporary Asian-inspired menu with a contemporary, yet delicate twist.

Flavours are lively, aromatic and robust while maintaining a style of cuisine that's synonymous with vitality, wellness and healthy living. Only the ďŹ nest ingredients are used, with menus featuring fresh organic produce grown in the greenhouse on the Estate.

Should you decide to dine at the Delaire Graff

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Restaurant, a feast of Executive Chef Christiaan Campbell's signature style ‘bistro-chic’ cuisine awaits to delight your senses. Known for his creative pairings with dishes that are infused with vibrant flavours, Campbell has elevated dining at Delaire to an art form. Beautifully presented dishes use the highest quality seasonal ingredients from ethical farmers and organic suppliers, while desserts are a triumph of indulgence and originality. Guests are able to relax on the terrace under a dappled canopy of pin-oak trees while enjoying breathtaking views or within the spectacular restaurant interior, decorated with a diverse collection of South African art. Delaire's experienced sommeliers

Below The unmistakeble elegance of Delaire Graff Restaurant

guide diners through the excellent wine list to ensure every dish has the perfect wine pairing.

Delaire Graff Restaurant has become a gourmet destination since its opening in 2009.

For the ultimate experience, Vinoteque, a decadent 18-seater dining and wine-tasting room below the restaurant awaits to delight. Surrounded by original art and gold-embossed leather-clad columns, it's perfect for private dinners or business meetings as well as intimate celebrations or even wine pairings. For the perfect end to a memorable

occasion, twenty-four guests may be hosted at the Lodge overnight. The Delaire Graff Estate's dining experience is intended to be a holistic one; from the moment you enter the estate to the service philosophy embodied in the experience at your table. This gastronomic dining destination that is Delaire Graff Estate, is truly edgy as far as food, service and attention to detail goes. text + images courtesy of Delaire Graff

Top of page The stately Vinoteque From Left to Right Octopus, Prawn & Pickled Radish Blesbok loin, paired with Delaire Graff Botmaskop Delaire Graff Restaurant's Carrot Cake

The art of finding a perfect Chardonnay Chardonnays are tricky. You either hate them, or are totally over the moon in love with the wooded undertones they are so infamous for. I for one cannot even nose most chardonnays, for fear of a severe headache.

I used to be an ABC - people that order Anything but Chardonnay. However, I have found a Chardonnay in this fabulous cellar that I can safely drink by the barrel (figuratively speaking of course).

Apparently Morné Vrey - the gifted wine maker - tries to avoid malolactic fermentation in the Chardonnay and does not put the wine through batonage when it is in the barrel. So the wine is basically left undisturbed during fermentation. This keeps the integrity of the fruit and keeps the wine fresh and fruit forward while still gaining structure from the wood.

This award winning wine is elegantly layered, with nuances of vanilla, peaches and honeycomb. A hint of minerality adds to a lingering finish. This is an elegant, enjoyable wine to share with friends on long, lazy days.

Delaire Graff Chardonnay has won numerous accolades. In 2013 a Double Gold at the Global Chardonnay Masters for the 2012 vintage, and Veritas Double Gold for the same vintage. From 2012 to 2014 it was awarded 4 stars in the prestigious Platter Guide.

Chardonnay is not the only award winning wine this brainchild estate of Laurence Graff produces; they also excel in reds and roses and their Laurence Graff Reserve 2009 was awarded 5 stars in the Platter guide of 2013, this was the only cab to receive 5 stars in the 2013 guide, Their Shiraz and Merlot are lauded by wine experts as some of the finest in the world So, be adventurous and take a stylish road trip to Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch and enter the hallowed portals of this stylish estate, to sample some of the best wines South Africa has to offer.

by Kobus Wilmans, courtesy of Delaire Graff photographs courtesy of Delaire Graff

Previous page Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa Main Reception.

Left + bottom of page The stylish tasting lounge.

Below The glass-fronted cellar is a WOW factor as you enter the lobby.

a Swedish thoroughbred that will set your pulse on fire The Volvo S80 is the embodiment of sophisticated elegance. With a smooth, comfortable ride and exquisite Scandinavian design, featuring materials such as wood and leather, this executive saloon tells the world you've arrived.

TRAVEL CLUB CLASS Ample legroom and a smooth ride create a serene environment. The Executive and Inscription trims offer authentic, natural materials, while the Clean Zone Interior Package for cleaner air stands for thoughtful luxury that goes beyond the superficial. The nocturnal glow of the new Ambient Light adds to the sensual experience.

MAKE A STATEMENT The S80's sophisticated elegance has been further enhanced with a new grille, daytime running lights, light guide tail lamps, subtle chrome touches and a new rear bumper. And the new front end not only looks elegant but improves pedestrian safety, too.

INTUITIVE TECHNOLOGY You can scroll through your S80's features and customise your car using the beautiful, easy-to-read colour display.

With the Connected Touch option, you can enjoy a whole universe of web-based infotainment. The three driving themes of Volvo's Adaptive Digital Display enable you to choose the one that best matches your mood and the road.

Technology that protects

City Safety and Collision Warning with full Auto Brake and Pedestrian Detection, the world-first collision avoidance technologies, help protect you and those around you, while Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) warns you of any other vehicles moving into your blind spot.

MAKING LIFE EASIER With Volvo's Personal Car Communicator (PCC) you can check from a distance if your car is locked. Volvo on Call app enables you to perform a host of functions from anywhere in the world – from locking and unlocking your car, to setting your heater and checking how much fuel you've got left. text + photos courtesy of volvo.com

+House

The genius that was

Alexander McQueen

The top luxury hotels of four continents

The ultimate Private Safaris led by

Michael Turner

The unmistakable Tokara

Bathrooms with a view

Extraordinary yachts of the seven seas

A tintilating peak at our next issue.

The