WINTER IN THE WINELANDS

Enjoy this uniquely magical time of year in the heart of Franschhoek and the lap of luxury at Le Quartier Français.

A Leeu Collection property and an icon in the village, the cosy boutique hotel offers five-star accommodation, as well as two award-winning fine dining restaurants, a wine boutique, and an art gallery.

You’ll barely want to leave the hotel, but if you do, you’ll be treated to crisp, clear days; the occasional snowy mountain peak; and more world-class food, wine, art, and shopping on the culinary capital’s bustling Huguenot Street.

The unrivalled experience will begin upon arrival when you will be invited to sink into a deep armchair beside a log fire and sip on a glass of belly-warming port as the equally warm team welcomes you to your home-awayfrom-home.

From there, you will be led to your sumptuous suite, with its individual styling and luxury fittings and finishes throughout. Another crackling fire will await here, along with a bottle of flagship wine, delicious snacks, and a complimentary minibar to tide you over to dinner.

And what a dinner it will be! Two exquisite dining options are available, both from the renowned La Colombe group.

Protégé offers a casual fine dining experience comprising a chef’s menu of four small plates followed by a choice of a main course and an optional dessert. Their breakfasts are also a memorable part of the Le Quartier Français experience – enjoyed outdoors (weather-permitting) on your private courtyard, or inside the stylish restaurant. In the likely event that you prefer to spend a winter’s morning ensconced in your luxurious linen, simply order a freshly baked croissant and a flat white to enjoy a truly French room service experience.

Another spectacular restaurant on the property is Épice, where diners are transported on a culinary odyssey around the world. The celebrated Spice Journey, skillfully prepared and ingenious in form, is an exotic, flavourful adventure through 10 to 12 courses – an unforgettable experience for avid foodies! The bread course alone is legendary, and the masterful sommelier will expertly pair each dish to a fine local wine.

And your wine experience won’t end there! The intimate Great Heart Wines Studio awaits guests wanting to enjoy a complimentary private tasting for two. Through Leeu Collection’s partnership with Mullineaux Wines in the Swartland, Great Heart is a staff empowerment project that was conceived during lockdown and has produced four excellent wines – two whites and two reds. Begin with a glass of Chenin Blanc, and warm up with either the Red Blend or the Cabernet Sauvignon. Unusually, the

tasting ends with a Chardonnay - a bold and gutsy wine that confidently follows the reds. Choose your favourites to take home, by the bottle or case, or enjoy them with your meal at Protégé. You are in Franschhoek, after all.

For art lovers, the adjacent Everard Read Gallery offers an extension of the expertly curated pieces found in your room and throughout the hotel. Getting to the gallery is a joy on its own, and involves meandering through a fragrant herb garden filled with monumental sculptures and passing the serene pool and whimsical giant chessboard.

With so much on offer to delight all the senses at Le Quartier Français, there’s no reason not to reserve your unrivalled escape today.

Visit www.leeucollection.com to learn more.

Le Quartier Français is offering readers an exclusive B&B rate this winter. Email reservations@leeucollection.com or call +27 21 492 2222 and quote ‘Wellness’ to take advantage of the unmissable offer. T’s & C’s apply.

PRIME YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

The 1,3/1,6 beta-glucans in Flora Force BioFendTM is clinically proven to support immune defence and is combined with acerola which is high in naturally-occurring Vitamin C. AVAILABLE AT WELLNESS WAREHOUSE