Monthly Archives: October 2009

This week we can't get enough of Peartree Photography! The talented team recently took some fantastic shots of the estate, showcasing the luxury housing and way of life at Val de Vie. Visit the Peartree blog for more great photos.

Travel Concepts is a bespoke travel service based in Cape Town, specialising in travel planning and booking stylish and authentic holidays of distinction. Acting as a personal quide for discerning clients, they offer a multitude of exceptional destinations in South Africa, Southern Africa and East Africa. They are also experts at arranging the perfect honeymoon experience, designing full travel itineraries that cover every detail. Visit their website for more information about their unique service.

We love these gorgeous photos of Werner & Juné's recent wedding at Val de Vie. Our talented events team coordinated the event, while Peartree Photography beautifully captured each moment. Visit the Val de Vie Events website to find out more about our services and dazzling venues, or check out Peartree's website to view more enchanting photos.

When the French Huguenots settled in the spectacular valleys of Franschhoek and Paarl, they recognised that the area's terroir would be ideally suited to crafting exceptional wines.

Today residents at Val de Vie enjoy their own piece of this celebrated valley, living the grand life those first French wine-makers envisaged. Home owners have the opportunity of learning the art of winemaking under Val de Vie’s own winemaker and, under his tutelage, produce their very own “boutique” wine for their exclusive enjoyment.

Here's some exciting news: Elton John is set to perform at Val de Vie on 28 March 2010! The concert forms part of our picnic sunset concert series and is going to be a wonderful event that can't be missed. Tickets are only available at Computicket, so be sure to book your place.

It's true that anyone can learn to play polo... something that many celebrities are starting to realise! David Hasselfhoff was recently in the UK where he had to immerse himself in British culture for a new reality series. Learning to play polo was an essential part of his visit, and goes to show how popular polo is becoming all around the world.

Val de Vie Polo is delighted to have a new member on the team! Mischka was rescued off the streets of Cape Town where she used to pull a cart. She was confiscated as she was very thin and overloaded, and rescued by the Cart Horse Association who do wonderful work in educating and rescuing cart horses. Val de Vie Polo has adopted Mischka from the SPCA and we hope that she will enjoy a long and happy life with us.

She is in much better condition, but needs to do some muscle building as she was very thin. Once she is out of her compulsory rest period after her vaccinations, she will start working and we will soon be able to offer pony rides.

Despite the fact that she wants nothing to do with Nugget, it was love at first sight for him and he has become her protector, trying to keep her away from all the other horses!

Summer is almost here and Val de Vie is the perfect place to enjoy every moment of the gorgeous weather! Watch the sun go down as you sip on a glass of Val de Vie Viognier at Sabrage, or spend a relaxed day enjoying a picnic on the estate's expansive grounds. For those who just want to cool off, members of our sports and leisure centre have access to a 25 metre indoor swimming pool. Visit the Val de Vie website to find out about all the wonderful events and activities the estate has to offer.

We're delighted that the restaurant at Sabrage is open! With the chic decor of Sabrage creating the perfect setting, the restaurant offers a delectable Mediterranean-inspired menu that includes a range of pizzas and pastas, as well as some smaller tasting options and desserts. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal, perhaps while watching an exhilarating polo match at the same time...

The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10h30-15h00, and 18h00-20h00. On Sundays it is open for lunch from 10h30-15h30.

For more information, kindly call +27 863 6174.

Come rain or sunshine, Val de Vie is truly a place for all seasons. It might be Spring, but the Cape weather is always unpredictable and it's not unusual for dramatic rain clouds to make an appearance. Here are some beautiful pictures taken by homeowner Ryal de Waal at Val de Vie after Sunday's rainfall, when a spectacular rainbow appeared over the estate.

We're thrilled that Val de Vie Polo is being featured in the Polo Times, a fantastic magazine that covers all the latest polo news, tournaments, events and more. The word is spreading overseas that South Africa is a prime polo destination, and that Val de Vie offers an exceptional polo experience in the heart of the Cape Winelands.

Val de Vie is proud to be an example of how eco-friendly development can be achieved. The estate falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom which has been proclaimed a World Heritage Site and is committed to preserving the incredible biodiversity of this beautiful region.

As a result, Val de Vie is home to a wealth of indigenous flora, much of which have been re-introduced as part of the estate's development. This ensures environmental compliance and brings back some of the lost indigenous vegetation along the Berg River valley. The estate has also set aside a conservation area within Val de Vie to preserve rare plants. As part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the smallest of six floral kingdoms world wide, Val de Vie has its fair share of indigenous and endemic flora.

The estate has a high natural water table, strong boreholes and water rights along the Berg River – all of which are being managed responsibly. Small mammals and birds, especially water birds, abound on the estate and the extensive landscaping, including four interlinking lakes and islands, has attracted even more birds to the area.

To ensure that the world class polo facilities use water as sparingly as possible, a state-of-the-art drainage, as well as an automated irrigation system has been installed – in keeping with the biodiversity plan.

Summer is on its way and the polo season is getting into swing! There's no better way to spend a day out in the country than at Val de Vie. Pack a delicious picnic basket or sit back and relax in the comfort of Sabrage, sipping on a glass of award-winning Val de Vie wine. Then enjoy the exhilaration of a polo match, surrounded by the beauty of the Cape countryside. For more details about picnics and polo games at Val de Vie, kindly email Jo at polo@valdevie.co.za

Val de Vie is not just Cape Town's premier polo destination; it also caters to all things equestrian and offers livery for horses of all disciplines. Whether you have basic riding experience or have never gone riding before, the estate offers riding lessons on our horses for both children and adults. We carefully select ponies that are best suited to the skills and capabilities of each rider - Nugget is the ideal pony for children to ride and we are waiting for another pony to arrive from the SPCA.

Horse riding is a wonderful opportunity to spend time outdoors, learn about horses and get fit in the process! Visit the Val de Vie Polo website to find out more about our facilities, or call +27 (0) 21 863 6170.