Dunstone Country House is a hidden gem nestled at the foot of the historic Bainskloof pass near Wellington in the Western Cape. Previously known as Bovlei Valley Retreat, the name was changed to avoid confusion as many people didn’t realise there was a guest house on site. Wellington is the much quieter version of its sister valleys in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and offers an intimacy and attraction of its own. Here you can enjoy wines of an exceptional standard, riveting mountain and vineyards views, and luxurious accommodation without the crowds.

One thing I can say when travelling to Dunstone Country House, is not to be fooled by Google maps. We made the mistake of following the GPS coordinates to a rather sad looking gate along Bovlei Road where there was no hope of a wine estate in sight. After a helpful phone call to Stone Kitchen, we turned right at the stop street and soon discovered the welcoming gates of Dunstone Country Estate on our right (True GPS coordinates: -33.634095, 19.061358).

While the dusty gravel road, drizzle, and rain-filled potholes made the trip to Dunstone slower than normal, it certainly didn’t detract from the beauty of the estate. A proud Doberman marks the gates to the estate, where a winding gravel road leads past the vineyards to the manor house and restaurant.

The Stone Kitchen

The Stone Kitchen was a welcome retreat from the rain. With wooden tables, green walls, chalkboards specials, a couch with mismatched scatter cushions, and a gnarled branch wrapped in fairy lights, it was like a home away from home. As a small family owned wine farm (owned by British couple, Abbi and Lee Wallis, and managed by Peter Woodward), the bistro offers home cooked dishes, estate wine and boutique winery, a selection of craft beers, an outdoor kiddies play area, and enchanting views of the Haweka Mountains.

Times: Wednesday to Sunday: 09h00 – 16h00 and nightly for dinner (bookings essential). The restaurant is closed for dinners on Sunday to Tuesday (July – August), but gourmet picnics are available. The cellar is open Wednesday – Sunday, or by appointment on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Tip: try the homemade jams made from scratch in the farm kitchen.

After gobbling down our breakfast platter and savouring our last sip of tea, Peter shuffled us into a covered golf cart and whizzed us up to the guest house, past blanketed horses grazing in the fields. We kept an eye out for Merlot, Rose, and Shiraz No 2, the aptly named estate dogs. With 9 hectares of land to explore filled with vineyards, fruit orchards, herbs, roses, and lavender, it’s a true escape from the city.

Guest Lounge 

Our first stop was the guest lounge where a roaring fireplace and underfloor heating retired our feet from the cold. With floor to ceiling windows, the lounge is the perfect place to sit back and watch the rain trickle down the glass. As if the fireplace and toasty tiles aren’t enough, there’s also a basket full of cosy blankets, a bookcase running on a book swapping system, free Wi-Fi, and an honesty fridge and bar. Peter also let us in on a little secret: between 3 and 4pm, the chef serves up an array of complimentary tea and cakes.

Rim-flow swimming pool

Dunstone Country House is a fantastic venue for summer getaways with a rim-flow swimming pool. With a drink and snacks menu, it will be hard to justify doing anything other than idling on a sun lounger surrounded by the captivating mountains and vineyard views, with a glass of wine and a vineyard platter by your side.

Accommodation

Dunstone Country House can sleep 14 people in total, with a choice of 5 guest rooms and a self-catering cottage. The guest rooms are housed in converted stables, offering large wooden doors, high ceilings, and their own unique personality with views of the mountains, flowers, and vineyards. Their names (Lily, Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Lavender, and Iris) portray their femininity which is paralleled through the use of calming tones, scatter cushions, soft throws and quilts, pretty headboards, suede poofs, plush rugs, and thick curtains. Personal touches include a welcome note with a heart shaped cookie beside your room key, and a sprig of lavender on the toilet roll.

Guava Cottage

The Guava Cottage sleeps 4 people in 2 double bedrooms. It has its own private pool and hedged in garden amongst the guava orchard, and can be booked on a B&B and dinner, or self-catering basis.

Dunstone goes the extra mile

Dunstone offers a range of services, including airport transfers, laundry service, restaurant reservations, local information, and tour planning. They will gladly go the extra mile for their guests and in Peter’s own words, “Whatever is in our power to do, we’ll do.”

I loved:

• The covered 6-seater golf cart provides a retreat from the rain and is great for older guests.
• Complimentary wine tasting is available in the early evening as the sun sets with estate wines, olives, and nibbles.
• Breakfast baskets can be delivered to your room for those lazy lie-ins.
• Dunstone has released their range of Stones in the Sun wine. For R25 a bottle, the proceeds go towards upliftment of the local farmer’s children.

What to do in the area

• Wine tasting and cellar tours
• Mountain biking at Welvanpas Farm
• Grape picking at Dunstone (if you ask nicely)
• Visit Jorgensens and try their vodka and absinthe
• Try the organic brandy at Uplands Organic – a magical drink that gives you no hangover!
• Drive over Bainskloof Pass
• Hike to rock pools and waterfalls
• Horse rides
• 7 golf courses
• Museums and art galleries
• Wellington Wine Walk (March to November).

Dunstone Country House is ideally located only 45 minutes from Cape Town, 15 minutes from Paarl, and 30 minutes from Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Whether you visit during storm or shine, no weekend is better spent than at Dunstone Country House. Don’t believe me? Book today and find out for yourself!