Le Pommier Wine Estate

Le Pommier sits on the Helshoogte Pass between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, overlooking the Banhoek Valley with the Simonsberg rising behind. The name means 'the apple tree' in French -- a nod to the property's earlier life as a flourishing apple orchard before vines replaced fruit trees and the farm reinvented itself as a boutique wine estate with lodge and restaurant.

The estate occupies a sweet spot in the Stellenbosch landscape: intimate enough to feel personal, yet substantial enough to offer a full day's experience. Fifteen suites and rooms -- six suites, seven country rooms, and two self-catering units -- are furnished in country-chic style with patios, seating areas, flat-screen televisions, and air conditioning. Some units include self-catering facilities and fireplaces for winter stays. The accommodation has earned the description of a 'country-chic winery with laid-back restaurant and mountain views' from Google's editorial team, and guests wake to vineyard panoramas framed by the Banhoek peaks.

The Le Pommier Restaurant serves Banhoek country cuisine with a French touch, using produce sourced locally and wines produced on the estate. Operating hours run Monday to Thursday 08h00-21h00, Friday and Saturday 08h00-22h00, and Sunday 08h00-17h00, with breakfast served until 11h00. Happy hour runs Monday to Thursday 15h00-17h00 with wines at R30 by the glass. Wednesday evenings from 18h00-21h00 feature wine and pizza pairings, and kids eat half-price Monday to Thursday from 17h00-20h00.

The wine programme focuses on Bordeaux and Burgundian varietals suited to the Banhoek microclimate. Cabernet Franc is the estate's signature grape, explored through the limited-release Angle Peur Cabernet Franc and a vertical Cabernet Franc Voyage tasting at R125 per person. Jonathan's Malbec honours the estate's heritage, while the Mac blend combines Cabernet Franc and Malbec for structure and depth. The Summercourt Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Maraai Rose round out the range with accessibility and freshness.

Tasting is offered at R55 for four wines or R90 for the full range of six. The estate also operates as a wedding and function venue, with the Vineyard Barn accommodating up to 150 guests for celebrations framed by mountains and vines. Le Pommier holds WIETA sustainability accreditation, and its position on the Banhoek Wine Club route connects it to a constellation of Helshoogte estates.

What Le Pommier offers is increasingly rare in the Winelands: a single property where you can taste, eat, sleep, and celebrate without the crowds or the corporate scale. It is a place where the apple trees may be gone, but the spirit of the orchard -- generous, seasonal, unhurried -- endures in every glass and every view.