About us

Where

We are an hour’s drive up the west coast from Cape Town, in the Paardeberg mountain, just outside the town of Malmesbury. Situated in a hidden kloof, our lovely farm nestles against the mountain, tranquil and faraway, yet easy to reach.

Area

Fynbos Estate covers 320 hectares –  of which 20 hectares are wine-grape vineyard, 30 hectares are open farmland, and 270 hectares are granite mountain. The vegetation is relatively pristine and is a mix of fynbos types.

History

It is likely that the Khoi originally roamed this area. Then, as early as the late 1600s, land registration was granted to Dutch settlers and the farm De Hoop was established in the Joubertskloof valley. With all records lost to fire, it is uncertain when De Hoop was divided and Weltevrede, presently Fynbos Estate, was established. It changed hands three or four times before 1997 when we, (Johan and Diana), together with friends abroad, purchased the farm.  Since then, we have watched it grow organically towards not only increased sustainability, but also into a centre benefitting a wide range of people in a variety of ways.

Dragonridge Winery

We grow predominantly Rhone varieties of wine grapes which are best suited to our Rhone like conditions. We made 1,000 bottles of our first wine in 2004, and named our winery Dragonridge after one of the mountains on the farm. Over the years we have expanded our output to 10,000 bottles and in 2012 moved the winery from two garages near the farmhouse to the original farm cellar (circa 1850). Our methods of wine making are much as they were in the early 1900’s with as little interference as possible, and our wines have proved very popular with a few first prizes in competition and good ratings from John Platter.

Fynbos Mountain Retreat

In September 2004, Fynbos Mountain Retreat opened as a guest house, workshop and retreat centre. The guest house is a beautiful 11 roomed Cape Dutch Victorian farm house, with a great deal of character and comfortable accommodation. In 2006 we added one guest cottage and in 2009 a larger farm cottage. Currently we can accommodate up to 30 guests overnight (sharing). We pride ourselves on comfort, a relaxed atmosphere and delicious food. Using fresh produce from the vegetable garden, Johan is legendary for his cooking and can make anything from Indian curries to gourmet dishes. We also offer self catered and part catered options. We are child friendly and certain of our accommodation is pet friendly.

Fynbos Pavilion

The Fynbos Pavilion opened in mid 2008. It is a truly magical space with wooden floors, lovely courtyards and gardens and beautiful views. An ideal space for weddings, celebrations, workshops, retreats and small conferences, it has proved very popular with a wide range of groups. The Pavilion can seat 90 guests dining.

Fynbos Cellar and Chapel

In 2010 we renovated half of our 1850’s cellar to create another function room that can also be used as a chapel for weddings and other spiritual events. The Cellar/Chapel has large windows overlooking farmland, and old Oregon features, An outside enclosed courtyard is ideal for welcome drinks or for tea breaks. In 2011 we completed renovations on the remainder of the building to serve as the new Dragonridge Winery.

Nature Reserve

The mountain portion of Fynbos Estate is one of the first areas in the Cape to become part of the Cape Nature Conservation Stewardship Program. Once the legalities are finalized, the Simson-Simons Nature Reserve will be a fully fledged Cape Nature Reserve. The reserve is named after the late parents of Diana (Simson), Johan (Simons) and their Swedish partner Howard (Simson).

Commitment

All of us involved with the farm have a great love of it and while we pursue quality in all that we offer, we remain always a working farm, a real place where real things happen and unfold. We greatly enjoy it that a variety of people bring their own energies to the farm and hopefully receive abundantly in return. We are committed to community development in the area, and to the conservation of this small paradise as part of what little wilderness is left to us. We strive toward environmental sustainability and hope that the beauty and peace of Fynbos will continue to inspire people in many different and positive ways for many years to come. 
Diana and Johan

News

We're revised our news page by linking it directly to our blog www.fynbosestate.blogspot.com . Should you want to see the news before 2011 please click HERE TO ACCESS THE FILE, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Fynbos Estate blog.