On the banks of the Eerste River, where wild Cape gardens give way to heritage and mountain views, two new Spier villas are redefining the essence of a stay in the Winelands. These exclusive-use retreats, blending the freedom of a private home with the ease of world-class hospitality, mark a new direction in understated and deeply personal luxury travel.
Space and Seclusion at Spier
Each villa offers the rarest of luxuries: space. With this space comes private heated pools and generous entertainment areas, inviting unhurried afternoons.
You’ll also find a choice of restaurants, wine bars, a spa, and the children’s Buzz Club all within strolling distance. These villas actually mark the final chapter in the hotel’s transformation, which re-opened earlier this year after a year-long restoration. The renewed hotel now includes 80 luxury rooms and suites, two new restaurants, three bars, an expansive heated pool, a nature-inspired kids’ club, and the Cape Herbal Spa.
The three-bedroom Garden and Riverside Villas were specifically envisioned as sanctuaries for travellers who prefer the intimacy of a home to the polish of a suite.
Tailored to the Traveller
Jacques Erasmus, who led the interiors, explained the guiding philosophy.
‘These are homes designed for travellers who value complete privacy when exploring the world. A villa allows you to dictate every aspect of your stay.’
~ Jacques Erasmus
Every detail responds directly to that philosophy. Dedicated service teams, including a private chef, ensure experiences are tailored to each guest; this means accommodating anything from a milestone birthday or a long-awaited family reunion to a season of remote working away from the city.
Blending Indoors and Out
Architecture by Paul Luck of Lightspace blurs the boundaries between indoors and out. Ground floors spill into fynbos-filled gardens, a beautiful result of an ambitious rewilding project led by landscape designer Danie Steenkamp.
Seamlessly, French doors open from lounges, dining rooms, and kitchens onto deep verandas, which naturally lead the eye toward heated pools, fire pits, and mountain views.
Although the villas share this indoor-outdoor philosophy, the two are quite different. Garden Villa, for instance, is dressed in earthy tones of rust and caramel, offering the intimacy of a courtyard and a pergola-shaded outdoor lounge with a fireplace.
The Riverside Villa, meanwhile, takes its specific cue from the river it overlooks, featuring a palette of soft greens and natural textures reflecting the water, trees, and birdlife.
Upstairs, bedrooms pair deep, freestanding tubs with walk-in showers featuring patterned cabochon flooring, which Jacques calls: ‘a way of turning even the most utilitarian of spaces into art.’
A Celebration of Craftsmanship
Jacques’ interiors lean on a philosophy of ‘less is more,’ but they decidedly avoid sterile minimalism. Instead, the design celebrates craftsmanship and the subtle imperfections of the handmade.
Lime-washed walls are softened at the edges, and hand-hammered metalwork, butter-washed linen curtains, antique finds, and tactile weaves lend a compelling sense of story to each space.
Everywhere, the human hand is visible—take, for instance, blanket stitching inspired by 300 years of Cape embroidery tradition or bed throws created using indigenous plants in a centuries-old steaming technique by artist Ingrid Bolton.
The villas are rich with detail that is both artisanal and deeply local.
‘For guests, it will feel like you’re sleeping under the fabric of the garden.’
~ Jacques Erasmus
Art anchors these spaces, just as it does the wider wine farm. Works curated in collaboration with the Spier Arts Trust, alongside heirloom pieces from the family’s private collection, create an aesthetic that is distinctly South African.
Timeless Hospitality
These villas represent more than just an expansion of Spier’s accommodation; they are, in fact, the evolution of the farm’s philosophy of hospitality, one that is slow, considered, and intimately connected to nature.
‘These are spaces that honour tradition while serving modern needs.’ ‘Homes that feel both timeless and immediate.’
~ Jacques Erasmus
For travellers seeking an experience beyond the conventional hotel stay, Spier villas offer something rare: a retreat where privacy, craftsmanship, and nature exist in seamless harmony.
Book Your Exclusive Winelands Retreat
Ready to trade the city rush for the tranquil luxury of the Cape Winelands? The Spier Villas offer an unparalleled sanctuary where privacy meets world-class hospitality, making them the perfect setting for a family escape, reunion, or special celebration. Don’t just read about this timeless experience, live it.
Booking Your Stay
To secure your exclusive booking at the Garden Villa or Riverside Villa, please get in touch with the reservations team directly:
- Email Reservations: reservations@spier.co.za
- Telephone: +27 (21) 809 1100
- Website: www.spier.co.za
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