The farmhouse
This beautiful homestead is the epitome of comfortable family luxury. The house sleeps four adults and up to four children in one master bedroom en suite, one double bedroom en suite, one twin bedroom, and one room with bunk beds. The additional two further bathrooms guarantees no queues.
The spacious farmhouse kitchen features a dining area, there is a separate dining room, a family room, formal lounge, and two spacious never-leave verandahs. The walled-in 10-m x 5-m swimming pool is perfect for summer dips, and will keep the kids busy all day! You’ll only need to leave the verandah to stroll the beautifully manicured and secure fenced-in gardens, and pay a visit to the vegetable garden and fruit trees, too. In addition, we offer wifi, laundry facilities and daily cleaning and cooking staff.
Our minimum stay is 2 nights, and this is a smoking-free home. Please leave your fur babies at home this time.
Email us at moerbei@kleinmoerbei.com to check availability and rates, or for more information. Ask about our function rates, too.
In the heart of the winelands
What better than a getaway in the heart of the Cape winelands? The Klein Moerbei Farmhouse is set on the working Klein Moerbei wine estate just outside historical Stellenbosch. The name Klein Moerbei means ‘little mulberry tree’ in Afrikaans. The Stellenbosch area is South Africa’s premier wine-producing region, steeped in heritage and culture, and this luxurious homestead is situated half an hour’s drive from Cape Town, or only fifteen minutes from Cape Town’s airport.
Klein Moerbei’s Family History
Klein Moerbei was created in 1997 by Jane and Faisal, when the property was subdivided from the original Welmoed farm owned by the then 3rd generation Visser family. Between 1997 and 2000, under the guidance of the couple the Cape Dutch homestead and gardens were renovated, and the vineyards substantially replanted. The family homestead was completely and sympathetically remodelled in Cape Dutch style with help from Tom Darlington, the architect with a new wing, outdoor verandas and swimming pool. The gardens were completely replanted too to create the feeling of an oasis of calm and beauty around the remodelled homestead; a working vegetable garden and numerous fruit trees were also subsequently planted.
Although always based in London, Jane and Faisal spent much of their time in Stellenbosch bringing up their 6 children, sometimes whilst helping to develop the adjoining Spier Estate and at other times on family holidays. Klein Moerbei has since 1998 had 3 resident families who live and work on the farm as well as a caretaker living in the nearby cottage. The loyalty and devotion of these families to the Estate has been a special feature of the last 19 years. The homestead has also always had resident family dogs, initially Boxers and Alsatians, more recently Jack Russell’s and Ridgebacks.
Until 2007, grapes were grown on the estate and sold to neighbouring boutique wineries who then incorporated them into award winning wines. It was clear that the farm benefited from excellent terroir and it made sense to find the resources to develop the Klein Moerbei’s own wines. The first vintage of Moerbei wines was 2007, when very small quantities of a Shiraz and a Chardonnay/Semillon blend were produced in the estate’s small cellar. Gradually other wines were added as demand outstripped supply, so that Klein Moerbei now sells about 50,000 bottles per year of 6 different wines (2 whites and 4 reds). Numerous medals have been won over the years for these wines.
As time has gone on the family has grown up, and Jane and Faisal have separated, but the farm remains a family-managed asset. The estate continues to thrive; the families living and working on the farm continue there (as do the dogs!). The homestead is now available for holiday rentals for much of the year, when the family members are not there, and our wine production continues to go from strength to strength.
