Delaire Graff Estate has been awarded Three Michelin Keys in the 2026 Michelin Guide hotel selection, elevating the Stellenbosch estate from Two Michelin Keys in 2025 to the Guide’s highest hotel distinction.
The accolade places Delaire Graff Estate among just three properties in South Africa to hold Three Michelin Keys, alongside Londolozi Game Reserve and Royal Malewane. It’s also the only property in the Cape Winelands to receive the distinction and the latest Three-Key hotel in Africa.
The Three Michelin Keys recognise hotels that offer an exceptional stay, with Michelin Guide inspectors assessing properties anonymously against criteria including architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, personality and character, and value and contribution to their setting.
In its assessment, the Michelin Guide describes Delaire Graff Estate as a “wine estate in the Cape Winelands, its beautiful grounds decorated with the contemporary art and sculpture of its owner. This is the place to be for premium tasting and vine views.”
Positioned high above the Helshoogte Mountain Pass near Stellenbosch, the estate commands panoramic views across the Banghoek Valley and reflects the vision of its owner, Laurence Graff OBE.
When the legendary diamantaire first visited the site in 2003, he stopped to take in the landscape. As he looked across the valley, a pair of majestic blue cranes – South Africa’s national bird, symbolising good fortune and protection – passed overhead. The moment inspired him to acquire the estate and realise his vision of creating a destination that would become known as the Jewel of the Cape Winelands.
More than two decades later, Delaire Graff Estate has evolved into a luxury landmark where architecture, art, hospitality and viticulture converge. Its long-standing collaboration with renowned interior design practice David Collins Studio has shaped the estate’s design language, combining traditional materials, techniques and craftsmanship indigenous to South Africa with contemporary luxury.
A Jewel in the Winelands
The estate features 16 luxurious lodges, a four-bedroom Owner’s Villa, three flagship restaurants, a Wine Lounge and Spa, bringing together its distinctive setting, art collection, wine and hospitality for both day visitors and overnight guests
Warmth and attentiveness are central to the service, while sustainability remains an ongoing focus, with initiatives and innovations extending throughout the Estate and into the wider community.
The Michelin Key is the hotel equivalent of the Michelin Star for restaurants. Introduced in 2024 across 15 destinations, the distinction has since expanded into a global accolade, recognising hotels that offer exceptional experiences.
For Delaire Graff Estate, its elevation to Three Michelin Keys marks a significant new chapter for the Cape Winelands property, placing it among a select group of South African hotels recognised at the highest level of the Michelin Guide’s hotel selection.
