In the past year alone, Delaire Graff Estate has been named the world’s best wine stay, ranked number one in Africa by World’s Best Vineyards (and 14th globally), and swept the Best Of Wine Tourism Awards in Verona for Accommodation, Architecture & Landscape, and Wine Tourism Restaurant.
Perched on the Helshoogte Pass in the Western Cape’s Winelands, with photographic views of Table Mountain and the Simonsberg, it has long set the bar for African luxury. The Estate was also voted the top hotel in South Africa by Condé Nast Traveler readers and received a coveted 5-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide – accolades that reaffirm its position as the jewel of the Cape Winelands.
A new chapter for an Iconic Estate
Yet even perfection, it seems, can evolve. The latest chapter in Delaire Graff’s story comes in the form of a complete redesign of its Winery Building – the beating heart of the estate’s wine, food, and art experience.
The project marks the return of London’s David Collins Studio, which first designed the space when the estate opened in 2009. Guided once again by Laurence Graff OBE – the legendary diamantaire and collector behind the estate – the Studio’s Chief Creative Officer, Simon Rawlings, has reshaped the interiors with a sure hand and a clear brief: to refine, not reinvent.
“Delaire Graff Estate is one of my favourite places to visit,” says Simon. “Having the privilege of being able to return to a project and update it, refine it, and better what’s already perfect, is such a joy. The new Winery Building features enhanced experiences through textural timbers, bold colours, contemporary art, and gorgeous lighting. Taste, dine, and enjoy unparalleled South African hospitality, surrounded by exquisite quality and attention to detail.”
Craftsmanship at Every Turn
That attention is apparent from the moment guests arrive. The entrance – full-height timber doors adorned with a starburst of metal studwork – opens onto the estate’s now-iconic peach-pip floor. A modern interpretation of a Cape Dutch technique, it grounds the design in local history while offering a tactile welcome underfoot.
From there, the space unfolds in layers of contrast and texture: dark-stained timbers, bronze ironmongery, richly veined marble and opulent lighting.
Hues of sunburst orange and lavender animate the palette, casting a golden glow that shifts through the day – a hallmark of Simon’s design and a nod to the South African light.
Warmth and Craft in the Restaurant
At the Delaire Graff Restaurant, this palette blossoms into warmth. Two sculptural serpentine banquettes in orange leather curve through the space, inviting intimacy. Vellum-toned rendered walls and timber wainscoting create rhythm and calm, while custom chairs feature the time-honoured riempie lacing technique – a traditional South African craft reinterpreted with contemporary precision.
Decorative plaster mouldings reference Cape Dutch architecture, and floor-to-ceiling glass doors are framed by ecru-linen curtains edged in lavender grosgrain. Areca palms soften the scale and draw the outside in, bridging vineyard and interior with natural grace.
At the far end, the sommelier’s bar becomes a focal point of theatre and craftsmanship. An ebonised timber wine display in a bold herringbone pattern is both sculptural and functional, while a marble-clad fireplace anchors the opposite wall. Above it, a patchwork of hand-chiselled timber panels forms a rich relief, their surfaces catching the light like facets of a gem.
Under Head Chef Clinton Jacobs, the restaurant’s menu mirrors this design philosophy. Described as “finer dining”, it evolvestraditional South African flavours respectfully. Seasonal ingredients are sourced from suppliers practising biodynamic farming, whileplating favours clarity over complication. Each dish reflects the estate’s ethos: authenticity, sustainability, and effortless beauty.
A Moodier Dialogue in the Tasting Lounge
Next door, the Wine Tasting Lounge offers a quieter, moodier dialogue. Here, deep amethyst upholstery offsets black marble and dark timber. The centrepiece fireplace, carved from gold-veined Sahara Noir marble, glows against the muted backdrop. Above it hangs Havana by Akingbade Mayowa – a commanding new artwork that anchors the room, joining Mr Graff’s world-class collection of contemporary African art. The continuity of palette and proportion, from the lavender accents to the chevron-trimmed drapery, ensures a seamless transition between spaces.
“The language of design should reflect wherever you are,” Simon explains. “We’ve always had a strong DNA at Delaire – timeless, tactile, connected to place. It’s about subtle contrasts – high and low, dark and light, intimacy and grandeur – always in balance.”
Sustainability and Local Craftsmanship
That language of refinement extends beyond aesthetics. Material choices were guided by sustainability and local collaboration – a cornerstone of both the estate and the Studio’s philosophy. “We love to support the local economy because it’s so important,” says Simon. “Not only for the planet, but because the craftsmanship here is extraordinary.” South African artisans were commissioned to create bespoke lighting, plasterwork, and carved wood panelling, while local suppliers provided natural stone and timber.
Lighting is another integral part of the experience. Architectural and decorative layers echo the estate’s golden-hour glow.
By day, sunlight filters through linen drapery and reflects off marble; by night, warmth deepens into amber, amplifying wood and leather tones. The result is an atmosphere that evolves with the day – immersive, sensory, alive.
Art remains Delaire Graff’s quiet pulse. From Lionel Smit’s monumental portraiture to Mayowa’s richly expressive Havana, the estate’s collection bridges Africa’s artistic heritage and its contemporary renaissance. Simon’s interiors, intentionally restrained, act as frames for these works – giving each room a sense of cultural depth and continuity.
The redesign also reaffirms Delaire Graff’s dual identity as both sanctuary and showcase: a place to pause and a place to be inspired. The estate’s 16 private lodges and four-bedroom Owner’s Villa offer seclusion amid vineyards, while its trio of restaurants – HOSEKI’s Japanese precision, Lorenzo’s Cucina Italiana’s intimacy, and the flagship Delaire Graff Restaurant – embody the culinary diversity of South African luxury.
Jacolien de Villiers, CEO of Delaire Graff Estate, encapsulates the project’s ambition: “Since opening in 2009, Delaire Graff has continually evolved. This renovation ensures an extraordinary experience for every guest – whether they come to dine, taste, explore our art collection, or simply take in the beauty of this place.”
A Masterpiece, Perfected
What emerges from the redesign is not a reinvention but a refinement – a dialogue between past and present, art and architecture, design and nature.
As the sun sets over the vineyards, its light dances across marble and timber, bringing new lustre to a place already defined by brilliance.
Delaire Graff Estate has not been transformed; it has been perfected. The Jewel of the Cape Winelands now gleams with renewed radiance – a masterpiece, reimagined.
