Brookdale Brochure

B ROO K DALE PA A R L, C A PE W INEL A NDS

Escape the

Ordinary You could be forgiven for thinking you’d arrived at an elegant country estate in rural England, but for the Cape Dutch-style architecture of this newly built Manor House set against the backdrop of the dramatic Klein Drakenstein mountains in Paarl. Driving the long driveway in this beautiful corner of the Cape Winelands, the views literally take your breath away: how, one wonders, did we miss this spot?

And while Brookdale Estate does indeed take its name from the hamlet in Derbyshire, England, where owner Tim Rudd lived for many years, this new house is based on historical Cape Dutch drawings of an 18th-century, H-shaped, gabled farmhouse which cleverly allows breezes to cool the interiors in our sizzling summers. Tim’s attention to detail and sensitivity to place is also evident in the conservation ethos here: no less than 3 600 indigenous trees have replaced alien vegetation and mountain slopes now re-seeded with Cape fynbos. He worked with the doyenne of garden design, Franschesca Watson, who created a garden of “rooms” for Tim, one of which is circular and does double duty as a helipad.

Inside the Manor House, the interiors are classic and calming, with a growing collection of local contemporary art lining the walls, including Deborah Poynton. Dinners here are elegant and delicious, as are breakfasts, giving you the energy to go out and explore the farm: mountain biking and walks through 67 hectares of vineyards and fynbos are a balm for the soul, so come and relax and let nature envelop you in this lesser-known corner of the Winelands.

www.perfecthideawaysforsale.co.za mandi@perfecthideaways.co.za