The chief wine-producing area of the Cape, centered on the towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, lies less than an hour by car east of Cape Town. These are among the most beautiful winelands in the world, backed by jagged mountains and, from November to March, reliably bathed in sunshine. I already recommend several properties in the Cape Winelands. On this trip, however, I decided to try a new resort that has generated much recent publicity and praise. Babylonstoren opened in 2011 and is set midway between Stellenbosch and Paarl. The estate dates to the late 1600s, and Babylonstoren is one of the best-preserved 17th-century houses in the country. In 2009, it was purchased by media magnate Koos Bekker and his wife, Karen Roos, former editor of Elle Decoration. Their intention was to make it a personal retreat, but they soon decided to create a hotel instead.
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