Asara Wine Estate & Hotel

Asara Wine Estate & Hotel is located within a working wine farm, offering a tranquil retreat amidst the vineyards in the Cape Winelands. The estate spans 180 hectares, formed from two historic farms dating back to the late 17th century. The hotel is distributed across several buildings set within a 25-acre garden, creating the feel of a small village. Asara embraces a classic approach to winemaking, focusing on minimal cellar handling. Guests can explore a wide range of activities on the estate or use it as a base for discovering the surrounding Cape Winelands. The estate takes its name from North African gods – Astar, Asis, and Asase – representing the balance and harmony of nature, a principle the winery reflects in its wines. The property includes multiple restaurants, a gin bar, a wine tasting room, and offers various experiences for visitors.

The hotel comprises 41 rooms, distributed across six different room types. The accommodation offers a blend of comfort and style. Rooms are designed with a minimalist aesthetic, featuring classy hues of cream, white, and brown. Each room includes a spacious bathroom. Many rooms feature a terrace that opens directly onto the garden, providing views over a small dam and the vineyards towards distant mountains. The overall feel is one of serenity, designed for guests to relax and unwind in a beautiful setting.

Asara offers a variety of dining options, from casual daily fare to fine dining, all committed to a farm-to-fork philosophy using seasonal regional produce, including ingredients from the estate's own herb and vegetable garden. The Deli, bordering a tree-shaded courtyard, serves freshly baked bread, pastries, cakes, and sweets. An ice cream cart by the bell tower offers homemade ice creams. Breakfast is served at Raphael’s, with views overlooking the nearby dam and vineyards from its outdoor terrace. Sansibar Bistro provides a casual dining experience for lunch and dinner, featuring dishes like flat-bread pizza from a wood-fired oven, burgers, Cape Malay lamb curry, and Springbok loin. During warmer months, its outdoor patio offers views over the dam, especially at sunset. For a fine-dining experience, mise en place offers Franco-Italian inspired cuisine, based on locally sourced ingredients, open on selected evenings during the summer season. Guests can also enjoy wine tastings at the estate's tasting room, which offers a range of wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin, Chardonnay, Pinotage Rosé, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Cape Blend. Hotel guests receive a complimentary tasting of five wines. The hotel's gin bar, Sansibar, boasts one of the largest selections of gins globally, with around 500 local and international options and a wide variety of tonics. Gin tastings are available, guiding guests through different styles, flavour profiles, and pairing sessions with fruits, herbs, and spices.

Asara Wine Estate & Hotel is situated on Polkadraai Road, just a few kilometres outside Stellenbosch. It is located approximately 25 minutes from Cape Town International Airport. The estate is surrounded by verdant green vineyards. Many other Stellenbosch wineries are within a 15-20 minute drive. The wine-growing towns of Franschhoek and Paarl are also accessible within under half an hour. This location provides a suitable base for exploring the Cape Winelands and its towns, alongside the activities available on the estate itself.

This estate suits guests seeking a tranquil escape within a working wine farm. It is ideal for those interested in wine, offering complimentary tastings and a range of estate-produced wines. The hotel's gin bar caters to gin enthusiasts looking to explore an extensive selection. Guests who appreciate diverse culinary experiences, from casual bistro dining to fine dining, with an emphasis on local and seasonal produce, will find this appealing. Its location close to Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl makes it suitable for visitors wishing to explore the wider Cape Winelands region. The hotel's setting, with its gardens, dam views, and vineyard surroundings, also appeals to those looking for a relaxing stay.