Brookdale Estate Manor House

Inside, the Manor House does contemporary Cape Dutch without any of the theme-park stiffness: whitewashed gables outside, two squashy-sofa sitting rooms and a proper study within. The dining room seats the whole party under low beams, though the better booking is the cellar, dinner served among barrels of Brookdale's own wine. Terraces wrap the house on every side, each framed by the Klein Drakenstein range, and the garden runs down to a pool with a thatched pool house for shade when the Cape sun gets serious.

Six suites in total: the Vineyard Suite, the one to request if the name means what you'd hope, plus five Manor Suites, each individually styled and sleeping two. Expect crisp linen, handsome dark wood and bathrooms built for lingering, with a tub deep enough to properly submerge in and underfloor heating for cooler mornings. Book the whole villa and the six suites sleep up to twelve, with roll-away beds for children over seven. Views vary suite to suite, so ask what you'll be looking at before you commit.

Spend the morning walking, running or e-biking through the 67 hectares of vineyard the Rudds rescued from near ruin, then watch the Klein Drakenstein range turn dust pink over an evening tasting (book ahead, it isn't automatically included). Local partners arrange horse riding or a hot air balloon at silly o'clock for valley views without the climb. Beyond the gate, Paarl Mountain's granite domes reward the effort, while Fairview's goat tower (yes, actual goats) makes a detour that's exactly as odd as it sounds, deep in the Cape Winelands.