Own a stand in luxury Hermanus wine estate from R2m-plus

The ongoing demand for homes in Hermanus, particularly those offering a secure estate lifestyle, has seen increasing interest in Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate.

This olive tree house offers four bedrooms, four bathrooms, underfloor heating, heated towel rails, double volume lounge with gas fireplace, covered patio with braai, heated rim-flow swimming pool and staff accommodation. It is currently on the market for R15 million - click here to view.

The estate is situated 20 minutes away from the town, on a site which enjoys scenic, elevated views over the Bot Rivier Lagoon and to the majestic Palmiet Mountains.

It is close to all the major amenities like private schools, hospitals shopping outlets, and just an hour from Cape Town and 45 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.

Louise Varga, projects manager for Pam Golding Properties in the Boland and Overberg regions, says the estate is located on 220ha and comprises only 124 residential properties. She says this makes it one of the lowest density housing estates in the country, with a building footprint of less than 6% of the total area.

On the market are the 67 remaining properties on the estate and some re-sale properties

With Hermanus increasingly sought after by home buyers from around the country as a highly desirable permanent and leisure destination, this development offers the potential not only for an appealing lifestyle, but also sound investment potential, given the ongoing demand for secure estate living.

The Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate is close to all the major amenities like private schools, hospitals, shopping outlets, and just an hour from Cape Town and 45 minutes from Cape Town International Airport.

Stands for sale ranging in size from 1 515sqm to 4 278sqm are priced from R2.365 million to R5.602 million. There are also two show houses for sale, each 747sqm in extent and priced at R17 million and R15 million respectively.

Comprising four en suite bedrooms with top-quality finishes, swimming pools and double garaging, both these luxury homes are elevated and north facing on the lagoon front, with sweeping lagoon, sea and mountain views. The estate has 24-hour security with on-foot, bicycle and vehicle patrols.

Benguela Cove already operates as a working wine, lavender and olive farm, and is recognised as a leading producer and wine destination. 

Strategically well-positioned at the start of the globally renowned Hermanus Wine Route, Benguela Cove is home to some of South Africa’s finest award-winning wines, many of which are exported to the international market from these quality vineyards. Homeowners on the estate enjoy an allocation of wine each year, with individual labeling opportunities.

Nicola Lloyd, area manager for Pam Golding Properties, says named after the cool Benguela Current which flows from Antarctica, Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate strikes the perfect balance between lavish living, privacy and unspoilt nature.

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate offers the potential not only for an appealing lifestyle, but also sound investment potential, given the ongoing demand for secure estate living.

Located close to the UNESCO Proclaimed World Heritage Site of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, 70ha of Benguela Cove comprises vineyards, with 12 different cultivars, 10ha of olive tree fields, 5ha of lavender fields and 80ha of Renosterveld nature reserve.

Lloyd says a range of fauna, including steenbok, springbuck, small waterbuck, meercats, dassies, rabbits, ducks and tortoises, as well as a large variety of birdlife can be found on the estate.

Set in the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a host of leisure activities are available to residents of Benguela Cove, including water sports on the lagoon and running and hiking trails in the nature reserve.

The estate is only a 10-minute drive from the world class Arabella Golf Course, which is one of the top 10 golf courses in the country. The estate also offers wine tastings and is home to an acclaimed pop-up restaurant which will re-open in October 2016.

According to Lloyd, the Bot Rivier Lagoon is the second largest lagoon in South Africa, and Benguela Cove’s residents have exclusive boat access to it, allowing for various water sport activities including boating, fishing, kayaking, skiing and kite surfing. This is over and above the breathtaking mountain hiking trails, white water rafting or picnic spots at the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens.

“An 11km walkway offers residents the opportunity to walk, run or cycle through the vineyards - all within a safe estate. In addition, the estate has a swimming pool, boat house, tennis court, boules and basketball courts, and a picnic and braai area.”

There are also two helipads, with landing permissions to be pre-arranged via the developer.

Lloyd says the appeal of this region is internationally recognised and envied. Over and above its world-famous whale-watching status, Hermanus is known as being the ‘Riviera of the South’, with beautiful beaches and the finest wine producers such as Hamilton Russell Vineyards and Bouchard Finlayson Winery, to name but a few.

Benguela Cove has strict aesthetic and architectural controls, with a committee which reviews all plans for approval. Each stand has the position, coverage and height of the building controlled, along with the use of materials. No face brick is allowed, and all structures are plastered and then painted using a palette of pastel colours.

A distinct architectural feature, the grey stone is excavated from a local quarry, which forms part of the signature of the estate. This can be seen when driving through the main gates and thereafter. The roof coverings are made from natural slate or profile steel. Home buyers have a two year building commencement time frame from the date of purchase of vacant land.