A few weeks ago, we were hosted by the lovely Hazendal Team on an educational visit and were pleasantly surprised by all the wonderful offerings available at this delightful destination.

It is a unique winelands experience with typical South African flair, but with a Russian twist.  Rich in history dating back all the way from 1699, Hazendal was bought in 1994 by Dr Mark Voloshin, who is the farm’s current owner. The management of the estate is a family affair.  

His dream came true when in 2018, the estate re-opened after an extensive restoration and redevelopment phase, creating a wonderful Winelands destination; while preserving the farm’s rich heritage and history, blended with innovative ideas and Russian flavour.  Fast forward to May 2021, Hazendal is open for business and all the beautiful elements have come together. 

Our educational visit started with a walk through the owner’s showroom with his personal collection of vintage cars, among them a rare Rolls-Royce Phantom dating back to 1925, a limousine beloved by Queen Elizabeth, and the Riviera-style Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible, made even more glamorous by stars like David Bowie and Sir Paul McCartney. 

Following this, we entered the one-of-a-kind Wonderdal, a highlight for children, where they can learn through play.  The centre combines advanced technology with creative space designs to teach children about subjects from the natural science and life skills curriculum in an interactive and fun format.

Inside it is colourful and magical and children can enjoy a non-linear learning experience that ranges from digitally cooking healthy meals and feeding your “Amuki” characters, relaxing in velvety reading cubicles, growing plants in a virtual garden, to a playground with a netted maze and climbing wall. 

All of this can be enjoyed by the kids while trained staff known as ‘Wonderpals’ keep a watchful eye and provide assistance at each of the stations.  Best thing of all, parents can explore the estate while the children are entertained and educated.

Next, we jumped in 4×4 golf carts to view the brand-new Golf Club.  Hazendal offers an 18-hole par-3 Golf Course, providing challenging yet entertaining round of golf for both beginners and accomplished players.

The Hazendal Golf Academy with coaches that share over 40 years of international tour and coaching experience, offer a range of programmes available to juniors and adults.  The Burrow driving range’s design and technology is next level. With 32 open-air and undercover In Range-enabled bays, facing onto a 270-metre range, this state-of-the-art driving range is the first of its kind in South Africa.  

A welcome addition to this is the Kleine Hazen Putting Park, fun golfing for all ages, with 27 holes of adventure golf, perfect for a family activity. 

Once we climbed back into our golf carts, we whizzed over to the Babushka Deli.  With an extensive menu ranging from all-day breakfasts to beautiful lunch plates inspired by the season, you will want to sit down and just enjoy. 

Alternatively, you can grab some of the home-made artisanal goods to take home or enjoy a picnic on the lawns. You can even order a light and healthy bite from the Food Truck and enjoy it at one of plenty quiet spots available in the gardens, with streams to splash in and outdoor sculptures to explore. 

But wait, there’s more!

The Pivnushka Beer Garden offers a menu of flame-grilled fare, craft beer and Hazendal wines, perfect for a spot of lunch with friends.  Modern architecture blends in seamlessly with the original Cape Dutch history, offering plenty of beautiful spaces for conferencing, launches and weddings.

The 5-star Homestead, dating back to 1790, has been sensitively restored and converted and offers elegant winelands accommodation with five luxurious spacious suites, accommodating up to 10 guests, promising an exclusive stay with luxurious interior décor and striking artworks.

To end our inspiring visit, we had the privilege of enjoying a unique Russian Tea Ceremony, hosted in the elegant Avant-Garde space, amongst hand-painted murals and crystal chandeliers, evoking the grandeur of Russian nobility. 

We thoroughly enjoyed this ceremony centred around a steaming samovar (a traditional Russian tea urn), with black tea and some delicious Russian sweet and savoury delights. This was truly a memorable experience.

Luxury and exclusivity are not the only words associated with visiting Hazendal, it is also a perfect location to escape, explore, indulge and connect with the entire family, making it an ideal place in the Winelands to visit.