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A manor comes of age : The manor house's African living room displays an informal collection of South African artefacts, many of which come from family friend and antique dealer Gilles de Moyencourt. -
A manor comes of age : The influence of Danièle's heritage can be seen in the red lacquered urn in the tasting room. -
A manor comes of age : Clever use of indoor and outdoor lighting adds drama to the cellar entrance. -
A manor comes of age : Danièle believes in treating an outdoor space in the same way as an interior, as can be seen in this outdoor room leading from the tasting area. -
A manor comes of age : Extensive rose and lavender gardens bring life to Danièle's philosophy of designing with all the senses. -
A manor comes of age : The loft room in the guest house features a selection of America-inspired decor accessories. -
A manor comes of age : A gleaming piano makes a striking impression in the manor house's entrance hall. -
A manor comes of age : Danièle combined dramatic chandeliers with wine barrels to a create striking focal point in the wine cellar. -
A manor comes of age : Small Colon figures in the guest house add a touch of Africa. -
A manor comes of age : Peter Falke and Danièle Görtz have successfully combined their lives between France, Germany and South Africa.
PHOTOS: Mark Serra | PRODUCTION: Sumien Brink | WORDS: Alma Viviers
Co-owner of the German Falke KGaA apparel company, Peter Falke, and his better half, Danièle Görtz, turned an old Cape wine farm into an expression of their unique style.
Green-and-white gabled Cape Dutch buildings etched against a backdrop of picturesque mountains and lush vineyards are a familiar sight in the Cape Winelands. Yet the stately homestead and outbuildings of Groenvlei Farm, which date back to the 1800s, belie a contrasting modernity within.
The chic interiors of the manor house and tasting room are a true reflection of Peter Falke and his partner Danièle Görtz, who have created a place where German precision meets French flair.
Done deal
Peter, who has been doing business in South Africa since 1969, always envisaged a place of his own in the Fairest Cape but never dreamt that he would own a wine farm. “I heard it was up for sale and had only two days to decide before leaving for Germany,” he recalls. It was a done deal by the time Peter boarded the plane – a case of good luck and timing.
The manor had changed hands several times over the previous two decades and was in desperate need of attention, creating the ideal opportunity for Danièle to draw on her creative background in fashion and interior design.
The roof was repaired, electricity rewired and new plumbing installed. The kitchen was also opened up to let in more natural light and now spills out onto a breakfast patio under an ancient oak tree. “You can feel the heritage when you walk around here,” Peter says. “We wanted to remain true to its style and tradition but at the same time wanted to translate the building into an expression of the 21st century and of ourselves.”
A functional haven for family gatherings
The generous spaces of the manor house bear testament to the influence of Danièle’s French heritage intermingled with finds from our own shores. She also had the extensive gardens planted with roses, lavender and agapanthus. The couple live between France, Germany and South Africa and, with a son and grandchildren in Seattle, a daughter in New York and another in Milan, the farm has become a haven for family gatherings.
However it is more than a mere holiday home and continued to supply other wineries with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes until 2003, when Peter decided it was time to start making his own wine.
“We wanted to create wines we like to drink ourselves,” he says. As a complete winemaking novice, he enlisted the help and advice of friends and seasoned vintners Jannie Engelbrecht and Kevin Arnold in producing the first Peter Falke vintage, which was released in 2008.
Today, winemaker Tertius Naudé is at the helm and produces two ranges under the label: the easy-drinking PF range, which is Peter’s personal favourite, and the Peter Falke signature range.
Both Peter and Danièle are passionate about sharing what they have created with other people, which inspired them to open an elegant tasting room on the farm. Here, Danièle again applied her philosophy of “designing with the senses”. The result is a tasting room that is a sensory delight: bursts of red accents captivate the eyes while hands are seduced to touch smooth wood, chrome and cork inlays, taste buds are tempted with the fine wines and the fragrances of rose and lavender drift in from the lush garden.
Danièle’s impeccable taste and creative vision permeate every aspect of the business. She not only designed and commissioned all the furniture and had the special hand-blown tasting glasses made, but also designed the labels for the two wine ranges with the help of eldest son Michael, a creative director.
“Few people have the chance to create something of their own,” says Peter. “We are lucky enough to have this opportunity and want others to share in our lives and what we have managed to achieve.”
• Peter Falke Wines 021 881 3677, www.peterfalkewines.com
• Cellar open for tastings Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 7pm. Mondays and after-hour tastings can be booked.
