Val de Vie Estate is a secure, luxury residential and outdoor lifestyle estate occupying situated between Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. The estate encompasses various neighbourhoods each with its own characteristics, surrounded by vineyards, polo fields, natural fynbos vegetation, parks, lakes and mountains. The estate is known for its world-class polo facilities, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, mountain bike trails and L’Huguenot wine cellar. Voted "Safest Estate in Africa” and home to the “Safest House in Africa”, Val de Vie Estate has been named the number one residential estate in South Africa by New World Wealth for 5 consecutive years from 2015 to 2019. Val de Vie Estate has also received awards for the Best Individual Residence in South Africa, and best multigenerational resort in the World.
History
The estate embraces farmland granted by the Governor of the Cape to French Huguenot Abraham Andries le Roux in 1783 at a time when the Paarl-Franschhoek region was producing the highest volume of wine in South Africa. Founder Martin Venter bought the land in 2003 and the first homes were built in 2007. In 2016 African Rainbow Capital acquired a 20% stake in Val de Vie Investments. In 2015 Val de Vie acquired the adjacent Pearl Valley Golf & Country Estate from Standard Bank. The acquisition included the entire first phase of Pearl Valley, the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the clubhouse, a hotel site on which the Mantis Collection Pearl Valley Hotel would be developed, a 20 hectare equestrian farm, approximately 80 serviced and unsold plots as well as 150 un-serviced residential plots.
Security
Val de Vie Estate was voted “Safest Estate in Africa”, and is home to the “Safest House in Africa”.
Awards
New World Wealth's research has ranked Val de Vie South Africa's top residential estate for the fifth consecutive year. Best Single Unit Residential Development in Africa - 2016 International Property Awards in Dubai. Pearl Valley was rated by Golf Digest in South Africa’s Top 5 for 2018 and 2019 and the best conditioned golf course in the Western Cape Val de Vie Estate was awarded the best multigenerational resort in the World in 2018 at The Globals ceremony in London on 8 November 2018.
Sports
Golf
The Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is rated by Golf Digest in South Africa’s Top 5 for 2018 and 2019 as well as rated the best conditioned golf course in the Western Cape. South Africa's Top 100 Courses rate Pearl Valley the no 1 golf course in the Western Cape and place it fifth nationwide.
Polo
Val de Vie Estate is the only residential Polo estate in South Africa and the venue for the annual Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo Cape Town. The 2009 event attracted more than 3 000 spectators. The sixth SentebaleRoyal Salute Polo Cup was played at Val de Vie Estate, His Royal Highness Prince Harry participated. Val de Vie Estate is the host for the Veuve Clicquot Polo Series 2019/2020.
Cycling
In 2017 the Estate became the official Grand Finale venue, the Champs-Elysées of the 700 km Absa Cape Epic. The 17th edition will take place from 15 to 22 March 2020. The Absa Cape Epic is the largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world and the only eight-day mountain bike stage race classed as hors catégorie by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
The history of winemaking on the estate dates back to the 17th Century when French Huguenot Abraham Andries le Roux employed his expertise in viticulture. L’Huguenot Vinoteque currently produces the Val de Vie and Polo Club labels. Val de Vie started producing Rhône-style wines in 2006, and is now the most comprehensive grower of Rhône varietals outside of France. A Chinese company, Perfect China, invested in the Val de Vie L'Huguenot wine estate, buying the 62 acre wine farm with of vineyards.. The under vine produce a variety of cultivars: Roussanne, Ugni Blanc, Durif, Cinsaut, Mourvedre, Shiraz, Carignan, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir and Merlot. The winery produces 5000 cases per annum. The signature Val de Vie wine, is named after the Olympic Swimming Record Holder and Val de Vie Group Marketing Director, Ryk Neethling.
Biodiversity and conservation
As a major part of the Berg River valley falls within the Cape Floral Kingdom the developers worked closely with the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to preserve, protect, enhance, restore, manage and sustain the natural assets. A game reserve is home to endangered species like the Cape Grysbok. Over 100 species of protected fynbos flourish in dedicated environmentally sensitive areas. Val de Vie Estate is home to over 50 avian species, including Cape Canaries, Greater Striped Swallow and Rock Martins, Whiterumped Swift and White-throated Swallow, African Paradise Flycatcher Kingfishers and Black Duck. The 7km biodiversity corridor along the Berg River is the second largest in the Western Cape and part of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
Foundation
The Val de Vie Foundation supports the local community with contributions to education, welfare and social/sporting developmentand other charitable initiatives. It is funded through 1% of land sales and 5% of new home levies. Between 2017 and 2019 The Foundation invested R13.4m in forty organisations
