Vrede en Lust handles two kinds of events: conferences for up to 40 delegates with overnight rooms on the property, and weddings for up to 150 guests that run over at least two nights. The estate is a working wine farm in Simondium, in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, at the foot of the Simonsberg.
Seminars and company events
The conference offer is built for small groups. The meeting room is a single rectangle of about 5.9 by 11.2 meters, with power points down the center, and takes a maximum of 40 delegates. A breakaway room can be added when confirmed in advance. Equipment includes an 85-inch 4K display that accepts Miracast and AirPlay, a wireless presentation system, a projector with a motorized 141-inch screen, a media player and a sound system. Industrial generators keep the room running during load shedding, which matters for a full-day program in South Africa.
Teams can stay on site: the estate states room for 26 delegates at single occupancy, with breakfast included. Activities on request include wine tastings, cycling, boules, a tasting of the Black Label range and rides on the Franschhoek Wine Tram, as well as horseback, quad bike or carriage outings with a partner operator.
Weddings and receptions
The wedding venue is the Vineyard Terrace, about 300 square meters of floor space enclosed by frameless glass, with 250 square meters under a permanent roof. It seats 120 guests with the dance floor inside, or 150 when the dance floor moves outdoors in good weather. Ceremonies and pre-drinks take place in the gardens. A historic cellar of more than 300 square meters, with a permanent kitchen and restrooms, sits alongside. Weddings are booked for a minimum of two nights, and the couple and their guests have exclusive use of the venue and the accommodation section for the whole stay.
Rooms and capacities
The conference room takes 40 delegates. The Vineyard Terrace seats 120 to 150. The Savoye restaurant, set in the Manor House garden under old oaks, can host group dinners and celebrations.
Accommodation
Rooms are spread across several buildings: the Vineyard Rooms, the Jonkmanshuis Cottages, the Manor House and The Residence. For weddings, the estate sleeps up to 52 guests within walking distance of the terrace, and an optional villa adds privacy for the couple or family.
Catering
Lust Bistro and Bakery, which bakes its own bread over a wood-fired hearth, caters weddings and supplies the drinks. Conference packages cover lunch, refreshment breaks and table setup, with optional pairings of the estate wines with chocolate or cheese.
History and setting
The farm traces back to 1688, when the Flemish merchant Jacques de Savoye arrived at the Cape; the title deed followed in 1694. The Marais family built the Manor House in the 1790s. The Buys family bought the estate in 1996 and runs it today, with 48 of its 56 hectares under vine.
Getting there
The estate sits at the junction of the R45 and Klapmuts Road in Simondium, on the road between Paarl and Franschhoek.
