La Clé des Montagnes

I don’t think I’ve ever seen my wife happier than she was at La Clé des Montagnes. It was the kind of happy that spills out in giggles and wows, the kind you try to bottle and carry with you as protection against harder times.

La Clé des Montagnes is not open to the public until the fall, but this past March a friend in the industry asked us to “test it out” and see what we thought. We stayed in the 3-bedroom villa known as La Grange, and quite simply couldn’t believe our luck.

The property is a cluster of four villas located in the town of Franschhoek—the culinary capital of South Africa—a kind of Provence-meets-Napa heaven nestled into a valley carpeted by vines, backed by breathtaking mountains and dotted with whitewashed and thatch-roofed Cape Dutch homesteads.

Located in Franschhoek town proper and yet away from the main street action, La Clé’s position couldn’t be better. Our villa, La Grange, used to be a local jazz club back in the day, and its long barn-like layout with original ceiling beams radiates good juju. The three rooms are all equally enormous, with views out onto the vineyards and farm-luxe decor.

There is an enormous private pool, a kitchen to die for, and the place is serviced by an incredible Malawian man named Frank who used to be the butler at Ellerman Villa. The place is extravagant for one couple, but perfect for a family or three couples travelling together—with so many wonderful spaces it triggers the impulse to host or hang out with friends.

Greg Sacks has many friends in South Africa, from social workers to predator researchers to art critics, and he’s all for having them hang out with you.