South Africa
World Travel Awards
03/01/19 22:45 Filed in: Travel
Leeu Estates named South Africa’s Leading Wine Country Hotel by World Travel Awards for second year running
For the second year running, World Travel Awards has named Leeu Estates, the Leeu Collection’s flagship property located in Franschhoek, as South Africa’s Leading Wine Country Hotel. The award was announced at the glamorous black-tie Gala Ceremony that celebrated all the African winners in Durban, South Africa.Given the country’s reputation as a wine holiday destination, Leeu Estates had to fight off strong competition to take South Africa’s Leading Wine Country Hotel 2018 award. The World Travel Awards, which this year celebrate their 25th anniversary of honouring excellence in the international hospitality industry, are voted for by travel and tourism professionals, as well as business and leisure travellers worldwide.
Leeu Estates, which opened in June 2016, is a luxury boutique property situated in the Cape Winelands. Located between the mountain and river with spectacular panoramic views, this exceptional property sits on just under 100 hectares of vineyards, landscaped gardens and fynbos (indigenous vegetation) providing the ideal setting for unrivalled escapes where guests can see and enjoy the true experiences of a working wine farm.
Set amid the vineyards is Leeu Spa, a wellness sanctuary that offers authentic massages and holistic treatments and Indaba – The Meeting Place a state of the art multipurpose event and meeting venue.
The Wine Studio, a truly immersive wine experience run by the Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines team, whose knowledgeable tasting room staff guide guests through the finer nuances of their handcrafted wines is also located on the estate. Additionally, during the harvesting season, guests of Leeu Estates can sign up to help pick the grapes from the vines that surround the property.
Leeu Estates reflects the pillars of the Leeu Collection brand: superlative service with attention to the smallest detail; an award-winning wine portfolio, distinctive architecture and sophisticated design; inspiring art collections and manicured and detailed landscaping that reflects respect for the environment.
It all started as a personal journey for Leeu Collection’s founder Analjit (BAS) Singh, an international investor of Indian origin. Captivated by the Western Cape’s exceptional beauty and vibrant energy during a trip to South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he decided to buy a family home in the Franschhoek valley. The idea of a family home, however, soon transformed into what it is today – four historic farms joined to create a world-class hospitality and winemaking destination.
Said BAS “Our thanks to World Travel Awards for this honour, which pays testament to the dedication of the entire team at Leeu Estates. They have worked extremely hard to turn the property into a world-class hotel in the two years since it opened and this award celebrates their achievements, proving that all our effort has been worthwhile”.