We’ve loved every minute of this year’s slow, golden autumn but now we’re ready for Mother Nature to replenish the land. A farmer’s heart swells along with the dam levels. Besides, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.
Sweet citrus season
Babylonstoren’s winter garden holds a quiet beauty – bare espaliered branches stand in stark contrast to the bright red num-nums (Carissa macrocarpa) now in season, while the golden orbs of citrus are like spots of sunshine against the trees’ deep green foliage. Citrus season is something special at Babylonstoren. They grow over 30 cultivars, starting with juicy Nules, oranges, and grapefruit. Soon the farm abundance boxes will brim with Valencias, Sevilles, citrons, kumquats, blood oranges and more. Visit shop.babylonstoren.com to order your citrus abundance box and get those glass jars ready for winter’s bounty.
Celebrate everyday heroes
Father's Day gift ideas
This Father’s Day, spoil Dad with luxurious Marseilles soap from Marius Fabre – exclusive to Babylonstoren in South Africa. For dads who love the simple things done well, choose from house blend coffee, handcrafted wines, biltong and rusks. Or go gourmet with a leather knife roll or specialist braai tools.
Available from the farm and online at shop.babylonstoren.com.
Dad and me and the shave horse
Join a no-skills-needed father-and-child carpentry workshop this June at Soetmelksvlei, a working farmyard set in the late 1800s. Includes return shuttle from Babylonstoren, workshop, refreshments and a hearty lunch at the Old Stables Restaurant. There are only 4 spots available each Saturday in June for this exclusive experience. You’ll go home with a handmade wooden milk stool – and serious bragging rights.
Click HERE to book your spot.
Family-style feast at Babylonstoren
Cooler evenings call for cozy dinners at Babylonstoren’s Old Bakery Restaurant. On Italian-inspired Evenings, the Old Bakery becomes a lively trattoria with handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and fine wines. Join the family-style feast on Monday, Tuesday and Friday evenings or book your seat at a Carnivore Evening on Wednesday and Sunday nights where Babylonstoren’s expert braai masters grill Chianina beef over open coals – a true farm-to-table feast.
Reservations are essential.
NEW | Farm-fresh frozen meals from Babylonstoren
Babylonstoren has launched a new range of frozen farm-style meals – thoughtfully prepared by chefs on the farm in Franschhoek, using ingredients grown on site or sourced from trusted local producers. From a traditional lamb bredie to a creamy cauliflower and peach curry, each dish is packed with flavour and ready in minutes. Proper food, no shortcuts. Now available at shop.babylonstoren.com, with delivery in Cape Town and surrounds, as well as in Johannesburg and Pretoria main areas. Free delivery, always.
A taste of gold
Babylonstoren’s Sprankel 2019 (the current release) has just been awarded a gold medal at the Global Sparkling Masters 2025. This sparkling darling is a Blanc de Blanc made from only the finest Chardonnay grapes, harvested from select blocks on the farm. It is bottle-fermented in the Cap Classique style and aged to perfection for over four years. Sprankel perfectly complements cheese, fruit, salmon, shellfish, and caviar. The smoothness of this sparkling wine also works beautifully with poultry and seafood dishes with light, buttery sauces. Cheers!
Available on the farm and online at shop.babylonstoren.com.
Sense of earth
Wine Club members, rejoice! Babylonstoren's small-batch Sement Steen 2024 is on the way. Hand-harvested Chenin Blanc grapes fermented in Nomblot cement eggs (no oak) deliver a superior fruit-driven wine with full-bodied mouthfeel, sublime structure and lingering complexity. If you're not a member yet, join the wine club and access this exclusive wine.
June also brings the 2023 Nebukadnesar, our flagship Bordeaux blend. This opulent wine is velvety and smooth with sappy freshness. Pairs perfectly with a cellar tour and a meal at Babel. A top-notch gift for wine-loving dads.
Into the blue
Have you heard? BLOU in Keurbooms offers tranquil respite and the most flamboyant sunsets east of Babylonstoren.
BLOU is a self-catering seaside escape that can only be visited by guests who have stayed at either the Babylonstoren Farm Hotel or The Newt in Somerset. It is the epitome of barefoot luxury at the edge of the Indian Ocean.
Workshops in June
Babylonstoren
- 3 June – Break bread with our master baker
- 4 June – Winter gems: citrus in the garden
- 10 June – Inside scoop: water buffalo mozzarella and gelato
- 11 June – Craft your own homemade soap
- 17 June – Garden with indigenous trees
- 18 June – Compost 101: Let’s get down and dirty
- 25 June – Indoor gardening: bringing succulents into your home
- 26 June – All about eggs: from coop to table
Soetmelksvlei
- 5 June – Master meat: all about venison and biltong
- 6 June – Bake your own: butter and buttermilk scones
- 13 June – Bake with citrus and spice
- 19 June – Hey Brew! Fruit and flower cordials and bush teas
- 20 June – Chocolate and cake: bake your own treats
- 27 June – Hands-on kids: bake and ice farm animal biscuits
To book your spot at one of our workshops, click HERE.