12/10/2026
A little dream, a lot of life, and a farm full of new beginnings.
As a young woman, I fell in love with movies like A Walk in the Clouds and A Good Year. Not necessarily for their love stories, but for the beautiful way of life they portrayed.
The vineyards, musty cellars, and old farmhouses captivated me. But more than the scenery, it was what farm life represented that intrigued me. A life filled with passion, a deep connection to the land and the people around you, respect for traditions, and an appreciation for the beauty found in both difficult times and ordinary moments.
I loved the idea of a life that didn’t simply happen to you, but one that you consciously cultivated.
And somewhere along the way, I began dreaming of living on a w**e farm myself.
In 2017, when Hein and I bought La Luandière, that dream became our reality.
Over the years, our own little piece of the French countryside began to take shape in the heart of Paarl. We created a French-inspired garden with beautiful fountains, flowering borders, and a vegetable patch where we could grow something of our own, all surrounded by vineyards and the majestic mountains of the Paarl valley.
Of course, no farm dream would be complete without a few animals.
It started with two dogs. Then came two rescued cats, followed by three geese. And then, rather innocently, three cows.
I should have known that giving Hein three cows would eventually turn into a full-blown farming operation! 🤭
So, here we are…
All our heifers are pregnant, the geese are sitting patiently on their eggs, the garden is coming alive with spring blooms and the vineyards are bursting into new growth. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of new calves and, hopefully, a few little goslings.
I find it incredibly special to be able to live this life. To experience the changing seasons, to see the garden and vineyards respond to them and to watch new life unfold around us.
And while life on a farm is certainly not always as romantic as the movies make it seem (there is way more mud involved!), there is a richness to it that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Looking back, I realise that what I loved about those movies was never really just the vineyards or the beautiful old farmhouses. It was the life that unfolded within them.
The connection to nature, the importance of family and traditions and the idea of living with purpose and an appreciation for what each season brings.
That was the dream all along. And it is what we continue to cultivate here at La Luandière.
A life beautifully lived.
