Just outside the red flower-lined streets of picturesque Roberston is a place that’s truly seen a renaissance that captures its rich past. Jan Harmsgat Guest House is a grand old dame, cleverly veiling some of her best keep secrets, just a little off SA’s famed Route 62.

The farm history dates back to 1723 and as if that’s not impressive enough, if pomegranates are the fruit of the gods – this must certainly be an earthly offering of heaven.

Exporting more than 850 tonnes a year, a safari-style farm drive around the 625 hectares of seemingly ever-stretching views proudly boasts some of SA’s most fertile lands. When Jan Harmsgat is not perfecting its wine offering, they’re harvesting and exporting pomegranate, making pomegranate honey for a demand they can’t keep up with, and are dealing out litres of the 100-percent natural pomegranate juice, that the health world is lapping up for its incredible anti-oxidant properties.

At its core, this is a working farm but beyond the bountiful harvests and warm welcomes, there’s a sense of tranquiltiy here that greets you upon arrival and holds you at a sub-average pulse rate until your departure date. (This despite there being really great wifi on site).

It could be something to do with the slower pace of life that’s encouraged here, the fact that locals love it and are catered for in clever additions to the event calendar line up like ‘local night’- where your ribs come complete with complimentary bib and local musician for background entertainment.

Pecan nut trees line the picturesque gardens and encourage the sense of tranquility that Jan Harmsgat has become well known for.

Dining al-fresco at this luxurious old country lodge also means your first-world problems extend only to the choice between tree canopy cover or vineyard view.

Old-world luxury and an unsurpassed opportunity to indulge in an authentic country ambience and history are all part of the package at Jan Harmsgat and this summer, there’s not much that’s not on offer.

Less than a two-hour drive from Cape Town, be prepared to be transported back to another era where open space, country charm and your comfort reign supreme.