Neither the tussle at my feet, nor the food, can keep me from staring at the idyllic picture of beauty around us; a backdrop of mountains, expansive vineyards, fruit tree orchards and the Cape Dutch style homestead.

It's hard to believe that just six years ago, when Angie and her husband Joey bought this property ("People thought I’d finally gone crazy"), it was nothing but some alien Port Jackson trees.

Now, like many Franschhoek properties, it’s a burgeoning wine farm — by January 2005 the 20 hectares of merlot, shiraz and cabernet vines will be ready for their first harvest — and a decadent guest house.

Living in harmony
What sets Klein Genot ('small pleasures') apart from its neighbours is its founding philosophy. The estate is centred around the concept of feng shui, the underlying principle of which is to live in harmony with, instead of conquering, the natural world. It promotes balance, prosperity and good fortune in your life by allowing you to garner the invisible life energy (chi) wich flows through everything.

And, say the Diamonds, there’s plenty of that energy here. So much so that feng shui master Victor Helberg was taken aback when he first set foot on the property.

"It’s a very auspicious place," says Angie, pointing to the elephant-shaped mountain protecting the farm. Symbolic of strength, longevity and power, the elephant is considered a sacred creature, while the rivers running on either side of the property (water dragons) are equally positive from a feng shui perspective.

Of course the homestead itself embraces those principles too — from the running water of the two khoi fish ponds in the central courtyard to the six guest bedrooms on either side.

Apart from plenty of round corners and carefully arranged furniture, rooms on the eastern side — facing the rising sun — are decorated in cool hues, while those on the west feature energising colours.

The blue room was ours for the night, tastefully decorated with a Persian rug, original artworks and Delft-style porcelain pieces. Like the other rooms it features all the luxuries and mod-cons you’d expect from five star accommodation, including a gloriously stylish bathroom; complete with walk-in shower. The prerequisite TV/satellite/DVD combo, which we were never tempted to turn on, is a rare bending of the feng shui principles.

Despite the room’s thatched ceiling, it’s an air-conditioned cocoon that often made me forget I was on a farm. Yet all it took was a step onto the private patio to grab a peach (or pear or plum) from the orchard outside and you’re back in nature.

This plush accommodation in natural surroundings is typical of Klein Genot’s delicately balanced elements. It’s not often you find a place that marries feng shui philosophies with typical Afrikaans hospitality and unmistakably British colonial traditions.

Although it’s tempting to savour the absolute privacy of the room the outdoor lounge next to the koi ponds and a plush indoor conservatory/library are both ideal for relaxing and situated temptingly close to the communal fridge, which is stocked to the proverbial teeth.

Wellness in the winelands
We chose to laze on the deckchairs by the swimming pool before ambling over to the estate's health and wellness spa. They offer a mind-boggling range of treatments, and the Elixir massage, which combines Swedish massage, lymphatic drainage, reflexology and deep tissue manipulation, felt amazing and put me in good stead for the high tea, served in a riverside gazebo.

Complemented by personal service and handmade glasses and cutlery, the refined high tea reflects the Klein Genot attention to detail and quality. Across the estate, virtually no expense has been spared, from the handmade terracotta tiles (heated, of course) to the hand-quilted French linen on the bed.

This is the stuff of chocolates on your pillow, rose petals sprinkled on the toilet seat, candles lit next to the bath, bed expertly turned down — all greeting us after dinner (yes, another meal) at a quaint sidewalk-style café in town.

After a good night's sleep, a fantastic breakfast (do try the croissants with camembert or smoked salmon) and even better coffee our guilty conscience kicked in and we set off for a walk (not too brisk, though) along the willow-lined river, tempted by the various hammocks and benches on the edge of the water.

Settling on a spot next to the riverside aviary, entertained by the variety of birdlife and two playful marmoset monkeys, we simply soaked up as much of the serenity and splendour before we left.

And leaving wasn’t easy. I lingered longer than necessary while filling out the guestbook and paging through the comments from as far afield as Sweden, I came across an entry that perfectly summed up the magic of this place: "Klein Genot? It’s more like groot genot."

		Stay at Klein Genot Klein Genot Wine & Country Estate is situated three kilometres outside of the quaint winelands town of Franschhoek, 45 minutes drive from Cape Town. Klein Genot offers six luxurious, individually decorated suites. Rates start from R1094 per person sharing, which includes breakfast, high tea and soft drinks. For further information or to make a booking, visit the Klein Genot website, or contact them on +27 21 876 2738. You can also email info@kleingenot.com