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HISTORY: Grande Roche is situated on the site of an old farm De Nieuwe Plantatie in the Drakenstein valley of Paarl, South Africa. In 1717 a grant of land was given to Hermanus Bosman, the 'sick comforter' and assistant to the Reverend Simond. The original house was extended over the years by various family members and in 1876, possibly influenced by a visit of Prince Alfred, it was changed to a Victorian style. After being in the same family’s possession for nearly 200 years, it was modernised in 1926 by its new owners the Du Toit family. After a fire in 1953, it was rebuilt as a Victorian manor house.

In 1991 De Nieuwe Plantatie was transformed by its new owner into a luxury hotel, without compromising its historic character. After careful research the buildings were authentically restored and new buildings in keeping with the old, were added.

The attention to detail that went into this restoration project was recognised in 1993 when the whole estate was declared a national monument.

THE STORY OF SUCCESS;
The Grande Roche of Paarl has become a legend on the local hospitality scene for having won such a formidable array of awards and culinary accolades since its opening in January 1992.

This gem of South Africa is set on a gentle slope overlooking vinyeyards and rugged mountains. The manor house and its sprawl of individually decoraded suites are a gentle alternative to the hurly-burly of big city life. And it is the hotel's subtle attention to detail that sets it apart from the rest.

Grand Roche has received a remarkable collection of honours in its relatively brief history:

- Within only a few short months of opening, Grand Roche received its full 5-star status - scoring the highest marks on the score sheet.

- In 1992 and 1993, its superbly stocked cellar with close on 300 vintage wines, in addition to more than 6 500 bottles, won the Diners Club award for the best winelist of the year and in 2000, 2001 and 2002 it received the Diners Club Diamond Award for its winelist.

- Bosman's Restaurant was named as South Africa's top de luxe restaurant by the American Express/Style magazine for two years in succession. In 1993 the German gourmet magazine VIF, scored it 18 out of 20 points and in Feinschmecker, it scored 3 out of 4 points for Bosman's and 4 out of 5 points for the hotel in 1997. It was also rated among the Top Ten Restaurants of South Africa in the 1996 Perrier Restaurant Guide and Flying Springbok magazine.

- Bosman's Restaurant has received the official blazon from the highly respected worldwide association of gastronomes, the Chaine des Rotisseurs. Executivite chef of Bosman's Frank Zlomke was also inducted as Matre Rotisseur in the Chaine des Rotisseurs in 1999.

- In 1993 the Grande Roche together with all its farmland and restored historical buildings, was declared a national monument. For all those involved in the planning and restoration this was indeed an auspicious occasion.

- the Grand Roche was honoured by the Relais & Chateaux, a select Paris-based assocation of hoteliers and restaurateurs, in November 1994 when it become the fourth South African establishment to have membership conferred on it, joining the prestigious ranks of 459 memebers in 51 countries throughout the world. Strict selection criteria are based on the personality of the owner/manager, the secluded location of the hotel, as well as the maintenance of highest standards of hotelkeeping, top quality cuisine and winelist, outstanding amenities and accommodation facilities.

- In 1995 Grande Roche was awarded the Relais Gourmands status. This means double recognition for an establishment which combines the cuisine of a Relais Gourmand with the comfort of a stay. Restaurants or hotel reaturants which provide their guests with cuisine of the highest quality, together with a personalised welcome and service are rewarded with this label by Relais & Chateaux. Grande Roche is still the only hotel on the African continent with Relais Gourmands status. (To even be considered for this Relais Gourmand Status overseas, a restaurant would have to have the minimum rating of two stars in the International Michelin restaurant guide and three toques in the Gault & Millau food and wine guide.)

- The SATOUR Tourism Award for the Hotel of the Year 1995 - the first hotel in South Africa to receive this award. It is an award for excellence in hospitality and for those committed to service excellence. Grande Roche won the Hotel of the Year award for its incredible attention to detail, impeccable grounds, excellent food, and superb levels of luxury.

- General Manger Horst Greshse was named Businessman of the Year by the Paarl Sakekamer in 1996, in recognition of the contribution Grande Roche made in placing Paarl on the world tourism map.

- Grand Roche was named as the Worldwide Suburban Retreat in Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report 1996 (considered to be the "World Connoisseur's guide to peaceful and unspoiled places") as well as being selected as one of the author's Favourite International Destinations for 1996.

- The Grand Roche Hotel is the only one in the Cape winelands to be selected by America's top network of travel agents Virtuoso - specialists in the art of travel in 1999 and named the "Best of the Best" in their exclusive selection of the top hotels they represent.

- The Business Day Restaurant of the Year Award 1994, 1998 and in 2002 - for its outstanding cuisine in Bosman's Restaurant - endorses once again the standards for which Grand Roche has become famous. In 2004 it was the first runner-up for this award.

- Grand Roche was ranked among the 10 top wine country hotels of the world in Amercia's Food and Wine magazine - October 1998. The hotel ranked with other exotic destinations for an ideal wine getaway including a castle, convent and farmhouse in the foremost wine-proucing countries in the world. Grande Roche was described as "South Africa's most hedonistic property"

- Bosman's Restaurant was one of the first restaurants in South Africa to be accepted for the American Express Platinum Card Fine Dining porgramme which was launched in SA in 1999.

- In 1999, Frank Zlomke executive chef of Bosman's Restaurant won the recognition of a "full award" from the world's oldest and most renowned gastronomic society, the International Wine and Food Society. It was the first of two to be awarded in Cape Town since the inception of the society in Cape Town in 1947.

- Horse Frehse, general manager of Grande Roche was the winner of the 1999 Cape Cigar Hospitality Award. Horst collaborated with cigar aficionado Theo Rudman in organising the first South African Cigar club at Bosman's Restaurant.

- Bosman's at the grande Roche was listed as one of the "Editor's Top 10 Restaurants" by one of South Africa's leading food writers, Lannice Snyman in her book Eat out in the 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 edition.

- Bosman's Restaurant was the only South African restaurant to make the top ten in the world listings featured in the New Straits Time, a Malaysian newspaper (16 February 2002). The list was compiled by Hannah Abisheganaden, director/principal of foodies 'n friends, in a three-part series of the World's Best Restaurants.

- In September 2002 edition of the American magazine Wine Enthusiast Grand Roche was selected as one of the Top Eight resorts with great winelists world-wide.

- In 2003, Frank Zlomke, executive chef was the first chef from a South African hotel to be selected as Star Chef for Lufthansa Airlines when his specially designed menu was served to First and Business Class passengers in November and December 2003. By popular demand this was repeated January and February 2004. Lufthansa's Star Chefs also presented Frank with a certificate for outstanding performance in creating and designing their First and Business Class menus.

- In 2004 silver rating and environmental certification from the Heritage Environ Rating Prorgramme.

- Bosman's Restaurant has six times been the only restaurant to gain five stars for its winelist in Wine magazine's top 100 Restaurants - the latest being the 2005 edition. It also received a five star rating for its food and ambience and was the only restaurant to attain full marks for all categories in the guide. In 2005 Bosman's was presented with the award for the Top winelist by Wine magazine's Top 10 Restaurants.