Cape Chamonix Wine Farm produces a range of premium wines that capture the essence and splendour of the estate. Chamonix also produces export fruit, and a superior German-style schnapps. A range of flavoured spring waters and a variety of bar mixers is bottled from the spring deep within the mountains on the farm. The products are being distributed on a national and international basis. Cape Chamonix Wine Farm is situated on the eastern mountain slopes of the fertile Franschhoek Valley to the north of Cape Town. It was originally part of the first farm, LA Cotte granted to the Huguenots in 1688, of 290 hectares, much is planted with fruit trees and different vines of export quality. Moreover, it boasts some of highest planted vineyards in the Cape. The main homestead was built by Judge Malan in 1947, and was owned by the Pickering family from 1965 to 1988. During this time , the farm was re-named “Chamonix” (its previous name was Waterval) which reminded the Pickering's of a holiday spent in the French village of Chamonix. The estate was bought in 1990, and has since made tremendous improvements, with the planting of new vines and fruit trees. Uitkyk, a small neighbouring farm, was acquired a few years later. The Uitkyk homestead was renovated and became the award-winning French-style restaurant, La Maison de Chamonix. An underground wine cellar connected to the tasting room, was built on the lower slopes of the former Uitkyk farm