TAKING THE starring ROLE

“I’m going to take you on a journey through sight, taste and touch,” promises Nicole Loubser, head chef of Gåte restaurant in Stellenbosch. Namibian-born Nicole has pulled her long, auburn hair back into a ponytail, and she’s wearing a charcoal grey chef’s jacket overlaid with a leather apron.

At just 25 years old, she’s young to be at the helm of a fine-dining venue, but her trajectory speaks for itself. After graduating from the Stellenbosch-based Institute of Culinary Arts in early 2016, Nicole held positions at La Colombe, The Test Kitchen, the Michelin-starred Restaurant Jan in France and Wellness-Residenz Schalber, a five-star hotel in Austria

Hers is a bold proclamation, but then Quoin Rock is all about statements. On arrival, a bronze male greets you over a reflecting pond. Behind, a low-slung modern building of glass, steel and wood incorporates the winery,