There is something deeply comforting about bread still warm from the oven, scones served with morning tea, or a slice of cake enjoyed on a quiet terrace. At The Nest Hotel, we have always believed that the simplest pleasures are often the most memorable, especially when they are rooted in the place you are visiting.
That is why we love celebrating the local stories that shape the Champagne Valley. One such story is Champagne Valley Stone Ground Flour, a family legacy recently featured on Landbou on Channel 147. It is a story of hard work, ingenuity, and a way of life that has been built steadily, season by season.
A family story shaped by the land
The Landbou team spent three days with the family behind Champagne Valley Stone Ground Flour, filming and asking questions about farming and a lifetime spent building something real. What came through clearly was that this is not simply a business story. It is a story about character, commitment, and the kind of practical intelligence that is learned by doing.
Long before there were awards and patents, there was a young boy, Joos Solms who had an eye for opportunity. At just fifteen, he leased his first piece of ground from a widow, grew vegetables, and sold them in Dundee. He describes himself as a pedlar, always selling, always finding a way to make pocket money. It is an old-fashioned kind of grit, the kind that does not wait for the perfect conditions. It starts with what is available and improves it through effort.
After returning from army service, he used his danger pay to buy a bakkie, and with help from his father for the first instalment, he secured his first farm in Colenso. By then he had already managed to buy a tractor and equipment, laying the foundations for a future that would combine farming with invention.
Innovation with a practical purpose
Great agricultural regions are often built on people who can solve problems with their hands, and this story has that in abundance. Over time, he began designing farming equipment, which led to the start of Plantkor. Among his designs was the dam scoop, also known as the dam buster, which he patented and sold. It is the sort of innovation that comes from understanding the daily realities of the land and finding better ways to get the work done.
Yet the story did not stop at equipment. It expanded into milling, and that is where Champagne Valley Stone Ground Flour begins to take shape.
A mill from Denmark and a flour worth travelling for
In later years, he went searching for a small mill capable of producing quality flour. Maize milling had become highly competitive, and he saw a need for something different, something that could deliver a product with real integrity.
The mill he found was in Denmark. It could not mill white flour in its original form, so he imported it and then adjusted it so that it could. In a remarkable turn, he later returned to Denmark to build the adapted mill for the Danes themselves, sold the patent to them, and became the South African agent for their equipment.
It is not often that a local farming story includes international engineering and a patent sold abroad, but this is a family that has never been afraid to think bigger while keeping their feet firmly planted at home.
While overseas, he also saw how advanced Danish piggeries were, and that experience shaped yet another chapter. Back in South Africa, Plantkor began helping farmers with piggery design and ventilation, eventually building some of the largest piggeries in the country.
Recognition that confirms what locals already know
The flour itself has not only earned loyal local support, it has earned national recognition. Champagne Valley Stone Ground Flour was awarded a prize for the best flour in the country, with Simon travelling to Cape Town to receive the honour.
Awards matter, but they matter most when they confirm what people already experience: a product made with care, made consistently, and made with a standard that does not chase shortcuts.
The milk tart that kept growing
One of the most memorable moments from the episode was a simple metaphor that speaks volumes about family, work, and growth. He described their work environment as a milk tart. When the children wanted to come into the family business, he welcomed them, but he reminded them that a milk tart is only so big. If everyone wanted a slice, they had to add to it.
So each person built their own section, strengthening the whole. Farming, milling, baking – (our renowned “Valley Bakery”) -each part became its own responsibility, with an expectation of excellence. Over time, the milk tart grew into something far larger than it had ever been at the start.
It is a traditional outlook that many will recognise: family is a gift, but it also carries responsibility. You contribute, you build, and you make sure your corner is sound.
Why this matters to a stay at The Nest Hotel
At The Nest Hotel, we are fortunate to be surrounded by stories like this. The Champagne Valley is not only beautiful, it is productive. It is a place where people still rise early, still take pride in craft, and still believe that quality is worth the effort.
For our guests, that means your Drakensberg escape can include more than scenery. It can include taste and texture and the satisfaction of knowing that what you are enjoying has a true local origin.
When you sit down to morning or afternoon tea, or when you enjoy the calm rhythm of a long meal after a day exploring the Valley, you are participating in a tradition that values care and consistency. It is the same spirit found in a family that can turn a Danish mill into an award-winning South African flour, and still keep the whole operation grounded in family and place.
A simple invitation
If you are visiting the Champagne Valley, take a moment to look beyond the landmarks and notice what is being made here. Ask about the local producers. Taste what is baked. Learn the stories. They add depth to a holiday and turn a pleasant stay into something genuinely meaningful.
The Nest Hotel is proud to be part of a Valley where people still build with their hands, still invest in their families, and still take satisfaction in doing things properly.
If you would like a comfortable base from which to explore the Champagne Valley and its local treasures, we look forward to welcoming you.