Perhaps most well known as the home of commercially popular winery Fairview and its famed goats, Paarl is the slightly more rural, covert sibling of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. That said, it’s also one of the most innovative wine regions in the Western Cape – responsible for creating the world’s first white Pinotage and bottling SA’s first Bordeaux-style red blend. A working farm, housing a collective of micro-businesses that all share a common goal, to create artisanal and sustainable produce, Fairview’s famous drawcard is their ever-popular pairings of wine and cheese. Taste eight estate wines with a selection of recommended goat and cow milk cheeses to match their flavours, as well as olives – from smooth cheeses like Camembert and Brie, to crumbly feta and blue cheese and their famous White Rock fruity cheeses, you will soon discover your favourite.
Continue to Franschhoek, one of the most celebrated wine and food destinations in South Africa, for a short visit and browse, before heading to lunch. Established by French Huguenot refugees in 1688, the valley is a captivating blend of European charm and spectacular verdant scenery. Dotted with high-end boutiques, an array of fine eateries, art galleries and more, Franschhoek is renowned for making excellent versions of almost all varietals and excels at South Africa’s version of champagne, MCC (Méthode Cap Classique). Travel along the beautiful Helshoogte Pass to the historic winemaking town of Stellenbosch with its canal-lined avenues, in the shade of giant oak trees and beautifully preserved historic buildings, before heading to Waterford Estate for a decadent finale. Chocolate and Waterford are synonymous – and their flawless combination was an inventive collaboration between renowned winemaker, Kevin Arnold, and Belgian Chocolatier, Richard von Geusau, to create three chocolates that would perfectly fit a selection of their wines.
