FROM THE FOOTHILLS of Paarl Rock Mountain to the Simonsberg, Voor Paardeberg and beyond, this is a wine route encompassing some of South Africa's biggest cellars as well as some of its smallest. Babylonstoren, Fairview and Spice Route are among the most popular tourist destinations in this district where the boundary lines separating Paarl from Franschhoek and Stellenbosch can appear somewhat blurred at times.
See below for the top cellars in the area and what they're best at. For the names of exactly which wines from the area have the best track records, see the Classification. The producers with best track records overall? Babylonstoren, Fairview, The Foundry, KWV, Nederberg, Perdeberg, Rhebokskloof and Windmeul. And for all of the Top 100 in the SA Cellar Classification, click here.
PAARL'S TOP CELLARS
Anura
Strongest Suits: Pinotage, Pinotage-led Blend
Babylonstoren
Strongest Suits: Cap Classique Sparkling, Cabernet Sauvignon-led Blend, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Shiraz-led Blend
Boland
Stongest Suit: Shiraz
Fairview
Strongest Suits: Pinotage, Shiraz, Straw Wine, White Blend
Foundry
Strongest Suit: Grenache Blanc
Glen Carlou
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz
Grape Grinder
Strongest Suit: Pinotage
KWV
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cap Classique Sparkling, Cape Port, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Petit Verdot, Pinotage, Red Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Blend
Mt Vernon
Strongest Suit: Malbec
Nederburg
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Noble Late Harvest, Red Blends, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc-led Blend
Perdeberg
Strongest Suits: Chenin Blanc, Natural Sweet, Pinotage
Plaisir de Merle
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon-led Blend
Rhebokskloof
Strongest Suit: Shiraz
Ridgeback
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Franc, Red Blends, Viognier
Spice Route
Strongest Suit: Shiraz-led Blend
Van Loggerenberg
Strongest Suit: Shiraz
Vondeling
Strongest Suits: Pinotage, Red Blend, White Blend
Vrede en Lust
Strongest Suits: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet-led Blend, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Windmeul
Strongest Suits: Chenin, Pinotage, Pinotage-led Blend
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Plaisir de Merle under new ownership of Rose and Michael Jordan, who will breathe new life into this Grand Dame, and the Cabs should become even better, like the Bartinney Cabs.