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