Must-see attractions in Winelands

Best known for Méthode Cap Classique (MCC; wine made in the Champagne method), there is also an excellent range of white and red wines, plus a brandy. The…

This long-established winery has had a revamp and is once again a marvellous place to sip bubbly all afternoon. Unpretentious tastings take place in the…

Sitting south of the N1, the tasting room has a panoramic view of Tortoise Hill. Enjoy a glass of the sumptuous chardonnay or renowned Bordeaux blend,…

This brandy distillery runs superb tours (10am, 11.30am and 3pm), which include a barrel-making display and end with your choice of tasting. Options…

Some of the wines here are unfiltered – try the uncrushed Whole Berry for something different. Bring your own picnic to enjoy in the peaceful grounds,…

This fabulous Flemish Renaissance–style building houses an interesting and varied collection of local art, an array of African anthropological treasures…

This small nature reserve is 8km southeast of town and set within a timber plantation. There is a 10km scenic drive, plus hiking trails ranging from 5km…

Travellers rave about the tutored tastings of olives, balsamic vinegar and olive oil offered at this family-run farm with jaw-dropping views of the…

Taste the world-class bubblies in a striking modern building with huge plate-glass windows. The winery comes as a breath of fresh air after all those Cape…

Sip superlative reds while admiring the contemporary art that lines the walls of this smart cellar 6km north of town.

This stately house, built in 1782, is part of the Village Museum.

The three giant granite domes that dominate this reserve glisten like pearls when washed by rain – hence the name ‘Paarl’. The reserve has mountain fynbos…

At the north end of the Braak, an open stretch of grass, you’ll find the neo-Gothic St Mary’s on the Braak Church, completed in 1852. West of the church…

The somewhat phallic Taal Monument is in the Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve. The giant, needle-like edifice commemorates the language (taal is Afrikaans…

The tasting room at this small winery is in a converted blacksmith’s; there’s also a range of grappa to sample. Game drives to see wildebeest, zebras and…

This museum celebrates South Africa’s Huguenots and houses the genealogical records of their descendants. Behind the main complex is a pleasant cafe, in…

This rustic, 300-year-old estate with several fine Cape Dutch buildings is known for its excellent red wines, particularly its cabernet sauvignon and…

Hannes Myburgh is the eighth generation of his family to have run this historic wine estate since 1756. Most famous for its Rubicon claret, it's a much…

Paarl is considered the wellspring of the Afrikaans language, a fact covered by this interesting museum. It also shows, thanks to a multimedia exhibition,…

This museum made up of four buildings is worth a pause. Start at No 4, which has a photographic history of Church St, covering the earthquake and…