Paarl lies about 50km northeast of Cape Town, in the valley of the Berg River and the Paarl Mountains.
Paarl lies about 50km northeast of Cape Town, in the valley of the Berg River and the Paarl Mountains.
The region is home to a number of well-known wine estates such as Fairview, KWV and Nederberg. The soil is mostly shale, which helps to hold moisture while allowing good drainage. Most vineyards are on south-facing slopes, with vines planted at fairly high density.
The name means “pearl” in Afrikaans, reflecting the former name of a town which lies at the centre of this vast and important wine area, which also contains Wellington.
Nestled on the eastern slopes of the mountains, with a vast valley at its feet, is the third largest town in South Africa’s Western Cape. The name means ‘pearl’ in Afrikaans, reflecting the former name of a town which lies at the centre of this vast and important wine area, which also contains Wellington.
The area is sometimes called Pearl Valley on wine labels, to avoid confusion.
Paarl is one of the most visited wine regions of South Africa, and with good reason. The name itself is derived from a large boulder — a granite rock — that sits in Paarl town. The Dutch word for it is “Parel” (pearl, when translated). As you can imagine, this can be a touch confusing for people who don’t speak Afrikaans.
The correct pronunciation of the region’s name is “Parl” (rhymes with “barrel”), which makes it easy to get it wrong if you’re not familiar with the language and culture. That’s why some wineries have opted to call their wines Pearl Valley on their labels instead, since that’s what the region has been called by locals for centuries. You’ll see both names on labels in Paarl: Paarl or Pearl Valley wines are bottled here.
Some examples are Van Loveren Family Vineyard’s River Garden range, Laborie Wine Estate and Kaapzicht Winery Estate respectively.
Wines from the region have an excellent reputation for quality and value, thanks to a warm and dry climate, combined with the marine influence of the cold Atlantic Ocean currents, which cools the region overnight.
The Paarl wine region is a large and important wine-producing area, world famous for its red wines. The region has a warm, dry climate made maritime by cold Atlantic Ocean currents which cool the vineyards overnight. Many of the best wines here come from old vines.
The Paarl wine region was founded in 1691, making it one of the oldest South African wine regions. Today many of Paarl’s most prominent wineries are still family run businesses and some have been operating since the late 19th century. In terms of size, it is the second largest region after Stellenbosch, with an impressive 9500 hectares under vine.
The principal grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, while Chenin Blanc is also popular.
Before the late 1990s, wine was considered a novelty. So when we arrived in South Africa, it made sense that many of the locals didn’t have a clue what was even on the menu. They were adamant that they’d never tried wine. It wasn’t until a friend of mine approached a local shopkeeper one day about picking up some bottles for his girlfriend as an anniversary present and repeatedly being told it’s not sold where you live that I finally got him to understand he could buy beer instead.
It’s taken us some time to convince them to give wine another chance, but it was worth it—and so are these regions themselves! The Cape winelands (Paarl and Stellenbosch) offer some of South Africa’s most famous wines, boasting high-quality grapes from the best vineyards in South Africa (including the Graves), with further exploration beyond providing even more opportunities to discover great wines from around the world.
Paarl is divided into two appellations: Greater Paarl (including Simonsberg) and Paarl Mountain District (including Wellington).
Paarl is divided into two appellations: Greater Paarl (including Simonsberg) and Paarl Mountain District (including Wellington).
Greater Paarl is the largest appellation and includes the towns of Paarl and Wellington, as well as the Simonsberg Mountain.
The soil in Greater Paarl is weathered granite, which gives the wines a powerful mineral backbone. The area’s high summer temperatures promote flavor development in red varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, while cooler conditions allow for ripe acidity in white grapes such as Chenin Blanc.
The Paarl Mountain District has a unique topography with its southwest-facing slopes. This perfect orientation allows for even ripening of vines while protecting them from wind damage. Grenache and Pinotage are particularly successful here because their late flowering allows them to avoid early frost damage common to the region.
Paarl wines combine local tradition with modern techniques to produce delicious wines with good aging potential
Paarl wines have a reputation for quality and value. The region offers a range of styles, including full-bodied reds and elegant whites. The wines are made with a combination of traditional and modern techniques, imbuing them with the characteristics that have made South Africa famous while also producing wines that are truly exceptional. Paarl wines are particularly known for their aging potential.