5 Best Sights in Paarl, The Western Cape and Winelands

Now in a new, contemporary tasting room in the centre of Franschhoek, Backsberg is still serving up its comprehensive range of accessible red and white wines. Among the wines to look out for are The Patriarch Cabernet Franc and the Smuggled Vines Chardonnay. It also produces six kosher wines that are palatable, including a Chenin Blanc, a Pinotage, and a decent red blend. A fun way to spend an hour is doing one of the various food and wine pairings, including the Circumventing the Cape pairing, which focuses on local dishes. You can also order platters and sandwiches in the tasting room.

A visit to Fairview is a treat for the whole family, including kids and adults who aren't fans of wine. Children get a kick out of seeing peacocks roaming the grounds and goats clambering up a spiral staircase into a goat tower. And those goats aren't just for decoration—Fairview produces a superb line of goat cheeses which come with the wines when you order a tasting. The estate's wines are top-drawer and often surprising. The Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz is excellent, as is the La Beryl Blanc. The winery also makes creative use of the farm's many Rhône varieties. Perhaps it's just because the pun was irresistible, but (as claimed by the label) goats are sent into the vineyard to personally select grapes for the Goats-do-Roam, which is indeed like a young Côtes du Rhône (infuriating French winemakers). If you care to linger, you can have a light meal and freshly baked bread at the Goatshed Restaurant.

This winery sits at the head of a shallow valley, backed by hillsides covered with vines and fynbos. It's a lovely place for lunch on a sunny day, and you can explore the estate and beyond on a series of walking, biking, or horseback trails. The restaurant serves à la carte meals and teas on an oak-shaded terrace overlooking the gardens and mountains. There's also a pizzeria, or you can order a picnic basket for two brimming with fresh baguettes, cold meats, salads, delicious cheeses, and a bottle of wine (must be booked in advance). Try out the wine and chocolate pairing for dessert. The estate makes an excellent Shiraz, thanks to its unique terroir, which is composed of old decomposed granite soils. Other wines to look out for are the Pinotage, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc.

Based in a converted old wine cellar, this complex between Franschhoek and Paarl can occupy a whole family for the afternoon. There's an award-winning craft brewery here, Soul Barrel, specializing in unique, barrel-aged beers, some fermented with yeast harvested from surrounding fynbos. The complex is also home to the tasting room of Painted Wolf Wines, best known for their spicy Shiraz, and Stillman Distillery, who make great gin. For kids and artsy types, you can design and paint a glass bowl at Fanglasstic, or just shop for some of their beautifully etched glassware. There's a restaurant on-site, as well as a kids' play area.

Spice Route produces deep-flavored wines, using mostly untrellised "bush" vines. This practice, which is uncommon outside of South Africa, leads to fruit with great flavor intensity but lower volumes. Try the Spice Route Chakalaka, a signature Swartland blend, which has clove and savory notes. But there is much more to this estate than wine tasting. Spice Route was conceptualized as an artisan village, and it features a chocolatier, microbrewery, charcuterie, and distillery. You can hop between producers enjoying tastings of their wares. There's also a deli and a gift shop selling arts and crafts, plus two restaurants.