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Michael-John recently spent the weekend in Paarl and enjoyed a stay at the luxurious five-star Palmiet Valley Estate. Make sure to book a weekend away at Paarl.
On a wonderful spring day we headed out from Cape Town along the N1 to Paarl for a relaxing weekend in the Cape Winelands at the beautiful five-star Palmiet Valley Estate. As you enter the estate you drive through the vineyards on either side before passing through the white washed entrance to the main Cape Dutch homestead.
Here we were met by one of the estate's friendly staff members who showed us around as well as to our wonderful room complete with a large, inviting four-poster bed and tasteful Victorian finishings. The room felt reminiscent of a beautiful yet comfortable 1920s manor house with dark wooden cupboards and a fireplace. The estate is actually much older and dates back to 1692 when European settlers moved into the area to start producing wine.
After getting settled into our room we enjoyed a sundowner on the deck overlooking the vineyards, fruit trees and the nearby Drakenstein Mountains. Palmiet Valley Estate stretches over 96 acres with endless vines of noble white grape varieties, such as Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. The estate also has a variety of fruit trees including really beautiful lemon and guava trees. We enjoyed a glass of wine produced using grapes from the Palmiet Estate as we watched the sun set, and just before leaving the sundowner deck our host showed us an owl's nest in a nearby tree which was home to some baby owlets. What a treat!
For dinner we went into town and chose Mark's Restaurant, a quaint and welcoming Mediterranean restaurant on the main road, which is about a 5 minute drive from Palmiet Estate. We ordered the tapas for two which offered a wonderful selection of dolmades, spanikopitas, falafel, olives, pita, hummus and more. If you enjoy Mediterranean cuisine this is a great option in Paarl.
The following morning we awoke to have breakfast in the main dining room as the weather was a bit chilly. There was a wide spread of cold options, as well as a hot menu to order from. We had a great breakfast and I can definitely recommend the poached eggs.
After breakfast we headed out to the beautiful gardens of Babylonstoren. For those who haven't been, it really is a must if you're staying in the winelands. Here we wandered among the herbs, flowers and fruit trees, taking in the beauty of the sights, sounds and smells of nature. One of my favourite areas was the Clivia section along the banks of the river with hundreds upon hundreds of Clivias making for a wonderful walk.
We were offered a tour of the wine cellars, where our guide, Stephen, took us through the process of winemaking, from the vines to the bottle. The Babylonstoren wine cellars are fully functional, but the beauty and detail of the gardens has been carried through into every part of the process. The cellars double as a museum, detailing the history of both wine-making, and the history of the farm itself. We ended the tour with a wine tasting and were given the chance to sample some of the fabulous wines that Babylonstoren has to offer.
After leaving Babylonstoren we headed through to Fairview for some cheese and wine tasting. If you enjoy cheese then Fairview is a must if you're in the Paarl area. My favourite was the White Rock with Glazed Figs.
We then made our way next door to Spice Route. The estate has a really exciting atmosphere with plenty to enjoy and see besides just wine tasting. You can go to the Barley & Biltong Emporium, enjoy a pint at the Cape Brewing Company, taste artisanal chocolate, visit an art gallery, browse a glass blowing studio, or eat pizza and drink grappa at La Grapperia. With so much on offer we could easily have spent the whole day at Spice Route. We ended up opting for the chocolate tasting at DV Artisan Chocolate. The tasting was really good and informative and a real must if you enjoy dark chocolate.
That evening we went for dinner at Noop at the recommendation of the staff at Palmiet Valley Estate, and we're really glad we heeded their suggestion. The food was really good and atmosphere warm and inviting. We'd definitely recommend it if you're visiting Paarl.
The next morning the weather was sunny and clear and so we were able to enjoy our breakfast on the veranda looking out onto the gardens - the perfect place to enjoy a fresh breakfast.
After another wonderful breakfast we had to sadly check out of Palmiet Valley Estate and started the drive back to Cape Town. On the way we stopped off at the Val De Vie Sunday market. Having had a large and appetising breakfast we weren't quite ready to sample some of the treats on offer at the market, but many others were enjoying the food and drink on sale. We had unfortunately missed out on watching the 'main event' polo game, so if you're ever thinking of going make sure to visit in time to catch the polo.
After the market we headed back to Cape Town having had a wonderful and relaxing weekend in the winelands at Palmiet Valley Estate. With its old worldly charm, beautiful views, luxurious rooms, and access to the winelands it's the ideal place for a romantic breakaway from the city.
To find out more about Palmiet Valley Estate and to book a weekend away in Paarl, click here.
