Fine wine & much more in Paarl

One of the attractions near Paarl, part from cellar tours and wine tasting, is the "Afrikaanse Taalmonument" or Afrikaanse Language Monument.

This construction, close to the pearl like rocks, symbolizes the development of Afrikaans into a language of its own. The Afrikaans Taalmonument was constructed according to the drawings of the architect Jan van Wyk. He described its symbolic meaning as follows: "Afrikaans is die taal, wat vir Wes-Europa en Afrika verbind. Dit vorm 'n brug tussen die groot helder Weste en die magiese Afrika." (Afrikaans is the language that connects Western Europe and Africa. It is a bridge between the great modern West and magic Africa).

Please pay a visit to this monument, if it were only for the breathtaking view over the valley. And on clear days, one can even see the majestic Table Mountain in the distance.

Close to the Taalmonument, there is an amphitheatre where, especially during summer, concerts are held.

Paarl takes its name from massive granite rocks that appears to have a pearl like shine when the sun strikes it at a certain angle. 

The village of Paarl in the Cape Winelands is situated 50km northeast of Cape Town. The town was founded in 1687 when farm land was given to Dutch settlers. They soon realised that the fertile grounds and the Mediterranean climate where the perfect ingredients for the cultivation of grapes, thus wine.

The result? Well, some of the world’s finest wines are being produced in Paarl! The region harbors many famous wine estates as for instance the Nederburg Estate, Fairview and Seidelberg wine estate.

The wine route of Paarl boasts many excellent wine houses in a fabulous setting. Take, for instance, the Nederburg Estate, of which their wines are sold all across Africa and the world. Or Fairview and Seidelberg wine estates, where one can also taste cheeses.
Laborie is also an excellent wine estate, the first one to use the Methode Cap Classique to make the first South African Champagne (called Kaapse Vonkel). And than there is, of course, the KWW Wine Emporium, with its massive cellars. Here one can take cellar tours and taste wine and their great brandies.
The best thing about wine tasting is that you, for a small fee, can taste the best wines of South Africa or even in the world. Some of the wines simply cost many many dollars or Euros in the shop or in a restaurant. Take note that most wine estates close earlier on Saturdays and are not open on Sundays due to religious reasons! So please check before you head out to that wonderful estate.