Fairview is South Africa's largest producer of speciality cheeses. For over 25 years, dairy goats have supplied milk for a variety of cheeses ranging from Jersey Milk, Brie and Camembert to a wide variety of Italian and French-style cheeses. If however that is not enough of an incentive to visit Fairview, a little historical rundown should serve to amplify your interest... Fairview not only produces speciality cheeses, but also award-winning wines. In 1693, Simon van der Stel, second governor of Cape of Good Hope, allocated original land at Fairview to Steven Vervey, a French Huguenot. The first wine was made on Fairview in 1699 and a long tradition has long since developed. Fairview started its own bottling in 1974 and auctioned its first bottled wines at very first wine auction ever held in country, pre-dating now famous Nederburg Auction.

The Nederburg Auction

The Auction is Paarl's largest wine festival and is like World Cup for winetasters. Held at end of every summer, auction epitomises what fine wine is all about. The very essence of event lies in tasting of 147 award winning wines, perhaps even those of Garagistes, but you will have to wait and see!

The auction is a benchmark of quality for South African Wines and serves as a showcase for African wines to international trade. Because of this, any label proclaiming “sold at Nederburg Auction” is regarded as having an official stamp of approval, worldwide.

Too much talk about wine is liable to make a person a little obsessed. It is after all only fermented grape juice. But Paarl makes it well and Red Route is best place to find it.

Good wine naturally goes well with good food and Paarl offers some of best restaurants in Cape, serving a variety of foods that mingle well with a bottle of your favourite tipple.

Paarl is also a place rich in history with its architectural wonders. They seem to represent concrete and stone versions of its fine wines. Each wine estate has a unique attraction - a gable, a special goat tower like one at Fairview or even a gargoyle waiting for flash of your camera.

Olive Tasting

Because tunnel vision limits mind, many things can be missed along Red Route. Take olive tasting for instance. This is becoming a major attraction on some of estates, many of whom now grow Olive Trees for export of olive oil.

The rest is up to you. Whether you get down to specifics and finer details of wine tasting or broaden your horizons gazing over Paarl Valley from Paarl Rock depends on which side of tunnel you're on. Enjoy Paarl!