Proe Paarl celebrates the flavours of the Paarl region

Proe Paarl celebrates the flavours of the Paarl region:

Celebrate the flavours of Paarl until 18 December Photo: Peridot Communications

Beat the year-end blues and recharge your batteries. Escape to the heart of the Cape Winelands for Proe Paarl – a month-long celebration of the unique offerings of the Paarl region. From 16 November to 18 December, Paarl will be pulling out all the stops to offer visitors a great experience ranging from outdoor activities, country cuisine, warm hospitality and award-winning wines. Whether you have time for a quick day trip or a weekend breakaway, Paarl is the place to play this summer.

TASTE PAARL

Paarl is becoming increasingly well-known for its culinary offerings and Proe Paarl has lined up some gourmet delights that will tantalise the taste buds. The magnificent Grande Roche hotel is offering a truly authentic dining experience with an elegant twist during their Bubbles and Braai events on Saturday, 26 November and Thursday, 15 December. Traditional barbeque dishes are cleverly paired with fantastic Method Cap Classique and will surely delight guests.

Start your day at Paarl’s most iconic landmark – the Afrikaans Taalmonument. For the duration of Proe Paarl, the Volksmond Coffee Shop offers an authentic Afrikaans breakfast with eggs, mieliepap and boerewors with “boeretroos” or rooibos tea at R80 per person. Alternatively, try a traditional lunch of bobotie, melktert, a cup of “boeretroos”, rooibos tea or a glass of Boland Cellar wine for at R150 per person. The cost includes entrance fee to the monument. A special kiddie’s menu and play area is available.

The Boland Kelder Bistro will open just in time for Proe Paarl season. Guests can enjoy delicious bistro-style meals, while enjoying the gorgeous scenery and award-winning Boland wines. Also make a note of Mellasat’s Summer pop-up restaurant for a fabulous summer dinner and lunch menu on Thursday, 10 November, and Friday, 11 December, from 12h00.

Paarl is home to some exquisite historical wine estates, so take an opportunity to visit and taste some fantastic food and great wines. Marvel at the impressive historical Nederburg homestead while sampling the special Proe Paarl two-course lunch at the Red Table restaurant or enjoy their sumptuous Sunday lunches with local entertainment. Laborie Estate’s Harvest and Taste restaurants have created a special dish of slow-cooked duck served with a glass of Laborie wine.

Under Oaks winemaker Bertus Fourie will entertain guests during a special Shiraz evening on Friday, 18 November featuring a blind tasting of Shiraz from around the world and delectable dishes, including Shiraz-smoked fillet.

FAMILY FUN

Rhebokskloof Family Day on Saturday, 26 November, promises a treat for the whole family with food stalls, live entertainment, a spectacular entertainment area for children, craft beer and wine tastings. More adventurous visitors can even put their picturesque MTB routes to the test.

Under Oaks will be hosting a charity fun run on Saturday, 3 December with a 5km and 10kmoption through the lovely farm before finishing off with gourmet hot dogs. Enter online at www.runthevines.co.za

For a family-friendly foodie treat, visit the Windmeul Cellar Farmers Market on Saturday, 3 December. This vibrant market takes place on the first Saturday of every month and offers amazing local produce and treats as well as entertainment for the whole family. And now they have added the Parskuip Neighbourhood Market from Mondays to Fridays, which will be bustling with locally produced delicacies. Visitors can even build their own Proe Paarl Platter to be enjoyed with a glass of Windmeul wine.

PICNIC IN PAARL

Summer time is perfect for a picnic in Paarl. Sample a picnic from Knus Karoo Kombuis in the plum orchards on this working farm or relax on the Landskroon lawns with magic views over Table Mountain and the vineyards. Visitors can pack their own basket or order a pre-packed picnic from the farm. As the home to South Africa’s first white Pinotage, Mellasat is a secluded spot perfect for a fantastic picnic and wine tasting.

A visit to one of Paarl’s top attractions is a must. The iconic landmark of the Afrikaans Language Monument offers several fun activities. Enjoy a stargazing picnic with the Orion Observation Group on Saturday, 26 November, see popular South African artists Arno Carstens and Refentse on stage at the Taalmonument Garden Theatre during a picnic concert on Friday, 2 December or enjoy a Christmas full-moon picnic on Thursday, 15 December. Visitors can bring their own picnics or pre-picnic baskets from the Volksmond Coffee Shop at the monument.

WINE ADVENTURES

A visit to Paarl will not be complete without sampling some of the region’s award-winning wines showcased through a selection of exciting food and wine pairings. The KWV Emporium presents a new tasting experience featuring four styles of Pinotage paired with four food bites as well as a complimentary glass of Pinotage Sangria. Landskroon offers a Heritage or 5 Pauls food and wine pairing with five wines and tasty snacks, while Nederburg Wines are introducing a brand new bread and wine tasting. Try the Proe Paarl platter with cheeses or the delectable Turkish Delight and Wine Pairing at Under Oaks. Enjoy a vineyard walk and wine tasting with Mellasat owner Stephen Richardson before visiting the Cemetery of Forgotten Wines during a cellar tour. Gourmet burgers are available. Also worth a visit is the new tasting venue at Perdeberg Winery, where visitors can try their new pairing option of nougat and fudge with four Perdeberg wines.

Visit www.proepaarl.co.za for a detailed line-up of all participating venues and not-to-miss dates. Booking is advisable for all activities. See contact details and costs on the website. For updates, follow us on Twitter @paarlwineroute or @paarltourism. Discover special offers on Facebook @PaarlTourism and @PaarlWine.