Ridgeback Wines and their new Tasting Room in Paarl
Ridgeback wines is my 138th winery visit in South Africa. They have recently opened their brand new wine tasting room and I was privilaged to be one of the first to taste wine here!
Ridgeback wines is in the Paarl region of the Western Cape about an hour's drive from the City of Cape Town. There is not much parking from what I could tell so get there early to grab your spot! On the way to this estate, you will pass a lovely church which makes for a great Instagram photo opportunity :)
Wine Tasting at Ridgeback Wines
There are different options of wine tasting available from R40 to R100 and there is a massive list of wines to choose from. Their Sparkling was something different as it was a Sauvignon Blanc Viognier blend. This winery is very well known for, and highly awarded for their Viognier and Cabernet Franc wines. I was actually blown away by the quality!
The staff are friendly and the tasting room has a lovely outside area. Platters can be ordered with your tasting and just around the corner is the kiddies jungle gym.
Cellar
I met up with Toit, the winemaker, who took us through the cellar which was in full swing processing grapes. It was great to see the barrels fermenting and the aroma was fantastic!
Restaurant
The restaurant has a lovely inside and even better outside area that overlooks a lake. The lake is full of swans, geese and ducks so the kids will have a fun time looking at them. Try to spot the black swan!
Check out these platters below, although they were especially made for us to enjoy during the opening of the tasting room, I just had to point out what a great job the kitchen did in preparing the food. It was incredible!
in Conclusion
This farm is quite far out (about an hours drive from Cape Town) so I would recommend that you visit for a day trip with family or friends. Parties of 4-8 are best and sunny days are advised however winter could be fine too so long as you can get a table by the fireplace. Be sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment, especially during covid.
Overall I was super impressed by the range and quality of wine. Especially that I could taste Viognier and Cab Franc - which are normally hard to come by. Thanks Ridgeback for a great time!
Much wine love
Leanne
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Contact Ridgeback Wines
Tel: 021 869 8068
Physical address: R44, Windmeul, Paaarl