Spice Route, situated on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, with lush lawns, stately old oak trees, and glorious sweeping views, is the ultimate family destination for summer enjoyment. Loved by visitors from around the world, Spice Route promises a rich tapestry of delights for the whole family, a journey of discovery of exotic flavours, craftsmanship, creativity, sensory pleasure, splendid scenery, and enthralling entertainment.
Spice Route Winery’s name recalls the ancient mariners of the 15th century who went on a journey of discovery in search of exotic spices. In much the same way visionary adventurer, Charles Back co-owner of Spice Route with his sister Abigail Bisogno and owner of neighbouring Fairview, is on an ongoing journey of discovery, venturing out into the Western Cape’s wine regions in search of new and interesting places with extraordinary vineyards to expand his wine offering. Join the journey of discovery and visit Spice Route for an enchanting adventure.
Home to Spice Route Wines, as well as a carefully curated selection of specialist artisanal producers showcasing their talents and products, Spice Route provides a rich and unforgettable visitor experience for all ages.
Here you can embark on a sensory quest exploring:
- Award-winning wines and exceptional wine and food pairings at the Spice Route Wines Tasting Room;
- Culinary delights at one of Spice Route’s two restaurants:
Jewell’s Restaurant, known for its farm-to-table concept, serves fresh, local, and seasonal food, most of which is made on the premises, including Neil Jewell’s legendary charcuterie, which is available for tasting. Congrats to Jewell’s Restaurant for earning a Top Ten place in Cape Tourism’s Top Wine Farm Restaurants for Summer 2024. Jewell’s also has a kiddies menu;
La Grapperia Pizza & Bistro, delicious wood-fired pizza, and German-Italian cuisine as well as kiddies entertainment;
- Premium beers and Perry ciders at Cape Brewing Company (CBC);
- Spices, preserves, and other deli products, gifts, sweet treats, mocktails, and iced coffees at Brendas Hand Crafted Produce;
- Tea mastery and appreciation at Nigiro Tea Café;
- Turkish coffee and treats at Turkspirit Café;
- Artisanal chocolate, homemade ice cream, and a coffee shop at the newly renovated Chocolate Room by Beyers;
- Delicious fudge and homemade ice cream as well as a small coffee shop at Sweet Angels;
- Eclectic décor and gifts at The Trading Company — all proudly made in South Africa;
- Expertly crafted gin, grappa, eaux de vie, rum, vodka, and moonshine as well as a new deli range at Wilderer Distillery. Here you can also blend your own gin;
- Fabric, canvas, and ceramic painting at Môigoeters;
- You can also indulge in pampering and beauty treatments as well as pilates classes;
- Outdoor adventures with Paarl Trails – Spice Route and Fairview will be co-hosting a leg of the Cape Epic between 18 and 21 March 2025.
For more info visit https://www.spiceroute.co.za/artisans/
When it comes to kids, Spice Route has you covered with scrumptious kiddies’ tastings and menus, creative activities and outdoor adventures, as well as kiddies’ gifts, and of course, two popular outdoor playgrounds.
Kiddies will love:
- Môigoeters to paint your own fabrics, ceramics, and canvases;
- Paarl Trails pump track & MTB trails for fun trails with bike rentals available;
- Beyers Chocolate Room for chocolate treats and tastings and homemade ice cream;
- Sweet Angels for delicious fudge, ice cream, and ice cream tastings, their famous milk tart soft serve, as well as candy floss on weekends;
- Spies Route scavenger hunt for kids 12+ years old (R80 per person, 45 minutes);
- La Grapperia Pizza & Bistro: Kids’ Adventures for R200 includes a cookie decorating kit, colouring book with crayons, a kids’ juice tasting, and a yummy margherita pizza;
- Sweet treats at Brendas Hand Crafted Produce;
- Jewell’s Restaurant kid’s menu;
- The Trading Company for toys and games;
- Nigiro Tea Tasting
Spice Route is also dog friendly, offering a delightful mix of pleasure for the entire family. The beautiful rural setting with its magnificent vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys, with Table Mountain looming in the distance, is an integral part of the overall experience.
SPICE ROUTE PASSPORT
Visitors are able to embark on a tasting odyssey exploring the farm at leisure with the Spice Route Passport, a pocket-size booklet that takes you on a journey of discovery and delight savouring five varied artisanal tastings:
Relish a daily assortment of six Spice Route wines at the Spice Route Tasting Room, delight in the exquisite tastes of an array of Neil Jewell’s legendary charcuterie, sample four CBC (Cape Brewing Company) premium beers, two gins with tonic (Fynbos Gin and the Rose Water Gin) at Wilderer Distillery, and satisfy your cravings with a chocolate assortment from The Chocolate Room by Beyers. The various vendors are within comfortable walking distance from each other. Visitors are encouraged to determine their own journey of discovery, allowing themselves approximately 2 hours to fully experience everything that the estate has to offer.
Buy your passport for R320 online at https://www.spiceroutewines.co.za/product/spice-route-destination-passport/
or purchase your passport on arrival at Spice Route at the Guest Information Office.
MORE ABOUT SPICE ROUTE WINES
Spice Route’s name is equally evocative of their signature style of aromatic, rich, deep-flavoured wines with layers of ripe juicy fruit and savoury spice, with terroir at the heart of every crafted bottle.
An extraordinary selection of wines and wine pairings can be enjoyed in the rustic underground tasting room, or outside under the pergola while soaking up the panoramic scenery.
Spice up your Life’ embarking on a journey of flavours and aromas as you discover Spice Route’s highly acclaimed Spice Range of Wines featuring:
- Spice Route Saffron Rosé 2023, a dry barrel fermented Rosé made from low-yielding Grenache Noir bush vines in Darling.
- Spice Route Tarragon Old Vine Chenin Blanc, a complex fruity barrel-fermented Chenin Blanc made from 46-year-old dryland vines in the Swartland, which received a pinnacle 5 Star rating in the 2025 Platter’s SA Wine Guide.
- Spice Route Chakalaka 2022, Spice Route’s signature rich, robust, velvety red blend with ripe juicy black fruit and a lingering spice finish. It is a unique blend of 6 Rhône varietals – Carignan, Shiraz, Mataro (Mourvèdre), Durif (Petite Sirah), Grenache Noir, and Tannat — all dry-farmed bushvines from the Swartland.
Also enjoy the delicious Spice Route Journey range featuring a Sauvignon Blanc from Darling, a Chenin Blanc from Paarl, a Provence-style Rosé from a Grenache Noir vineyard in Darling as well as a Pinotage from a single block Swartland bushvine vineyard, a Grenache Noir from the Swartland and a Mourvèdre from unirrigated Cape West Coast bushvines.
When it comes to wine-tasting, there are five options available for guests:
- Winemaker’s Journey | R75 per person: A selection of 6 wines;
- Wine & Charcuterie Journey | R120 per person: A selection of 6 wines paired with 6 Jewell’s famous cured meats;
- Wine & Chocolate Journey | R150 per person: A selection of 5 wines paired with 5 Beyer’s chocolates:
Sauvignon Blanc with white chocolate, vanilla, passionfruit & preserved lemon
Saffron Rosé with rooibos & honeycomb
Grenache with spiced chai & almond milk
Mourvèdre with dark chocolate & ginger shortbread
Chakalaka with biltong spiced dark chocolate
- Wine & Vegetarian Journey | R120 per person: A selection of 6 wines paired with 6 vegetarian tastes;
- Wine & Dessert Journey | R150 per person: A selection of 4 wines and a sherry paired with 5 dessert treats
The Spice Route Destination is a unique and multifaceted vibrant hub of exploration that offers something for everyone — a magical place that transports visitors to a fascinating world of flavour, creativity, craftsmanship, and wonder. A journey of discovery and delight is right on your doorstep, a mere 45-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre. For more info visit https://www.spiceroute.co.za/