Dekkersvlei Vineyards

Dekkersvlei Vineyards White Pinotage, Keerweder Road, Paarl, South Africa+27 (0) 21 862 4525winetasting@dekkersvlei.com

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Paarl
Posted on November 17, 2025

About Dekkersvlei Vineyards

Just 45 minutes from Cape Town and three minutes off the N1, Dekkersvlei Vineyards lies in the fertile valley of Paarl beneath the Klein Drakenstein mountains, with land origins tracing back to 1693. Formerly known as Mellasat, the boutique working farm made South African wine history in 2007 by creating the world’s first White Pinotage—a bold reimagining of the country’s signature grape. In 2025, the Aquila Collection restored the estate’s historic name, embracing a new chapter that honours centuries of Cape heritage while focusing on sustainable farming, conservation, and unforgettable guest experiences. Today, Dekkersvlei invites visitors to discover a proudly South African story where history, innovation, and terroir meet in every glass.

Wine

Dekkersvlei’s pioneering spirit is anchored by its original White Pinotage, a barrel-fermented, small-batch expression poured both chilled and at room temperature to reveal its layered complexity. The cellar showcases the largest collection of Pinotage styles under one roof for tasting and purchase, alongside classic cultivars planted during the estate’s renaissance in the late 1990s, including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. From crisp whites to expressive reds, the range reflects meticulous vineyard stewardship and a restless curiosity that continues to push the boundaries of Cape winemaking.

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Dine

The farm opens early for coffee and light breakfast snacks—ideal for itineraries passing through before “wine o’clock,” or en route to destinations like Aquila Private Game Reserve. Throughout the day, visitors can enhance tastings with thoughtfully sourced cheeseboards and savoury bites that complement both wine and brandy flights, encouraging guests to linger among the vines.

Things To Do

Dekkersvlei Vineyards is a top destination to visit in Paarl, offering a range of memorable experiences for visitors to the Paarl Wine Valley.

Standard 5-Wine Tasting

A relaxed introduction to Dekkersvlei’s range, the Standard 5-Wine Tasting guides guests through a curated selection of estate wines. This experience showcases the character of the vineyards and offers a balanced snapshot of the farm’s classic reds, crisp whites and signature styles, all enjoyed in an intimate Winelands setting.

Pinotage Flight Tasting

The Pinotage Flight Tasting is designed for guests who want to explore South Africa’s signature varietal in more depth. This focused experience highlights how Pinotage can express different styles and profiles, offering a comparative tasting that reveals its complexity, versatility and proudly South African identity.

Taste the Original – Vineyard and Cellar Walking Tour (±45 minutes)

Taste the Original is an interactive 45-minute walking tour through the working farm, taking guests behind the scenes from vineyard to glass. The experience begins with a guided visit through the production cellar and barrel maturation area, followed by an easy walk through key vineyard blocks, including Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, 70-year-old bush vines and the flagship Pinotage block. The tour concludes with a three-wine Dekkersvlei tasting, including the world’s first White Pinotage and raw juice when available. This small-batch White Pinotage is offered both chilled and at room temperature, allowing guests to appreciate its full complexity exactly where it was created.

Bespoke Brandy Experience

The Brandy Experience at Dekkersvlei is a celebration of craft, patience and traditional Cape potstill methods. Distilled in small batches and matured in oak barrels for between three and eighteen years, these brandies develop deep layers of flavour, richness and finesse. This immersive experience guides guests through the brandy-making process and offers a tasting of carefully selected ages, showcasing a spirit that stands comfortably alongside the world’s finest brandies.

Kiddies’ Tasting Experience

Created especially for younger visitors, the Kiddies’ Tasting Experience is a fun and flavourful pairing that mirrors the grown-up tasting in a playful way. Children enjoy a trio of drinks – white grape juice, red grape juice and iced tea – paired with sweet treats such as KitKat, chocolate brownie and jelly tots. It’s a family-friendly experience that keeps little ones included and entertained while adults enjoy their own tastings.

Unique Pinotage Tasting Experience

The Unique Pinotage Tasting is a premium experience featuring the largest selection of Pinotage styles available for tasting in South Africa. Guests sample five distinct expressions: White Pinotage, Pinotage MCC, Rosé, a Classic Red Pinotage and a Coffee Pinotage. This tasting is a must for Pinotage enthusiasts and anyone curious about the depth, range and personality of this iconic South African varietal.

Enjoy Dekkersvlei Vineyards

From its seventeenth-century roots to its twenty-first-century breakthrough with White Pinotage, Dekkersvlei Vineyards embodies the Cape’s rare blend of heritage and innovation. Whether you’re walking the vineyards, exploring the cellar and distillery, discovering the breadth of Pinotage, or savouring the estate’s celebrated brandy, every visit offers a one-of-a-kind Winelands experience—crafted, curated and unmistakably South African.