Event information
Spice Route Destination, situated on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, invites families to explore amidst the old oak trees and wide valley views stretching as far as Table Mountain. This holiday season, the Spice Route offers a variety of activities, tastings, and things to do for visitors of all ages.
1. Spice Route Passport:
The Spice Route Passport offers a seamless tasting experience. Available for R300 per person, the Spice Route Passport is a pocket-size booklet that allows visitors to savour artisanal tastings at various artisans, including wines, charcuterie, beers, spirits, and chocolates. Guests should allow themselves approximately 2 hours to savour the 5 artisanal tastings: 6 Spice Route wines (daily selection), 6 Jewell’s charcuterie (daily selection), 4 CBC premium beers (daily selection), and 3 Wilderer Distillery spirits (Grappa Shiraz, Fynbos Gin, Rogue Apple Pie Moonshine), The Chocolate Room by Beyers (a selection of chocolate)
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 9am - 4pm | Tastings conclude at 4:30pm
2. Wine Tasting by Spice Route Wines:
When it comes to wine-tasting, there are four options available for guests: Winemaker’s Journey (R75) and Wine and Charcuterie Journey, featuring a selection of 6 Spice Route wines, including two premium varieties.
Visitors can indulge in the Wine & Charcuterie Journey, where 6 Spice Route wines are paired with Jewell’s cured meats. Alternatively, the Vegetarian Journey offers a selection of 6 Spice Route wines paired with 6 vegetarian tastes. Each journey is priced at R120 per person. Moreover, the Sweet Treat Journey (R150 per person), includes four Spice Route wines and the Amos Block Fino Sherry, perfectly complemented by a varied selection of flavours from Jewell’s.
Opening Times: Available from Monday– Sunday, 10am - 5pm
Tasting sessions conclude at 4:30pm, with a duration of approximately 30 minutes.
3. Beer Tasting at Cape Brewery Company (CBC):
CBC's modern brewery beckons for a premium beer-tasting experience. Guests can choose from the Standard Tasting, priced at R60 per person, which includes a selection of 4 CBC premium beers. For those seeking more extensive experience, the Master Tasting is available for R75 per person, featuring 7 CBC premium beers. If cider is more to an individual's liking, they can indulge in the Rekordelig Perry Cider Tasting for R65 per person, offering a tasting of 4 Perry Ciders.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Tastings conclude: 4:30pm, with a duration of approximately 30 minutes.
4. Charcuterie Tasting:
Jewell’s Restaurant invites visitors to enjoy a charcuterie tasting experience featuring a bespoke range of hand-crafted produce. Crafted in-house by the skilled hands of Neil Jewell, the charcuterie selection includes an array of flavours using Fairview, pork, and beef.
Guests have the option to pair this exquisite charcuterie with Spice Route wines for a heightened tasting experience or enjoy it on its own.
Jewell’s Restaurant presents a Charcuterie Tasting for R60 per person or a Wine & Charcuterie Journey for R120 per person, featuring a selection of 6 Spice Route wines paired with 6 Jewell’s cured meats.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday
Tastings conclude at 4pm, with a duration of approximately 40 minutes.
5. Wilderer Distillery Tasting:
Visitors to Wilderer Distillery can witness the creation of some of the world's finest spirits. They can experience the use of the best raw materials and the latest German distilling equipment in crafting products that have established Wilderer as the brand of choice for connoisseurs worldwide.
At Wilderer Distillery, guests can enjoy Neat Tastings at R60 per person, choosing from three Wilderer spirits. For a refreshing option, Long Drink Tastings at R120 per person offer a selection of three Wilderer Long Drinks. The Blend Your Own Gin experience at R395 per person (booking essential) allows visitors to sample and mix different variants, creating a personalised gin recipe. They can fill a 500ml bottle with their creation, complete with a unique name to take home.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Tasting conclude at 5:30pm, with a duration of approximately 30 minutes.
6. Chocolate Tasting at The Chocolate Room by Beyers:
Families and friends can indulge in a daily selection of exquisite chocolates at The Chocolate Room by Beyers. Guests can explore the world of chocolate with a guided tasting featuring five different types of single-origin chocolate, lasting approximately 20 minutes.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 09am - 5pm
Tastings conclude at 4:30pm, with a duration of approximately 15 minutes.
7. Tea Blends at Nigiro Tea Café:
Visitors who love tea will know Mingwe Tsai from his magical Southern Suburbs tea emporium. Now he’s bringing tea appreciation, culture and his tea-blending mastery to the Winelands with up to 171 different blends available, offering complimentary tastings of three different teas daily. He’s built a custom table called the Tea Compass Fountain for an exceptional tea experience.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
8. Lunch at Jewell’s Restaurant or Ristorante Pasta Pasta:
Guests can indulge in a delightful dining experience at Jewell’s Restaurant, where Neil Jewell crafts a farm-to-table feast with seasonal dishes featuring the finest ingredients.
Opening times: Wednesday - Sunday, 11:30am to 4pm, with last kitchen orders at 3pm.
Or experience authentic Italian flavours at Ristorante Pasta Pasta, with red-check tablecloths, and tables spilling out into the enclosed courtyard, it’s got la dolce vita covered in rustic farm style.
Opening times: Open daily, serving breakfast from 08:30am - 11am, lunch from 11am - 5pm, with last kitchen orders at 4pm.
9. Shopping at The Trading Company and Lucky Bamboo:
No visit to Spice Route Destination would be complete without popping into Abigail Bisogno’s gorgeous Trading Company. Guests can discover handmade treasures, limited-edition pieces by well-known local artists, homeware, cushions, jewellery, table linen, and more. Most of the products are made from natural materials and all the décor in the store has been handmade locally or spruced up by local craftsmen. It’s a quirky treasure trove where visitors are sure to find the ideal gift for anyone and everyone they know.
Opening times: Open daily from 10am - 4pm.
Experience tranquillity at Lucky Bamboo, owned by Suki Tong – a lifestyle shop dedicated to all things green, gorgeous and gift-worthy. Stems of lucky bamboo in beautiful vessels are designed to show off this plant’s fascinating contours and foliage, alongside Chinese money plants, money trees, golden coin daisies, philodendrons and other flora with good positive energy.
Opening times: Open daily from 9am - 5pm
10. Creative Outing at Môigoeters:
Môigoeters Creative Studio welcomes visitors of all ages to unleash creativity by painting ceramics and exploring a collection of unique gift items.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 09am – 17pm
11. Preserves and Spices at Brendas:
Brendas is the starting point for those seeking preservative-free jams, preserves, pickles, and spice mixes. Founded by foodie extraordinaire Brenda de Jager, the inviting store is a delightful treasure trove. Guests can even create & blend their own spice mixes.
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
12. Pizza or Gin Tasting at La Grapperia Pizza & Bistro:
La Grapperia Pizza & Bistro invites guests to enjoy wood-fired pizzas, thin-based pizzas and a variety of other family-friendly food options at this casual German and Italian eatery while enjoying a glass or two of Wilderer Distillery’s award-winning gin and tonic. While relaxing under the trees, with the little ones occupied in the nearby playground, linger a bit longer and watch the sky turn a few shades of pink as the sun dips behind the mountain. They offer picnics too, and sundowner drinks at their beach bar.
Opening times: Monday – Saturday, 11am – 10pm (summer)
Sunday, 11am – 6pm
13. Outdoor Adventures with Paarl Trails:
Explore custom-built trails for hiking and mountain biking, ranging from gentle 2.5kms to 35kms, catering to all fitness levels. Bicycle rentals are also available.
Guests can pay for their day permit with Snapscan at the start of the trails, online, or by credit card at the information center.
Cost Day permit: R80 – R100
Opening times: Monday – Sunday, sunrise – sunset
Information Centre: Monday – Sunday, 8am – 5pm
14. Pilates at Pilates Studio for Life:
Paarl’s premier Pilates training facility, Pilates for Life Studio, offers classic Pilates methods and tailored modifications.
Opening times: Monday – Friday
Booking required
15. Beauty and Medical Aesthetics at Beauty is Life Institute:
Visitors can indulge in pampering and beauty treatments with Elzette Calitz at Beauty is Life Institute. Pedis and manis, waxing, facials and massages are just a few of the treatments on offer.
Opening times: Monday – Saturday
Booking required
16. Kids' Scavenger Hunt - Spies Route:
Families can let the kids embark on a thrilling scavenger hunt, part escape-room clue-solving, the Spies Route game takes guests exploring around the grounds, as they go undercover to solve clues in a top-secret adventure, tracking down the mystery of the rogue spy. Tackled in groups of four, it’s rated for kids 12 and older, but younger kids will have a ball with their parents along for the ride.
Booking is advised. Clues and instructions are written in English.
Duration 45 minutes
Cost R80 per person
With two extensive playgrounds, open lawns, and paths, Spice Route Destination promises a delightful mix of pleasure for the entire family. Spice Route is also dog friendly. Families are encouraged to plan their visit and create lasting memories at Spice Route this festive season!
Note: The destination is closed on Christmas day, 25th December, and New Year’s Day, 1st January, closing at 16:00 on the 24th & 31st December.