Planning a visit to Dekkersvlei Vineyards and wondering whether to book a wine tasting or a wine tour? The difference comes down to how you want to experience the farm.
A wine tasting gives you the chance to sample a selection of wines and discover your favourites. A wine tour takes you further behind the scenes, introducing you to the vineyards, cellars, winemaking process and the story of Dekkersvlei.
Both offer a different way to experience a working wine farm in Paarl.
What is a wine tasting?
A wine tasting is focused on the wines in your glass. You can sample several wines from the range while learning about their flavours, varieties and characteristics.
At Dekkersvlei, we have the following wine tastings available:
Standard wine tasting
The standard wine tasting includes seven wines, offering an easy way to explore the Dekkersvlei range at your own pace. Purchase a charcuterie board and settle in under the trees and enjoy the wines in the relaxed setting of the farm.
Price: R150 pp
Book: Contact us
Pinotage and pizza pairing
For something a little different, there is also the Pinotage and pizza pairing experience. As the name suggests, this experience brings together Pinotage and a four-way pizza, offering a more casual way to explore the grape that is so closely associated with South African winemaking.
And Pinotage has a particularly interesting connection to Dekkersvlei. The farm is home to the world’s first White Pinotage, created in 2007, alongside its red Pinotage.
Price: R350 pp
Book: Contact us
Read more: Pinotage & Pizza Pairing Experience
What is a wine tour?
A wine tour is about understanding what happens before the wine reaches your glass.
At Dekkersvlei, the Taste the Original is a 45-minute to one-hour walking tour through the farm’s vienyards and cellars. Rather than simply tasting a series of finished wines, you move through different parts of the winemaking process and taste along the way.
Taste the Original at Dekkersvlei Vineyards
Start with a welcome tasting
The tour begins by meeting your host and enjoying a welcome tasting of Dekkersvlei MCC.
It is an introduction to the farm before you begin exploring its wine story.
Discover the story of White Pinotage
Next, the tour moves outdoors for a White Pinotage tasting.
This is where you learn more about Dekkersvlei’s history, the story behind the world’s first White Pinotage and the wider winemaking heritage of Paarl.
It is a chance to taste the wine while understanding what makes it such an unusual part of the Dekkersvlei range.
Step inside the tank cellar
The tour then continues into the tank cellar, where you taste Dekkersvlei Chenin Blanc alongside freshly pressed grape juice, when available.
Comparing the two gives you a simple way to understand the transformation from grape to wine. Along the way, your host explains grape anatomy, the harvest season and the basics of the winemaking process.
Finish in the barrel cellar
The final stop is the barrel cellar, where you taste Red Pinotage drawn directly from the barrel.
It is paired with traditional South African droëwors while you learn about the role of oak maturation and how it can influence a wine’s flavour, aroma and character.
By the end of the tour, you have tasted wines at different points of their journey while learning more about the work behind the bottle.
Price: R200 pp
Book: Online
Wine tasting or wine tour: which should you choose?
It depends on what you are looking for from your visit to Dekkersvlei.
Choose the seven-wine tasting if you want to:
- Taste a selection of Dekkersvlei wines
- Discover different varieties and styles
- Keep your visit focused on the wines
- Enjoy a straightforward wine farm experience
Choose the Pinotage and Pizza Pairing if you want to:
- Explore Pinotage in a relaxed setting
- Pair wine with pizza
- Try different expressions of South Africa’s signature grape.
- Experience a more food-focused tasting
Choose the Taste the Original tour if you want to:
- Go behind the scenes of the winemaking process
- Explore the tank and barrel cellars
- Learn about Dekkersvlei’s history
- Discover the story of White Pinotage
- Taste wine alongside grape juice, straight from the barrel and with traditional South African flavours
Experience Dekkersvlei Vineyards
There is more to a wine farm visit than simply tasting the finished bottle. At Dekkersvlei, you can choose how deeply you want to get into the story.
The seven-wine tasting keeps things centred on the range, while the Pinotage and Pizza Pairing adds a food element to the experience. The Taste the Original tour takes you behind the scenes, from MCC and White Pinotage to Chenin Blanc in the tank cellar and Red Pinotage straight from the barrel.
Whichever you choose, you’ll get to experience Dekkersvlei as a working wine farm in Paarl, with its own history, wines and distinctly South African take on Pinotage.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about wine tastings and tours
What is the difference between a wine tasting and wine tour?
A wine tasting focuses on sampling a selection of wines, while a wine tour combines tastings with a behind-the-scenes look at the vineyard, cellars, winemaking process and history of the farm
How many wines are included in the Dekkersvlei wine tasting?
The standard Dekkersvlei wine tasting includes seven wines from the farm’s range.
How long is Dekkersvlei’s wine tour?
The Taste the Original is a walking tour that takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
What do you taste on Dekkersvlei’s wine tour?
The tour includes Dekkersvlei MCC, White Pinotage, Chenin Blanc and Red Pinotage. You may also taste freshly pressed grape juice when available, and Red Pinotage from the barrel is paired with traditional South African droëwors.
Can you taste wine directly from the barrel at Dekkersvlei?
Yes. The Taste the Original tour includes a tasting of Red Pinotage drawn directly from the barrel in the cellar.
What is White Pinotage?
White Pinotage is a white wine made from Pinotage grapes. Dekkersvlei is home to the world’s first White Pinotage, created in 2007.
Is a wine tour better than a wine tasting?
They offer different experiences rather than one being better than the other. A tasting suits visitors who primarily want to sample wines, while a tour is suited to those who want to learn more about the farm and winemaking process alongside the tastings.
