So you think the Cape wine routes are overdone? Then why not try an alternate take and discover our 330-year-old brandy industry on the little known Brandy Route. Launched in 1997, it starts in Stellenbosch, and goes all the way through Paarl to Du Toit’s Kloof. Try it – you may well learn to enjoy your brandy without the Coke!

Stellies
Stellenbosch is the natural starting point of any brandy tour. With all the vineyards, it’s a romantic scene coupled with quick history lessons. It’s more than just pretty vineyards; it’s an important university town with well-preserved historical buildings. It’s also the country’s second-oldest town. Remember to visit the nearby cellar, the Stellenryk wine Museum.

Van Ryn Cellars
Stop at Vlottenburg and check out the oldest working brandy cellar in South Africa.  

There’s a condensed history lesson here is; the cellar is named after Jan van Ryn, the Dutch immigrant who established it back in 1845. Take a guided tour through the distillation pot stills, maturation cellars and cooperage. You can also see the making of barrels from French oak, in the traditional manner.

Uitkyk
Find this wine farm on the slopes of the Simonsberg. It was built in 1788 by French architect, Louis-Michel Thibault, and in addition to the two white wines and two red wines produced on site, it’s home to a fine 10-year-old estate brandy.

Backsberg
This farm can be found on the north-eastern slopes of Simonsberg. It used to be known as Babylonstoren but when the Back family got their hands on it in 1916, it was renamed. Now they produce seven whites, a rosé, and seven reds. The estate brandy on site is named after owner Michael Back’s father, Sydney.

Paarl
This area is rich with historic buildings. Take a walk on Main to fully appreciate these wonderful buildings. Start at the Strooidak Kerk that dates back all the way to 1805, walk through the Afrikaans Language Museum (the only language museum in the world) and finish at the Oude Pastorie Museum where you can ogle at their collection of antique Cape furniture, silverware and copper.

Laborie
This estate was built back in 1691. The most interesting feature here is the H-shaped manor house, built back in the late 1700s. KWV bought the estate in 1972, transforming it into one of the top wine estates in the country. The first Laborie brandy was launched in 1997. There’s also a restaurant, enjoy their great traditional meals before you continue with your journey.

Paarl Rock Brandy Cellar
The estate was established in 1856 by the De Villiers brothers. Nobody makes brandy like they do here; they still make it by hand exactly the way the De Villiers brothers used to. The brothers’ original recipe is followed through from the double distillation process in traditional Woundberg copper pots to maturation in French oak.

Wellington
This place is very picturesque. They used to make wagons here thus the name Wagenmakersvallei, before Wellington. It is also the country’s dried fruit centre and there are twelve cellars in the area producing red and white wines.

Bain’s Kloof
This pass was completed in four years by Andrew Geddes Bain using convict labour. Here you can see spectacular view of the Berg River valley from the luxury of your own car. And just 11km onwards you can see the graves of the 11 convicts who died during the construction of the pass.

Worcester
Make a stop at the ‘Capital of the Breede River Valley’. This region is home to about 25 per cent of the country’s wine-producing areas. It is especially well-known for its dry and semi-sweet wines, dessert wines and brandy. Look out for the great Worcester Sous when you enter this town. It’s not just a cute joke but an ode to the KWV Brandy Cellar, the largest distillery of its kind in the world. It is home to famous KWV brandies that find their way to more than 50 per cent of there’s an audio visual presentations and tours of the distillation and maturation cellars and at the end of the tour you can enjoy a bit of brandy tasting.
Check out the Open-Air museum depicting the lifestyles of the early Cape pioneer farmers. You and your family can also visit the Nuwe Hope Centre for the Hearing Impaired, the Institute for the Blind and the Institute for the Deaf.

Du Toit’s Kloof Pass
End your tour here. The pass offers a great opportunity to enjoy the beautiful vistas of the Berg River valley. There’s an option to go through the shorter route through the toll tunnel, we recommend the longer route. It’s a great place for you and your lover to reflect on your brandy-tasting adventures