Paarl, a scenic town about 50 km from Cape Town, is home to KWV and the venue for the world-renowned Nederburg Auction. In addition to these claims to fame, however, Paarl is also one of South Africa's premier wine producing districts, and home to some of our most prestigious wine producers and progressive co-operatives. The climate is typically Mediterranean, the summers are long and warm, annual rainfall is approximately 650 mm - not as high as Constantia's, for example, but enough to make irrigation less crucial except in exceptional circumstances. Local soils fall into three main types: Table Mountain sandstone near the Berg River, granite soils in the vicinity of Paarl itself and weathered shales to the north-east. A large variety of grapes are grown in Paarl, of which Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc have the best potential for producing export wines.

The Paarl District includes the wards of Franschhoek, which has retained its French Huguenot character that is strongly reflected in the wines; Wellington, a burgeoning wine area which is producing some promising wines; and the newest ward, Simonsberg-Paarl.