On his travels in 1657, Abraham Gabemma spotted a giant granite rock glistening in the sun after a rainstorm and named it “Diamondt-ende Peerlberg” (Diamond and Pearl Mountain). Once the “diamonds” melted, it became known as Pearl Rock. The actual granite rock itself, after which the area was named, is the second largest granite outcrop in the world. Paarl, renowed for its natural splendour and prolific vineyards, is a short ten minute drive from Pearl Valley Golf Estates.

Among the world’s most desirable destinations, Cape Town is at the south-western tip of Africa, with its soaring mountains, abundant sunshine and diverse art and cultures.

A recent international BBC survey ranked Cape Town among the world’s most desirable destinations - and one of the top five places in the world to visit. The city is only 45 minutes away from Pearl Valley, and easily accessible by the conveniently located N1 highway.

From shopping to sun-bathing
Cape Town has so much to offer: colonial architecture, an eclectic variety of restaurants, clubs and bars and sophisticated shopping centres.

Cape Town’s best-known attractions, including Table Mountain, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Robben Island, the Castle and the famous bikini beaches of Clifton, Camps Bay and Llandudno, provide an unforgettable experience for all types of visitors.

The bustling harbour has been the major gateway to trading in southern Africa for over 350 years. Today, the Cape is a favourite port of call for whale watchers, shark enthusiasts, botanists, ornithologists - and, of course, wine lovers and golfers.

Natural surroundings
Stretching southwards from Cape Town is a 70-kilometre peninsula flanked by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, culminating in the renowned Cape Point Nature Reserve. Over 200 unique floral species cover the slopes of the mountains, attracting countless varieties of birdlife.

Surrounded by a ring of mountains formed by the Groot Drakenstein, the Klein Drakenstein and the Simonsberg mountain ranges, Pearl Valley Golf Estates forms part of the Winelands district.

A world-class selection of grape varieties:
Wine tasting in the Cape vineyards is rich with possibilities, and includes excellent examples of different grape varieties:

Red varieties: Pinotage (which is South Africa’s crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut); Cabernet Sauvignon; Pinot Noir; Merlot and, most recently, Shiraz.

White varieties: Chenin Blanc; Chardonnay; Sauvignon Blanc.

Wine tours are easily accessible
Wine lovers can go on organized tours, or make their own way around the surrounding vineyards.

Franschhoek
Bellingham, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Cabriere Estate, Chamonix, Dieu Donne’, Eikehof, Franschhoek Vineyards, Graham Beck, La Couronne, La Motte, L’Ormarins, Moreson, Plaisir de Merle, Rupert and Rothschild, Vrede en Lust.

Paarl
Anura, Avondale, David Frost, Fairview Estate, Glen Carlou, Laborie Estate, Mellasat, Nederberg, Rhebokskloof, Ridgeback, Simonsvlei, Veenwouden, Zandwijk.

Stellenbosch
Avontuur, Blaauwklippen, Delaire, Delheim, Hoopenberg, Lanzerac, Le Bonheur, Meerlust, Neil Ellis, Rust en Vrede, Simonsig, Spier, Thelema, Tokara, Uitkyk, Waterford

South Africa’s ‘French quarter’
The region was originally known as ‘Olifants Hoek’ - after elephants took to calving in this sheltered valley.

When the Huguenots arrived from France over 300 hundred years ago, they began to cultivate the rich soil. They renamed the area ‘Franschhoek’, meaning ‘French Quarter’. Franschhoek was originally home to 201 French Huguenots. In 1881, it became a municipality and today Franschhoek is home to about 15 000 people.

The gourmet capital of the country
The Huguenots brought their winemaking skills and passion for life to this area – a legacy that still lives on in historic wine estates and famous restaurants. Although it varies by year, up to eight of South Africa’s “Top 100” restaurants are found in Franschhoek and The Pearl Valley Restaurant at Pearl Valley Golf Estates is one of the most sought-after in the area.