A newer kid on the block, Brookdale Estate has been carefully planned and planted from what once was a tangle of alien vegetation. Today, thriving vineyards and established gardens merge to form an oasis ringed by the mountains of Paarl. In the centre is a beautiful tasting room focusing on wine-to-glass wines, high-end restaurant and large manor house that can be taken in its entirety or as individual suites by couples who want a refined experience in the Cape Winelands.

If you want to stretch your legs, Brookdale has running and walking trails, and you could get a friendly game of boules going. In the late afternoon, join the fun of a tractor ride for sundowners to watch the stars come out…