Plaisir
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In Their Words
Plaisir History & Location
The beautiful Plaisir Estate is situated at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountain, between Paarl and Franschhoek. It is one of the largest wine farms in the Western Cape at 974 hectares, with some 400 hectares under vine. The wines produced here are inspired by the harmony of a rich history, the fertile soil and lush vineyards.
Plaisir’s origins can be traced back to founder Charles Marais who fled his home in France in 1687 and settled in the Groot Drakenstein Valley. In 1693, Governor Simon van der Stel granted him land, which he named after his hometown: Le Plessis Marly.
Crafting wines at Plaisir since 1993 has been the long-held domain of Niel Bester and our wines are known for their exceptional ageing potential, depth of flavour and complex character. For refined indulgence, visit our estate for the finest wines and food pairings, plus the unparalleled beauty of luscious lawns, ancient oak trees and the dramatic vista of the Simonsberg Mountain. We also host a popular weekend food and craft market with occasional live music and have extensive MTB bike trails on the estate.
Plaisir Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open daily 10am-5pm, with Fri staying open till 8pm.
Market: open Thu to Sun 10am-5pm (these days can change at short notice so please triple check).
Live Music: please contact the farm for details.
MTB Trails: open daily. Please refer to Tours & Activities for more information.
*PLEASE NOTE*
All times, prices and facilities listed are subject to change. We recommend checking latest details directly with the farm and pre-booking experiences wherever possible, to avoid disappointment.
Plaisir Wine Tasting
The Plaisir de Merle wine range are classic, expressive wines – singular in their consistency. The red wines have intense colour with up-front fruit flavours, well-integrated oak and smooth tannins, whilst the whites are well balanced with a true varietal expression.
The Charles Marais range is the pinnacle of blends, in the estate’s 400 years of winemaking tradition. The limited edition 2013 Charles Marais is a heady blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot – winemaker Niel Bester says it’s the finest wine released in his 25 years as cellar master.
Wine Tasting Prices
The Estate offers a number of tastings for you to enjoy. The Standard Tasting of 4 Plaisir de Merle wines costs from R65pp. We also offer a Tram Tasting for R55pp, Estate Tasting from R65pp and our Flagship Tasting from R80pp. An Artisanal Fudge & Wine Pairing costs R100pp and food platters are available.
Plaisir Restaurants
Although food platters are available and there are food stalls at the Weekend Market, there is no full service restaurant at Plaisir. Options can be found in the nearby towns of Franschhoek (15 mins), Stellenbosch or Paarl (20 mins).
Plaisir Tours & Activities
Currently Plaisir do not offer Cellar or Vineyard Tours however are a popular venue for private functions and special occasions. Contact the Estate for more information and to discuss your needs.
The Plaisir Weekend Market operates on Sat, Sun and the last Fri of the month, featuring occasional live music plus a small array of food, drink and locally produced crafts. Please see www.plaisir.co.za/market/ for more information.
Want to visit Plaisir but don’t want to drive? We are currently featured on the Franschhoek Wine Tram which allows you to immerse yourself in the wine culture of the area without having to worry about your car. Please refer to www.winetram.co.za/ for more information and prices.
For mountain bikers, there are over 16kms of trails running through the Plaisir vineyards. A day pass needs to be purchased for approx. R50 from our Tasting Room or by visiting www.banhoekconservancy.org/permits/.
When Lucy Visited
Lucy has visited this wine farm, however hasn’t quite finished the official write up yet. Check back soon for the review!
