WineFarmz Western Cape wine atlas
Near me

Website Directions Call

Paarl · Western Cape

KWV Wine Emporium

KWV Wine Emporium is a wine farm in Paarl, Western Cape. About 54 km from Cape Town.

54 km from Cape Town

KWV Wine Emporium: Wine, brandy and Cathedral Cellar in Paarl town

The KWV Wine Emporium anchors the historic KWV cellar complex on Kohler Street in Paarl—roughly 22 hectares of cellar infrastructure and one of the world’s largest wine cellar footprints. For Western Cape travellers who want structured wine and brandy tastings, storytelling cellar access and a shop under one roof, the Emporium is a high-density Paarl town stop rather than a quiet farm stoep on Agter-Paarl Road.

Official experience hubs live under kwv.co.za (Experience Emporium, Cathedral Cellar, House of Fire) with bookings via info@kwvemporium.co.za / 021-807-3007/8 and the Emporium online booking form. English tours are standard; German and French Cathedral tours are available on reservation.

Emporium tastings and food pairings

The Emporium pours across KWV’s branded ladders: Classic Collection, Laborie, Roodeberg, Cathedral Cellar, The Mentors, and flagship Perold Cape Blend (including vertical Mentors/Perold options). Classic flights can span Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay Moscato, Rosé, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz and Cabernet; Mentors lines highlight Grenache Blanc, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and canvas/orchestra blends when available.

Published pairing experiences include:

  • World’s Best Brandy — R110 (KWV 10 YO / VS, 12, 15 and 20 YO brandies)
  • Laborie Cap Classique & Macarons — R150 (Brut, Blanc de Blanc, Brut Rosé, Grand Nectar, Nectar Rosé with matched macarons)
  • Exclusive Wines & Artisan Pies — R200 (Mentors wines with ratatouille, duck, lamb, chicken-mushroom and bobotie pies)
  • KWV Brandy & Belgian Chocolates — R200
  • Liqueur & Fortified with Local Decadence — R150 (Pino de Laborie, Cape Tawny, Muscadel, Wild Africa Cream with Cape desserts)
  • Kiddies Goodie Box — R95 (cream soda float, biscuits & droëwors, paint-your-own cookie)

Tasting window on the Emporium experience page: Mon–Fri 09h00–16h00; Sat 09h00–15h00; Sun 09h00–13h00. Broader operating hours cited on the same KWV ecosystem: Mon–Fri 09h00–17h00; Sat 09h00–16h00; Sun & public holidays 09h00–14h00. December seasonal blocks can run 09h00–17h00 daily—check the live page. Published closed days include Good Friday 3 April 2026, Christmas Day 25 December 2026 and New Year’s Day 1 January 2027.

Cathedral Cellar tour

Built in 1930, the Cathedral Cellar takes its nickname from Dutch poet Antonie Donkersloot’s reaction to the high dome and tinted windows. Renovated in 2005 by architect Johann Wessels, it remains a public storytelling space with decorative 12 000-litre stuk-vats (now holding lye wine for preservation). Paarl granite floors with wooden stave inlays and sunrise/sunset tinted windows are part of the narrative guides share on the walk.

  • Tour only: R50 per person (~45 minutes); wheelchair-friendly; no under-18s; closed shoes required
  • Afterwards select a tasting of choice at Emporium rates
  • Mon–Fri: 10h00, 11h00, 14h15 · Sat: 10h00 · Sun & public holidays: 10h00 by reservation
  • Private tours: minimum R600 plus per-person rate; German/French on reservation

Tech Tour & tasting with a KWV winemaker: last Saturday of each month at 11:00, R150, max 20 guests, bookings essential—cellar insight plus preferred tasting in the Cathedral (subject to events).

House of Fire brandy experiences

House of Fire (HOF) celebrates KWV brandy heritage in the historic building linked to early distillation (1926 narrative on the official page). The site explains South African potstill versus blended brandy rules (minimum oak maturation, alcohol norms) and positions KWV 10–20 YO and Nexus/Centenary lines as potstill examples, with 3- and 5-year favourites as blends.

Two paid experiences:

  • HOF Tour — R295 pp (~75 mins), includes brandy & chocolate pairing · Mon–Fri 10h30 & 14h30; Sat–Sun 10h30 by reservation · not wheelchair-friendly · no under-18s
  • Brandy Blending Experience — R1650 pp (~75 mins): tour/tasting while blending, bottling and naming your own brandy; charcuterie included; by reservation only

Contact houseoffire@kwv.co.za or the Emporium numbers above.

Fitting KWV into a Paarl wine day

Emporium works as a morning Cathedral tour plus a brandy or Mentors pairing before lunch at nearby Laborie, or as a rainy-day indoor alternative to Agter-Paarl farm stoeps. Families can use the kiddies goodie box while adults take brandy or fortified flights—note under-18 restrictions on Cathedral and HOF tours.

Book popular Saturday tech tours and Sunday Cathedral slots ahead. GPS published on KWV pages: 33°45′ 47.1″ S, 18°57′ 59.0″ E. Email online@kwv.co.za appears on site chrome for retail support alongside Emporium booking contacts.

Visit tips

FAQ

Is Cathedral Cellar included in every pairing price?

No—tour-only is R50; pairings are separate menus after or instead of the tour.

Can children join brandy tours?

HOF and Cathedral tours disallow under-18s; Emporium kiddies boxes are the family alternative in the shop/tasting area.

Do Sunday hours differ?

Yes—tasting window closes earlier (13h00 on the experience page) and Cathedral Sunday tours need reservation.

Why KWV Emporium earns a portal feature

Few Paarl addresses combine cathedral-scale cellar architecture, transparent tour pricing from R50, curated wine–food pairings to R200, and a dedicated brandy house with blending at R1650. Use official KWV URLs for hours and closed days; the visitor offer is unusually complete compared with appointment-only boutique farms on the same route map.

Things to do at KWV Wine Emporium

  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Wine & brandy tastings / pairings

    Official kwv.co.za/experience-kwv/experience-emporium/: cellar complex ~22 ha Paarl; Classic Collection, Laborie, Roodeberg, Cathedral Cellar, The Mentors, Perold verticals; pairings include World’s Best Brandy R110; Laborie Cap Classique & Macarons R150; Exclusive Wines & Artisan Pies R200; KWV Brandy & Belgian Chocolates R200; Liqueur & Fortified with Local Decadence R150; Kiddies Goodie Box R95. Tasting hours on page: Mon–Fri 09h00–16h00; Sat 09h00–15h00; Sun 09h00–13h00 (plus seasonal/December blocks). Emporium operating hours (Paarl Wine Route / page): Mon–Fri 09h00–17h00; Sat 09h00–16h00; Sun & public holidays 09h00–14h00. Closed e.g. Good Friday 3 Apr 2026, Christmas Day 25 Dec 2026, New Year’s Day 1 Jan 2027 (as published).

    Booking: info@kwvemporium.co.za / 021-807-3007/8; https://kwv.co.za/book-a-tasting-emporium/

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Cathedral Cellar tour

    Official: walking storytelling tour + optional tasting afterwards; tour only R50; ±45 mins; wheelchair-friendly; no under-18s; closed shoes required. Mon–Fri 10h00, 11h00, 14h15; Sat 10h00; Sun & public holidays 10h00 by reservation; private tours min R600 + pp rate; German/French on reservation.

    Booking: info@kwvemporium.co.za / cathedralcellar@kwv.co.za / 021-807-3007/8

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    Tech tour & tasting

    Official: last Saturday monthly 11:00; R150; max 20; bookings essential.

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Wine tasting & pairings

    House of Fire brandy tour

    Official: brandy heritage space. HOF Tour R295 pp (±75 mins; includes brandy & chocolate pairing); Mon–Fri 10h30 & 14h30; Sat–Sun 10h30 by reservation; not wheelchair-friendly; no under-18s. Brandy Blending Experience R1650 pp (±75 mins; tour & tasting while blending/bottling/naming own brandy; charcuterie included; by reservation).

    Booking: houseoffire@kwv.co.za / info@kwvemporium.co.za / 021-807-3007/8

    Details on the farm website ↗
  • Other experiences

    Brandy blending

  • Family & kids

    Kids goodie box

  • Wine sales

    Shop

Browse all experience types

Notable wines

KWV classics; brandy experiences; cellar tours

Visiting with kids

Kiddies goodie box (R95) with cream soda float, biscuits, droëwors and paint-your-own cookie kit at the Emporium.

Possible with kids. About 41 min from Cape Town. Suited to toddlers, tweens.

Grape juice

  • Cathedral Cellar tour
  • kids goodie box

KWV Wine Emporium is primarily an indoor adult tasting and cellar experience, so set expectations accordingly. The main family offer is the kiddies goodie box (R95 when last checked), which includes a cream soda float, biscuits, droëwors and a paint-your-own cookie kit — a handy way to keep toddlers and tweens busy while adults enjoy wine or brandy pairings. The Emporium also runs tastings and tours, including the Cathedral Cellar tour. No outdoor play area was verified, and no lawns or kids’ menu were found, so it suits a shorter visit rather than a full day out. Check the current tasting and tour options on the KWV website before you go.

Before you go

  • A children's price is listed. Confirm the amount when you book.
Is there anything for kids at KWV?

Yes — a kiddies goodie box (R95 when last checked) with a cream soda float, biscuits, droëwors and a paint-your-own cookie kit.

Is there an outdoor play area?

No — the Emporium is an indoor cellar complex and no outdoor play area was verified.

Nearby with children

  • Paarl Arboretum — Nature reserve, Paarl · 2 km
  • Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve — Nature reserve, Paarl · 3 km Website
  • Afrikaanse Taalmonument — Kids museum, Paarl · 4 km Website
  • Drakenstein Lion Park — Animals, Paarl · 9 km Website

Family notes checked 5 October 2026. Confirm on the farm’s website before you drive. Source. More family farms in Paarl. Things to do near this farm. Weddings on this farm.

Weddings here

Candlelit receptions under the vaulted roof of KWV's 1930s Cathedral Cellar among giant carved stukvats, catered by Chef Mynhardt Joubert

Hosts weddings. Up to 120 seated. About 41 min from Cape Town. 42 min from the airport.

In-house cateringIndoor

KWV Cathedral Cellar (1930s barrel-vaulted cellar with carved stukvats, stained glass)

Cathedral Cellar ('perfect for memorable and life-long ceremonies')

Historic 1930 cathedral-style cellar with some of the world's largest carved wine barrels

KWV Cathedral Cellar is a historic 1930 cathedral-style cellar in Paarl, with a barrel-vaulted roof, stained glass and some of the world's largest carved wine barrels. Chef Mynhardt Joubert runs it as a turnkey event venue on the KWV premises.

At a glance

  • Capacity: 120–300 seated (official pages differ); minimum 50
  • Space: Cathedral Cellar (indoor)
  • Ceremony: in the cellar
  • Catering: Chef Mynhardt Joubert turnkey food packages
  • Services: venue, staff, food, décor, event management and styling by the chef's team

Because it's indoors, the cellar works year-round. Confirm your exact seating plan, as published capacities vary between the KWV and venue sites. Before you book, ask for a written summary of inclusions (tables, linen, staffing, bar and ceremony set-up), finish times, the rain plan and any compulsory suppliers. Capacities and packages change, so rely on the estate's dated quote for your guest list and season.

Price: Rates on enquiry; no prices are published.

Last checked 5 October 2026 against the estate's official information. Confirm details directly before booking.

Before you enquire

  • Minimum guests: 50 (KWV page).
  • Turn-key: venue, staff, food, décor, event management and styling by Chef Mynhardt's team
How many guests can the KWV Cathedral Cellar seat?

Official pages differ, ranging from 120 to 300 seated, with a minimum of 50. Confirm with the venue for your layout.

Who caters weddings at the Cathedral Cellar?

Chef Mynhardt Joubert's team provides turnkey food, staff, décor and event management.

Can we hold the ceremony there?

Yes. The venue describes the cellar as suitable for ceremonies as well as receptions.

What does a Cathedral Cellar wedding cost?

No prices are published. Ask the chef's team for a quote.

Wedding notes checked 5 October 2026. Guest numbers and packages change. Ask the farm for the current offer. Enquire. Source. More wedding farms in Paarl. With kids.

Questions before you go

Where is KWV Wine Emporium?

KWV Wine Emporium is at Kohler Street / historic KWV complex, Paarl. Most visitors drive there from Cape Town in 50–70 minutes.

When is KWV Wine Emporium open?

Open Sunday · Open public holidays. Hours change, so call +27 21 807 3007 before you drive.

Can I do a wine tasting at KWV Wine Emporium?

Yes, tastings are listed. A current price is not on this page yet, so call +27 21 807 3007 for fees.

Wine of Origin

Geographical unit: Western Cape → Coastal Region → Paarl

Paarl sits around a granite pluton north of Stellenbosch: a large, warmer district with wards on Simonsberg, Agter-Paarl and Voor-Paardeberg.

Terroir snapshot

Elevation and soil figures are modelled at the pin, not a vineyard block survey. Use them to compare farms, not to quote a technical sheet.

Latitude
-33.73113
Longitude
18.962834
Elevation
118 m (Open-Meteo)

Sources

  • Family notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Wedding notes: farm website, checked 5 October 2026
  • Elevation: Open-Meteo
  • Soil: ISRIC SoilGrids

Is this your farm? Claim this listing

Nearby farms

More in Paarl

All Paarl wine farms