Windmeul Kelder

In 1944, on the verdant northern slopes of Paarl Mountain, twenty-three grape farmers pooled their resources and registered the Windmeul Co-Operative Wine Cellars. These were export table grape growers who recognised that a portion of their crop -- fruit not suitable for the table -- could be turned into wine. It was a practical decision born of wartime thrift, and the first vintage, crushed in 1946, was humble: 1,700 crates of grapes pressed into distilling and rebate wines.

The cellar took its name from the windmill that had been the hub of economic activity in this corner of Paarl during the 1800s. According to local lore, the Windmeul was arguably the finest mill in the entire country -- a symbol of honest toil and diligent industry that the co-operative adopted as its own emblem.

From those modest beginnings, the quality of the regional terroir quietly asserted itself. The granite and shale soils on Paarl Mountain's slopes, the warm days tempered by afternoon breezes from the south-west, and the deep commitment of the member growers to their vineyards all combined to push Windmeul beyond distilling wine and into serious winemaking. Experimentation with cultivars and vineyard practices led to a portfolio that today spans Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, alongside a Reserve Brandy VSOP that honours the cellar's distilling heritage.

Under cellar master Danie Marais, Windmeul now combines cutting-edge winemaking techniques with age-old wisdom in state-of-the-art facilities. The wine portfolio is structured across several tiers: the Legend Range represents the pinnacle of the cellar's ambition; the Reserve Range offers concentrated, barrel-matured expressions; while the White Cellar and Red Cellar ranges deliver honest, everyday drinking wines. The Firsty Thirsty Chenin Blanc, an early-release wine, has become a popular seasonal favourite.

The tasting room at the cellar offers flights of the full range at R44 per person, making Windmeul one of the most accessible and affordable tasting experiences on the Paarl wine route. A farmers' market adds seasonal charm, and wine club members receive regular shipments and exclusive access to limited releases. The atmosphere is welcoming and unpretentious -- families are encouraged, and the broad lawns with views of Paarl Mountain make it an ideal stop for a leisurely afternoon.

Eighty years after those first crates were pressed, Windmeul Kelder stands as a testament to the power of collective effort. What began as a practical solution for table grape surplus has evolved into one of Paarl's most visited wine destinations, producing wines that are enjoyed both locally and across the globe -- all from the slopes of the mountain that gave the region its name.