Found nestled in the foothills of the Franschhoek Mountains, Paserene is a luxury wine brand with a difference, and a strong sense of place.

Paserene is owned by Ndabe Mareda and Martin Smith, an established winemaker who gained experience from wineries such as Vriesenhof Vineyards, Cosentino Winery in California’s Napa Valley, Caldwell Winery, and finally, Vilafonte before he started Paserene; so, you know you are in good hands when you sip a glass of Paserene’s wine.

So, what does a day trip to Paserene look like?

The Tasting Lounge: The Paserene Nest

Start the day at our wine tasting lounge, affectionately known as the Paserene Nest. Our architect-designed tasting room is something truly special. It is inspired by the migratory swallow and complements the gorgeous manicured grounds of our wine farm.

The Nest was designed to be in complete harmony with its surroundings, and to do so, SCS Architects created a uniquely elegant language of hoes materials and soft organic forms

Our contemporary tasting lounge resembles a martin’s nest, and the cladding creates a modern ‘crypto-porticus’, offset with slate to resemble the mud and clay that swallows use to build their nests.

Inside, you will find a warm, welcoming atmosphere, which is enhanced on wintry days by two fireplaces to keep you warm while you indulge in a wine tasting or platter for two.

Our Unique Tastings

What is a day out in Franschhoek without a wine tasting? At the Paserene Nest, you can curl up in a comfortable chair indoors or relax outside on our balcony and enjoy some of our elegant  wines as part of our wine tasting offerings.

We have two wine tasting options: the Elements Range Tasting and the Paserene Range Tasting.

The Elements Range showcases the more down-to-earth, fun side of our wine estate. Each bottle in this range is unique, and shines through with crisp aromas and delicious flavours. These wines are made from different elements from each of our vineyards.

This tasting includes a pour of the Rosie (Rosé), Emerald (Sauvignon Blanc), Dark (Syrah), and Midnight (Cabernet Sauvignon). In this tasting, our resident sommeliers will guide you through the wines, allowing you to give your own feedback and tasting notes along the way. It will cost you R95 per person and is the perfect introduction to Paserene’s wines.

The Paserene Range Tasting dives a little deeper into our luxury range, made up of the renowned Marathon (now 100% Cabernet Sauvignon), Union (Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Syrah), Chardonnay (100% Chardonnay) and the small-batch produced Shiner White (Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon Gris).

This tasting costs R200 per person and can be had as a blind tasting led by our experienced team; during a blind tasting, guests are provided with their wines and are asked what they smell and taste, without being guided. It is a truly unique experience and we encourage our guests to give it a try.

Pick The Perfect Paserene Platter

What is a wine tasting experience without a platter to indulge in between sips? At Paserene, we have a delicious selection of small plates and a platter for two on offer. Our small plates include items like cured, organic olives, spiced and roasted nuts, homemade pâté, a variety of cheeses, charcuterie, and Franschhoek smoked trout, among others.

If you simply cannot decide, we offer a platter for two, which includes a selection from our small plates list.

Discover Our Wines

Our wines are made with an inherent patience, as Smith is a precision winemaker. He tinkers with his wines, often with truly astounding results. He records everything at every step of the way, so that no information is lost.

We have two wine ranges available, and a stand-alone wine which is something a little different.

Our Elements Range ties together our luxury Franschhoek wine estate with the more playful, laidback side of our winemaker.

This range consists of five wines:

  • the Rosie, a pink and deliciously-dry rosé
  • the Emerald, a zesty citrus-laden Sauvignon Blanc
  • the Bright, an easy-sipping, tropical Chardonnay
  • the Dark, a full-bodied and spicy Syrah
  • the Midnight, an elegant Cabernet Sauvignon that has recently scored 93 points and placed in the Top 10 for the Cabernet Sauvignon Report for 2021.

Our Paserene Range is the luxury range, where the true artistry of Martin’s years of experience shines through. The grapes are sourced from our wine farm in Tulbagh and
The range offers three unique wines:

  • the delicate Paserene Chardonnay, made from Elgin-sourced grapes
  • the deep, smoky Union made predominantly from Syrah grapes
  • the cassis-heavy Marathon, made with grapes sourced from Tulbagh

If you are looking for something a little off the beaten track, we also offer The Shiner.

The Shiner White, the second chapter in The Shiner Range is made up of a blend of 83% Sauvignon Blanc and 17% Semillon Gris. This combination allows Paserene’s Sauvignon Blanc to shine, with the Semillon Gris providing an acidity to round off the palate. The grapes are sourced from our wine farm in Franschhoek.

To try any one of our remarkable wines, to experience our stunning grounds or to tempt your tastebuds with a platter (or two), book a tasting with us today.