With no shortage of flashy new cellars popping up throughout the Cape winelands, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the first grapes were harvested and fermented into wine here over 350 years ago. So although South Africa is billed as a ‘New World’ wine producer there is no shortage of history for visitors to discover.

A fine example of this rich history is Laborie estate on the outskirts of the winelands town of Paarl. The farm was first granted to one Jean Taillefert in 1691, and it’s his name that adorns the flagship Shiraz.

For Paarl is Shiraz country, and lovers of this Rhone grape would do well to settle in for a few days of vinous exploring. And there are few better places to settle than the restored rooms at Laborie.

Set around a wide lawn just a few steps from the cellar tasting room, the eight comfortable rooms overlook the delightful gardens of the historic Manor House and the impressive Drakenstein Mountains. The rooms are decorated in what’s billed as a ‘Cape-French style’. They’re not the height of luxury, but then they offer exceptional value that comes in handy if you’re planning an extended trip.

Every room enjoys a vine-shaded terrace, and there’s a deep communal pool set in a quiet courtyard a short walk away. The estate and nearby mountains offer lovely walking trails if you feel the need to work up an appetite.

And you should: the town boasts a number of excellent restaurants, including Laborie’s own ‘Harvest’ restaurant under chef Matthew Gordon. Here you’ll find a delicious yet approachable menu of contemporary South African cuisine, paired with fantastic wines from the estate and surrounding wineries.

Once you’ve indulged, you’ll remember happily that your room is just a short walk away. And that alone, is reason enough to book a room at Laborie.