Bacco Estate Winery

Bacco Estate takes its name from Bacchus, the Greek-Roman god of wine, deliberately spelled with an Italian inflection that signals the estate's ambitions from the start. This is a Tuscan-inspired wine project in the heart of the Paarl winelands, born from founder Nathan Jankelowitz's passion for the opulent Super Tuscans of Italy and his determination to produce wines of that character on South African soil.

The first fifteen hectares of vines were planted in 2016 on the Simonsvlei Road in the Agter-Paarl hills, meticulously managed to produce a low crop of consistent ultra-premium quality grapes. Three years of patient vine development followed before the first Bacco wine was created in 2019 — the Prelude range, in the form of a Red Blend and a Syrah. The Tuscan-inspired modern cellar opened to the public in late 2022, and the estate has been gathering momentum since.

Winemaker Julia Blaine studied viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University before gaining experience across South Africa, France and the United States. She works alongside consultant cellarmaster Martin Smith to produce wines that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques. Every wine is produced with minimal intervention, allowing the Paarl terroir to express itself through distinctly Italian-influenced blending and ageing decisions. The portfolio includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay, Rose and a red blend — six characterful wines available in two tasting flights.

The tasting room doubles as a restaurant run by Carla, who returned from a decade-long chef journey in London to open the intimate eatery. Together with chef Steff Hoefnagels, she devises monthly-changing cicchetti menus — Italian-inspired small plates that riff on local ingredients and pair beautifully with the wines. The smoky baked brie cheesecake and slow-cooked oxtail raviolo have both earned devoted followings. With a 4.6-star rating from over two hundred and sixty reviews, the food is as much a draw as the wine.

Bacco is wheelchair accessible and open seven days a week from eleven in the morning. The Tuscan-inspired architecture, the monthly-changing menu, and the meticulous vineyard management all point to an estate that takes the long view — investing in quality at every stage. For those who love the idea of Italian ambition expressed through Paarl terroir, with serious food to match and a winemaker who has seen how both the Old World and the New do things, Bacco Estate is one of the most distinctive and exciting additions to the winelands in recent years.