Plaisir de Merle
is one of the historic wine estates of the South African Cape Winelands and today operates under the name Plaisir Wine Estate. The estate is located near Simondium between Paarl and Franschhoek at the foot of the Simonsberg. The vineyards grow predominantly on weathered granite soils and benefit from cooling air currents that travel from the Atlantic into the valleys and up the mountain slopes. This combination particularly shapes the estate's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Bordeaux blends.
The story began in 1693, when Governor Simon van der Stel granted land to the French Huguenot Charles Marais. Marais named the farm Le Plessis Marly after his French homeland. By 1705, the family already recorded around 8,000 vines. The manor house that still survives today was completed in 1764 and is one of the winery's historic Cape Dutch buildings.
During the 20th century, fruit growing and other agricultural uses temporarily became more prominent. In 1964, the estate passed to Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery. The vineyards were later comprehensively renewed and a new wine cellar opened in 1993. Since 2021, Plaisir has been owned by the Jordaan family, who continue to develop the historic estate and position the brand under the shortened name Plaisir.
Cabernet Sauvignon holds a special place in the range. The granite-rich soils of the Simonsberg produce structured red wines with dark fruit, notes of blackcurrant, tobacco and graphite, and firm tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon is complemented by Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties, used both as varietal wines and in blends.
At the top of the current range is the Grand Plaisir Range. Grand Plaisir Red is a classic Bordeaux blend, while Grand Plaisir White is now produced as a Chardonnay. Below this, the Estate Range includes Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a red Bordeaux blend. A dedicated Cap Classique line with Brut, Brut Rosé and Nectar completes the offering.
The location on the Simonsberg also plays an important role for the white wines. Chenin Blanc shows fresh apple and pear aromas, while Chardonnay is shaped more strongly by structure and barrel maturation depending on the range. The different wine styles allow Plaisir to offer both approachable wines for early enjoyment and more complex, age-worthy bottlings.
Today Plaisir combines the estate's more than three centuries of history with an approach to wine production that focuses more strongly on origin and individual vineyard sites. Restored natural areas, fynbos, ecological corridors and regenerative farming methods are part of the estate's current development. At Vin Africa, Plaisir de Merle, or Plaisir, represents characterful wines from one of the historic sites on the Paarl side of the Simonsberg.