Paserene, the small family operated winery owned by Martin Smith and Ndabe Mareda, can now be tasted and bought at this brand’s new – and first – tasting room on the R45, in Franschhoek. This high-end boutique wine brand includes Paserene Chardonnay (W.O Elgin), Paserene Marathon, a Bordeaux-style red and Paserene Union, a Rhône-inspired red blend. Since their first vintage in 2013, these wines have only grown in esteem and associated interest – most recently culminating in Paserene Chardonnay 2015 receiving a 5-Star rating in Platter’s Wine Guide 2018.Smith is an established winemaker who has worked numerous vintages locally and in the United States, and he has a reputation for making wines that are well-structured and refined – without lacking the expressive qualities associated with South Africa’s wines. Mareda, a businessman from Johannesburg with an appreciation for quality wines, immediately recognised the potential for Paserene to become one of South Africa’s top luxury wines – a complementary drive which solidified the Paserene partnership.