The sun is shining and the outdoors are beckoning! Celebrate the start of summer with a glass of wine in your hand and the warmth of the sun on your face. As well as plenty of wines to taste, these festivals offer food, music and all day entertainment.
While the Western Cape is definitely the go-to place for everything wine, the rest of South Africa has not been forgotten! Wherever you are in South Africa make sure to have a glass (or three) at one of these summer wine festivals.
Cape Town:
1. Pinotage on Tap
13 October 2012
Diemersfontein farm once again opens its gates to a flood of pinotage lovers, who descend on the farm for one of the best days of the year. Barrels of their famous chocolate-flavoured pinotage are set up and flow freely all day; Lindt ladies will be walking around handing out free chocolates; you’re fed all day and bands (including Goodluck, Albert Frost and Gerald Clark) serenade the guests all afternoon.
Your ticket includes endless Coffee Chocolate Pinotage (on tap), goodie bag, lunch by local producers, chocolate fountain dessert, live music, games and the best party on the wine event calendar!
Catch a bus from Cape Town for R165 per person return
Website: www.diemersfontein.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 021-864-5050
2. Season of Sauvignon wine festival
6 to 7 October 2012
The annual white wine loving festival in the Durbanville Wine Valley is taking place on the first weekend of October 2012. What better way to celebrate award winning cool climate terroir than in a valley of rolling vineyards, views of the ocean and Table Mountain, and a group of winemakers that want to share their love of Sauvignon Blanc with festival goers
Website: www.durbanvillewine.co.za
Tel: 083-310-1228
3. Breedekloof outdoor wine festival
12 to 14 October 2012
Get the summer season into full swing and head off to the picturesque Breedekloof Valley. Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, the area is renowned for producing excellent wine as well as breathtaking views and promises visitors a weekend of fun. Sip, sample and savour wines from the wineries in the area which include Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and the Breede River areas. Stock up for the festive season with special offers at the farms, or make the most of the weekend as you enjoy live entertainment and family-friendly activities on offer at select farms.
Website: www.breedekloof.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023-349-1791
4. Robertson wine on the river
19 to 21 October 2012
Enjoy laid-back country hospitality at its best as you taste more than 300 wines from over 40 wineries, while soaking up the rhythm of live jazz, ballads and blues. country food stalls, After a stroll through the Robertson Farmers’ Market, head to the Chardonnay Tent for a tutored chardonnay tasting. Other popular attractions will include river cruises as well as arts and crafts from the Valley.
Website: www.wineonriver.com
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 023-626-3167
5. Helderburg Wine Festival
15 to 18 November 2012
Swing into summer in style this year with around 40 wineries, from Somerset West to Stellenbosch.
Great food from some of the highly rated restaurants in the area, live music, kiddies’ programmes, exhibitions, shows and award-winning wines draw the crowds to this laid-back event, which takes place at the different wineries over the four day period. Local charities benefit from the event and the festival organisers will support Amorim Cork’s “Cork Alive project” which aims to create sustainable work opportunities for locals in the wine industry by re-using old corks.
Website: www.helderbergwinefestival.co.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 083-556-3740
6. iTownship Wine Festival
3 to 5 December 2012
The annual iTownship Wine Festival is to be held in Gugulethu, one of Cape Town’s most vibrant townships. This year’s highlights include Wine Art Pavilion; launch of “Starting Your Own Wine Business” guide; Shisanyama Network Pavilion and Vintners’ Opening Dinner: Celebrating Gugulethu 50+ Anniversary. Be sure to make a stop at the famous Mzoli’s while you’re there.
Tel: 021-790-5333 / 082 960 6505
Johannesburg:
7. RMB WineX Wine Festival
24 to 26 October 2012
The country’s top cellar masters are preparing to make the trip to Gauteng to meet the province’s keenest wine lovers, to share their award-winning triumphs of the winemaker’s art and to introduce the latest vintages and their newest releases. Not just a show for wine gurus, RMB WineX is a fun night in the city with boutique cheeses, artisanal olives and olive products, stemware and wine accessories to complement the vast array of tasting wines.
The Shop@Show facility enables wine lovers to purchase wines at competitive prices with the added benefit of door-to-door delivery.
Website: www.winex.co.za
Tel: 011-482-5936/5
Garden Route:
8. Bottomless Barrels Wine Festival
21 December 2012
Expect food and wine pairing, a variety of food stalls and bottomless barrels of the finest Weltevrede wines. There will be live performances by new popular local Afrikaans band Adam and Emo Adams and the little ones will be kept entertained by the jumping castle in the Kids Corner.
Tel: 044 870-7150
Port Elizabeth:
9. New Brighton Wine Festival
27 to 29 September 2012
A wine festival targeted at the new wine market that is emerging amongst the young and accomplished professionals in the townships, this food and wine festival aims to educate and entertain. Expect wine tasting, food seminars, lectures on food and wine pairing, and round off the evening with live music entertainment by hip hop, jazz and urban artists, both national and local.
Tel: 041-408-8400
Mpumalanga:
10. FNB Mpumalanga Wine Show
April 2013
Nelspruit and White River wine lovers get ready for the Cape Winelands to come to you. Taste close to 250 wines and stock up on your favourites through the Shop@Show facility. As well as the wine, there will be olives, wine accessories and artisanal products to take home.
Website: www.outsorceress.co.za
Tel: 011-482-5936
For information on more upcoming festivals to excite your taste buds, take a look at 15 South African food festivals for the rest of 2012 and South African beer events for the rest of 2012.
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