All over the Cape winelands the 2011 harvest is drawing to a close. Most of the grapes have been pressed and the wines are muttering to themselves quietly in tanks and barrels as they ferment.
Several wineries and wine areas have planned events to celebrate a successful harvest, so it’s a good time for wine lovers to go out and taste the latest vintage in its infancy.
The wineries of Wellington join forces on the weekend of March 19 to 21 for the fifth annual Wellington Wine Festival.
The varied programme includes action-packed items like the strong man and strong woman contests, mountain bike rides, quad-bike trails and walks.
For those less energetic there’s fishing, game drives, live music, helicopter flips and, of course, plenty of good food and wine.
Bovlei Winery will provide a party bus to shuttle festival-goers between the various venues
Participation costs R60 for adults and children under 13 are admitted free.
For further details and bookings, contact Emma on 021 873 4604 or click here.
Coinciding with the Wellington Festival, the Wellington Wine Walk, organised by Jaques Smit wines, Mont du Toit, Welgegund and Alkmaar Boutique Winery presents a leisurely wine walk on the 19th and 20th in the little known Blouvlei area. Wines can be tasted on each of the farms while tour guides amuse you with historical anecdotes of the region. You can either book for the early bird session at 9am or sunset at 4pm.
The tickets are R200 per adult which includes wines to taste, shuttle back to your car, entrance to other activities Wellington Wine Harvest Festival 2011. Bookings via Computicket. For more details contact Wellington Info Office 021-8734604 or click here.
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Durbanville wineries celebrate their harvest festival on Monday, March 21 (Human Rights Day) and 12 wineries will be taking part, offering country fare, grape stomping, hay rides, live music and plenty of wine.
Each of the participating farms is offering a special treat to visitors. There will be rock ‘n roll at Hillcrest, picnics at Diemersdal, grape stomping at Altydgedacht and Italian music at Durbanville Hills, just for starters.
Klein Roosboom is offering a Greek feast, complete with a barrel-rolling contest. At Groot Phesantekraal you can enter a competition for the fanciest hat.
To book for the Durbanville Wine Valley’s Feast of the Grape festival, and to find out more about it, call 083 310 1228 or visit Durbanville wines.
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At Allée Bleue they’re holding a German-style end-of-harvest festival in the grounds of the manor house in the Franschhoek valley on April 2 from midday onwards.
Parents are welcome to bring their children, and child minders will be on hand to entertain them.
Photograph: Wellington Wine Festival
