The inaugural Vino Camino wine festival, described as a walking wine festival for both connoisseurs and the casually curious, is set to be hosted in the Karoo’s Prince Albert, dubbed ‘one of SA’s coolest destinations’ by none other than the Wall Street Journal itself.
Vino Camino, the brainchild of Jeremy Freemantle and Paul and Karin Henriques, is born from years of hospitality and events intertwined with a shared passion for wine, food and good company.
They established this two-day festival to bring wine drinkers together in front of the breathtaking Swartberg mountains, driven by the idea that wine should be affordable and enjoyable.
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‘A camino is a journey and for many of us, the process of learning about and loving wine, and understanding its ancient mysteries and alchemy is a life-long journey. This idea inspired the festival – it’s an exploration. Of our beautiful town, and the superb wines of South Africa,’ says Freemantle.
Freemantle, of Jeremy’s on Church Street acclaim and a resident of Prince Albert for 16 years, has embraced every aspect of Karoo life and finds enormous joy in bringing people together while being passionate about wine and the culinary arts.
His partner Karin, new to Prince Albert, has extensive experience in the corporate and creative worlds of Johannesburg and Cape Town for over 30 years, making her a ‘natural planner and people’s person’.
Her goal is to make sure the wine event is unpretentious and inclusive, serving as a space where the wine informed and wine curious can equally enjoy and explore some of South Africa’s best wines.
This ranges from the heavy hitters to exciting up-and-coming or niche brands.
In terms of selecting producers, both Freemantle and Henriques found themselves ‘spoilt for choice’.
‘We have assembled a group of passionate and adventurous artisans and alchemists, driven by their own personal camino to find that Holy Grail of vinum excellentia,’ says Freemantle.
The line-up for the event includes big names such as Adie Badenhorst from AA Badenhorst Wines, Niels Verburg of Luddite, Peter-Allan Finlayson of Crystallum, Weather Report’s Christopher Keet, Carl Schultz from Hartenberg and Rijk Melck of Muratie.
Joining the line-up are:
- Jaco Brand from Arbeidsgenot
- Rikus Neethling from Bizoe Wines
- Eagle’s Nest’s Craig Barnard
- Janno Briers-Louw from Eenzaamheid
- Anmar van Niekerk of Gabrielskloof
- Melissa Nelsen from Genevieve
- Alex Starey from Keermont
- Carsten Migliarina of Migliarina
- Natasha Williams with Hasher Family Wines
- Adrian Strydom of Badger & Mountain
- Peter Bayly Wines, represented by Peter Bayly
- Johan Kruger and Kruger Family Wine
- Meyer Joubert from Joubert-Tredauw
- Emma and Willie Dreyer of Leeuwenkuil Wines
In total, 32 producers from various regions of the Western Cape will be on hand to share their wine selections.
Stations and tastings will be spread out over various venues along the main road of the town, ranging from studios to restaurants and old milking sheds.
Visitors can buy a weekend tasting pass, which entitles them to two days of meeting winemakers and tasting wine.
Details:
- Location: Church St, Prince Albert, 6930
- Date: 16 – 17 August 2024
- Contact: Karin on 082 304 0367 | [email protected]
- Tickets: Quicket
- Cost: R555
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Picture: Vino Camino Prince Albert / Facebook
