Touring the Stellenbosch Winelands is always such a treat. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, you can enjoy delicious food and you get to sample some of the country’s best wine. The only problem is, you can only taste a limited number of brands at a time, depending on what route you take and how many farms you visit. Enter the Stellenbosch Wine Festival. Once a year, the region’s best wine farms gather to showcase their wares, and it is every wine lover’s dream.
Those familiar with the festival know that touring the tents at the Stellenbosch Wine Festival is like going on an adventure. Not only do you get to enjoy incredible wines, you get to taste delicious food and interact with fellow wine lovers. As always, the festival coincides with harvest season, and you can enjoy the popular Harvest Parade through the town in celebration of this.
Gourmet Lane, aka the best food strip you will ever see at a festival, will be serving up some of the most incredible food worthy of the region’s culinary reputation. Some of the eateries to look forward to are Beyerskloof, Eaglevlei Wines, Vagabond Kitchen, Big Steve Charcuterie, Wild Peacock Food Emporium and Bistro 13. For the foodies out there who enjoy exploring different flavours and how they are enhanced when paired with the right wine, there is a special treat just for you:
The Tasting Room at the festival is where magical pairings happen. Celebrity chef Tiaan Langenegger will team up with winemakers to bring you delicious canapés with some elite wines. These sessions will happen daily and accommodate 40 guests. It only cost R25 and is free to all Pick n Pay Smart Shopper card holders. Booking is essential, so if you are interested, that should be the first thing you do upon arrival.
Wonderful food aside, the whole point of the festival is wine, and boy is there plenty for you to go through. A whopping 77 wine farms are participating in the Stellenbosch Wine Festival this year. They will be coming from each of the five sub-routes of the region. These include Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Valley and Stellenbosch Berg.
If you are more inclined to exclusive goods, boutique wineries will be making a special appearance for one day. On Sunday 7 February you can enjoy wine from the following rare gems: Audacia Wines, Bartinney Private Cellar, Deux Frères Wines, Keermont Vineyards, Kings Kloof Vineyards, Mostertsdrift Noble Wines, Post House Vineyards, Rudera Wines, The High Road and Usana Wines.
There is plenty of entertainment for the kiddies; they can play while you get down to business. Tastings close an hour before the festival closing time. On Friday, gates open from 3 pm until 9 pm and thereafter from 10 am to 6 pm, so there is plenty of time to get through all the brands you desire. Why not make a day of it; it is not often the whole of Stellenbosch’s wine route comes to you!
OF NOTE
When Friday 5 February 2016 at 3 pm until 7 February 2016
Where Coetzenburg Sports Grounds, Coetzenburg Road, Stellenbosch
Cost R180 at Webtickets
Contact +27 21 426 5775, www.stellenboschwinefestival.co.za
Photography courtesy
