Theatre of tasting tutorials at Stellenbosch Wine Festival

With over 100 wineries on show, more than 500 wines to taste, mouth-watering delicacies and amazing entertainment - all under one roof - there is ample reason to head for the heart of the Stellenbosch winelands.

At the tasting theatre, fellow winelovers and connoisseurs will have the opportunity to enjoy fun-filled tutored tastings with some of the region's leading winemakers. These will be presented at specific times during the festival and booking is essential as attendance is limited to 35 people per session.

This year's Wine Magazine Tasting Theatre programme includes:

Friday 1 August (6:30pm) - Kanonkop Paul Sauer vertical wine tasting: A look at the development of one of Stellenbosch's most respected Bordeaux-style blends, from 1997 to 2006 presented by Johann Krige and Abrie Beeslaar.

Saturday 2 August (1pm) - Food and wine pairing: Taste the effect of different wines with the different flavour components of food - lots of fun and very educational. You'll be amazed by what you learn about food and wine pairing! Presented by Katinka van Niekerk.

Saturday 2 August (4pm) - Muratie Pinot Noir vertical tasting: Taste various vintages of Stellenbosch's 1st Pinot Noir, including the 1980 and the 1997 presented by Rijk Melck of Muratie.

Sunday 3 August (12pm) - Shiraz-based blends: The various blending partners to Shiraz, including Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon & Viognier will be discussed, with Louis Strydom from Ernie Els Wines.

Sunday 3 August (2.30pm) - Great old South African reds: Dave Hughes will source and present a few truly great old South African reds. Be prepared for some very special and rare older vintages!

For the first time ever, the Stellenbosch Wine Festival will be hosting a special Wine Connoisseurs Evening on Thursday, 31 July. This exclusive evening is for the serious winelover and will offer guests the opportunity to mingle with the top Stellenbosch winemakers and indulge in supreme quality wines. Limited tickets for the evening are available at a cost of R250 per person, which includes snacks, food vouchers and entertainment. The event will take place from 17h00 till 21h00.

Tickets for the Stellenbosch Wine Festival are available at Computicket, ranging from R100 to R350 per person. Please note that limited tickets are available for Saturday 2 August, so be sure to purchase tickets beforehand to avoid disappointment.

For more information on the Wine Magazine Tasting Theatre or to make pre-bookings, visit www.winemag.co.za for details.

For more information on the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, visit www.wineroute.co.za.