Merrily kicking off eighth Stellenbosch wine fest
One of the biggest and longest-running food and wine festivals in the Cape, the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, is set to stage its eighth annual event at the Paul Roos Centre, 30 July - 2 August 2009. This year's festival goers are set to enjoy a special selection of more than 500 wines and gourmet delights from 170 top exhibitors, all under one roof.
Gourmet lane
New and exclusive events for this festival include the Gourmet Lane, where top Stellenbosch restaurants such as 96 Winery Road, Blaauwklippen and Overture will be dishing up their signature dishes, as well as the Clover Demonstration Kitchen with its fun food themes and giveaways. Participation at the Gourmet Lane is by invitation only and aims at showcasing only the best restaurants the Stellenbosch area has to offer.
In the kitchen
The Clover Demo Kitchen will have Craig Cormack and friends cooking up a feast with fun themes such as Kaas is Baas, Tapa's - the new fashion food, Hot-Love-In-Here and Magical Mushrooms. Raffle tickets will be sold at each demonstration with the opportunity of winning a Clover hamper. All proceeds will go to the Clover Mama Afrika project.
For the connoisseurs
The Wine Connoisseurs evening on Thursday, 30 July, is the ideal opportunity for serious wine lovers to meander through the festival without the crowds, meet the winemakers and indulge in premium quality wines while tasting the best of Stellenbosch in a relaxed and leisurely environment. The event will take place from 4pm - 9pm. Tickets for the evening are limited and available at a cost of R150 per person, which includes a welcome snack and bubbly on arrival.
Music and rugby
This year the festival features local musical talents, Sima, Zamar and Gerald Clark, who will have guests moving to the beat in no time as they sample the festival delights. The rugby match on Saturday will also be broadcasted on a big screen with snacks and drinks available from exhibitors.
Family day
Sunday is Family Day at the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, allowing parents to take time out to enjoy the festivities. A Kiddies Care Service, hosted by the Pebbles Project, for children between the ages 2 -7 will be available on Saturday and Sunday, while others can have fun on jumping castles and learn how to prepare delicious treats at the Clover Demo Kitchen. All kids under 18 enter for free.
Taster training
For those seeking a little insight into the world of wine, there is the Cape Wine Academy Tasting Theatre. The theatre presents fun-filled themes such as Party Popping Pinks, Bootylicious Bubblies and Sizzling Shiraz, guaranteed to entertain festival goers. The academy will also offer a one-day South African Wine Course on Friday, 31 July. The course covers the history of winemaking in South Africa as well as informative insights into viticulture. Each presentation includes a tutored wine tasting. For more information, contact the Cape Wine Academy at Tel: (021) 889 8844 or visit www.capewineacademy.co.za. Pre-booking is essential.
Shuttle service
An extended Shuttle Service through the winelands area has been implemented to ensure that festival-goers arrive home safely. Forget about traffic congestion and grab an A2B Shuttle from Paarl, Somerset West or Franschhoek. Capetonians can also make use of these services as shuttles from the V&A Waterfront, Canal Walk and Tygervalley are available. Book your seat now.
Recycle it
The Stellenbosch Wine Festival and recycling organisation, Let's talk rubbish, has generated a recycling project, which introduces small changes such as bio-degradable plates and cutlery, recycling waste from the festival and offering a shuttle service. The festival also focuses on the community by creating a platform for charitable organisations such as the Pebbles Project, Anna Foundation, Charity Wines and many more.
Looking back
The festival has become a much-loved tradition during the winter months and is a popular destination for both local and international visitors. In 2008, the festival showed excellent growth in terms of both exhibitors and visitors; playing host to more than 12 500 visitors and 150 exhibitors over the four days with R380,000 worth of wines sold. Some 85% of the visitors were locals from the Western Cape, 7.3% came from Gauteng and 7.7% were international visitors.
Stellenbosch Wine Festival dates and times:
Thursday, 30 July, Wine Connoisseurs Evening: 4pm - 9pm @ R150 (tickets are limited)
Friday, 31 July: 4pm - 9pm @ R100
Saturday, 1 August: 11am - 5pm @ R120
Sunday, 2 August, Family Day: 11am - 4pm @ R100
Golden Pass: valid all four days @ R300
Venue: Paul Roos Centre on the corner of Piet Retief and Suidwal Streets in Stellenbosch.
Tickets are available from Computicket.
Win! Win! Win!
Win tickets to the festival and other top prizes, sms WINE to 34010 (sms cost R2). Terms and conditions apply.
For more information, contact the Stellenbosch Wine Festival on 021 886 4310 or visit www.wineroute.co.za.
