The Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival 2014

This festival offers wine enthusiasts and leisure seekers the chance to enjoy the beauty of the Elgin Valley, while also discovering a vast variety of fine wines from a unique wine route that lies just an hour outside of Cape Town. Festival-goers can look forward to a day filled with fine wines, good food and plenty of entertainment for all ages.

The Elgin Cool Wine & Country festival has been divided into three sections: morning, lunch and afternoon, starting from 9.30am and coming to an end at 5pm. Each estate offers not just the chance to explore the wines produced, but also the rich culture and heritage that is part and parcel of the Elgin Wine Route.

The morning session runs from 9.30am to 11.30am and all the estates participating in the festival will be open for tasting. Visitors are able to move freely from one estate to the next.

A unique lunch experience

The lunch session is from 11.30am to 2.30pm. This session consists of each estate offering a unique lunch experience, highlighting their estate and wine selection. Visitors select the lunch destination and offering they like and book accordingly. Bookings are essential via the Elgin Valley Wine Guild Website www.elginwine.co.za. Space is limited per estate and prices will vary per estate offering.

The afternoon session is 2.30pm to 5pm. All participating estates are open for wine tastings. Visitors can move freely between estates. There will also be different kinds of entertainment provided by participating wineries during the day that appeals to all ages, from live bands to amazing art collections, tractor rides and kiddies playgrounds. During the pre-booked lunch session, visitors can choose from a number of estates to enjoy a world-class dining experience, explore the estate grounds and even meet the renowned wine maker or estate owner.

Elgin is the coolest wine growing region in South Africa, with a high altitude and climate conditions that allow grapes a longer hanging time on the vines. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, the lush green valleys of this region offer the ideal place to grow fresh produce such as pears, apples and grapes, which adds even more appeal to this already distinctive wine region.

The Elgin Valley is also known for its wide range of adventure sports, which include everything from 4x4 wine tours to mountain biking, quad biking, kayaking and many other activities.

For wine lovers and those in need of a rewarding day out, Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival offers the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to indulge in a memorable day of wine, entertainment and spectacular natural beauty. Day passes can be purchased at any participating wine farm on the day of the festival for just R50 per pass; however lunch sessions are pre-booked in advance. Please note that the festival promotes designated drives and the responsible use of alcohol.

Go to www.elginwine.co.za for further information on lunch session bookings, wine estates and varietals produced across the Elgin Wine Route. Tickets will go on sale on 28 March, 2014.