Hands-on magic in Robertson

With harvest time around the corner, it is time to make plans to head out to the Robertson Wine Valley to experience the “magic of harvest”. This year's Hands-on Harvest will be taking place from Friday, 26 February, until Sunday, 28 February 2010, and promises to offer a wide variety of activities that will appeal to wine lovers and budding vintners.

A sampling of the myriad of activities on offer at the 2010 Hands-On-Harvest allows you to:

• Experience the excitement of harvesting your own grapes
  
• Master the art of wine-making
  
• Enjoy a sumptuous farm breakfast while overlooking the vineyards
  
• Take a breakfast boat trip on the Breede River
  
• Make a family event of grape-stomping
  
• Adopt a vine and make your own barrel of wine
  
• Take part in a wine-tasting on horseback or by horse and cart
  
• Take a tractor trip through the vineyards and experience the landscape from a different vantage point
  
• Picnic in the vineyards
  
• Relish an abundant “harvest lunch” while sipping on the fizz of award-winning bubblies
  
• Be treated to an engaging discussion on Grape vs Wine and discover the difference between grapes, and the corresponding wine flavours
  
• Learn the ins and outs of Graping in the Kitchen, and make verjuice, moskonfyt, cordial and vinegar
  
• Enjoy live entertainment in the vineyards
  
• Shop at leisure and spoil yourself at the Harvest Market
  
• Be educated through informative talks and demonstrations
  
• Savour cocktails at leisure in the vineyards
  
• Treat yourself to spa-vine therapy, using only grape-seed products
  
• Indulge yourself at the Harvest Spit-braai
  
• Relish a delicious, bountiful Harvest Dinner prepared by a master chef.

As some of the wineries participating in Hands-on-Harvest are not ordinarily open to the public, the focus will be on hosting a series of intimate events. This ensures that guests enjoy the best, most personalised and hands-on experiences.

Programme

Go to www.handsonharvest.com for the programme of activities (which includes contact details for participating wineries).

Bookings

Book directly. All Bookings to be made with participating wineries by no later than 24 February. Payment is required in advance.

Accommodation

Visit the web-based regional brochure, www.robertsonwinevalley.com, for accommodation options.