Stellenbosch Wine Festival returns in 2014

According to Annareth Bolton, CEO of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes, the 2014 festival promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Not only about wine

"The Stellenbosch Wine Festival is not only about wine, it is about the Stellenbosch lifestyle. It is therefore very appropriate that the festival coincides with the annual harvest. This is a unique opportunity to experience what Stellenbosch is all about - the history, the people, the wines and great food. It is also about engaging with local communities and giving something back to these communities," mentions Bolton.

The jam-packed festival line-up includes a harvest parade, a street fest in the historic Church Street, speciality tastings and tours, cultivar showcases, dine in the vine encounters, art exhibitions, special events as well as winery experiences and restaurant promotions. The ten-day wine spectacular culminates in a three-day wine expo in the centre of town.

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival Wine Expo will once again be hosted on Die Braak in the heart of the city of oaks from 31 January to 2 February. The venue will be transformed into an open-air lounge with over 60 winery stands offering wine tastings, a Pick n Pay Fresh and small producers market and live entertainment.

For the duration of the festival, wine lovers will also be able to enjoy dedicated American Express Winery Experiences at close to 80 wineries in the region, while the American Express Wine & Dine programme will feature some of the award-winning restaurants in the Stellenbosch region offering special festival menus and promotions.

Other lifestyle activities

On 25 January, the Pick n Pay Women's Walk will take to the streets of Stellenbosch in aid of breast cancer awareness and prevention. This initiative forms part of the Stellenbosch Wine Festival's community involvement programme and will also see a mobile unit engaging with women from local disadvantaged communities to offer free mammogram screenings and health education.

Sports enthusiasts also have something to look forward to with the Grape Golf Challenge taking place at De Zalze golf estate on 31 January.

Proceeds from various events taking place during the Stellenbosch Wine Festival will once again be donated to the Stellenbosch Wine Festival Foundation. The funds are utilised for bursaries for underprivileged young students, whose parents work within the wine industry.

According to Steyn Momberg of WorldSport, the promotion and staging partner of the festival, "The festival is being repositioned to become the ultimate South African wine festival for the domestic and international market. The event provides an ideal platform to showcase the products of the Stellenbosch American Express Wine Routes' members and their partners to local, national and international customers and to promote the Western Cape, Stellenbosch and Stellenbosch wine."

Various ticket options are available from www.pnptickets.co.za.

For more, go to www.stellenboschwinefestival.co.za, www.facebook.com/StellenboschWineFestival or follow @StellWineFest on Twitter.