Magic of Bubbles sure to sparkle tions. Well-known local MCC producers at the Festival include Pierre Jourdan, Morena, Môreson, La Motte, Boschendal, Leopard’s Leap, Noble Hill, Plaisir de Merle, Anthonij Rupert Wines, Graham Beck Wines, Krone, Pongracz, Simonsig, Steenberg Relax in the and Villiera. grand marquee Some of situated on the France’s best lawns surrounding Fransch- The Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagnes will be reprehoek’s iconic Champagne Festival will again be sented by Huguenot Mon- taking place in style in November brands such as ument or engage with winemakers as they present Piper Heidsieck, Champagne Guy some of South Africa’s finest Méth- Charbaut and Veuve Clicquot. Bread & Wine, The SalmonBar, ode Cap Classiques (MCC) and France’s best Champagnes. Comple- Haute Cabrière, Le Franschhoek, menting the selection of bubblies L’Ermitage, Restaurant at Grande are mouth-watering delights of- Provence and Mont Rochelle are a fered by the local restaurants that few of the restaurants showcasing have firmly entrenched their menus during the festival. The theme for this year’s festival Franschhoek’s status as one of the world’s premier culinary destina- is black and white, with an empha-
End the year off on a high note at this year’s Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival ‘The Magic of Bubbles’, presented by MasterCard, which takes place over the weekend of 29 and 30 November.
Last year’s champagne festival sis on Panamas and Parasols. In keeping with tradition, a prize will be awarded to the best-dressed couple on each day. Tickets cost R200 per person and include access to the festival, which is open daily between 12:00 and 17:00, a complimentary tasting glass
and tasting coupons. Additional vouchers can be purchased on the day. Children under 18 years will be allowed free entry to the festival. Book directly through www.webtickets.co.za, but hurry, as tickets are limited. Use your MasterCard payment card to pay and receive a
10% discount on your ticket purchase, as well as a 10% discount on purchases made at the festival. For more information and regular updates visit www. franschhoekmcc.co.za or follow them on Twitter @Franschhoek_SA.
Have an affair with Lourensford
Enjoy a meal at Mellasat Vineyards while sipping white pinotage.
Popup restaurant at Mellasat Take this unique opportunity to enjoy exquisite fine dining with a backdrop of the scenic Klein Drakenstein Mountains near Paarl. Mellasat Vineyards is known as the “home of the white pinotage” for creating the world’s first white wine out of South Africa’s own grape variety. The spring seasonal Pop-Up Restaurant will soon be upon us and Mellasat will be offering another fine dining experience to remember. Freshly prepared by international chef Janet Richardson,who will use local and seasonal ingredients, specifically sourced for their innovative menu.
Opening times for the restaurant will be Saturday 1 November for lunch 12:00 – 15:00 and dinner from 18:00 – 21:30, and Sunday 2 November lunch only from 12:00 – 15:00. Priced at R220 for two courses or R295 for three courses, the menu will have a choice of three dishes at each course, including a complimentary “amuse bouche” and “palate cleanser” at the appropriate stage. Mellasat’s excellent range of wines will be available at normal cellar door prices. Tables will be limited so book in advance. For reservations and enquiries contact Mellasat Vineyards on 021 862 4525 or email tanya@mellasat.com
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Make the most of the fabulous weather and head out to Lourensford Wine Estate for the inaugural A Food and Wine Affair over the weekend of 15 and 16 November (10:00 to 18:00 on Saturday, and 11:00 to 17:00 on Sunday), with something for mom, dad and the kids. Lourensford, in association with Checkers, will be pulling out the stops to ensure activities and entertainment for the whole family. Boasting a sprawling lush green lawn, this world-renowned wine estate set in the heart of Somerset West is the perfect place for kids to run around carefree, or indulge in one of the many fun-filled activities like the jumping castles, face painting, inflatable hop-on animals, trampolines, an obstacle course, tractor rides, a water slide, and so much more. And while the kids are being kept busy, mom and dad can sip, sample and savour the superb local wines, micro breweries, cocktails or delicious bubblies on offer. To ensure you don’t go Enjoy delectable hungry, tuck into some delectable food from the local fresh produce exhibitors who will help create the perfect neighbourhood farm setting. A food truck (or two), the latest trend to hit our shores, will certainly be a highlight on the day. Food on offer includes charcuterie, artisanal chocolate, sushi, nachos, schwarmas, gourmet sandwiches and hamburgers as well as ample kiddie friendly food. Renowned for their array of superb local and imported cheeses, Checkers will be displaying some of these as well as freshly baked breads at their Cheese and Bread World at the festival. With a glass of wine in hand and something to nibble on, sit back and relax, taking in the breathtaking surroundings
treats for the whole family at Lourensford while listening to the live music from popular local performers Mean Green Mamba, and Newton and Co. With perfect weather in store and something on for young and old, this is one event you don’t want to miss, and what better way to support the community. Tickets, which include entry and a complimentary tasting glass, cost R80 per person and can be purchased directly from Computicket. Kids under 18 enter for free. ) Five lucky readers can each win a double ticket to the Food and Wine Affair on Sunday 16 November. Just SMS the name of the estate to 37405 before Friday 7 November.
Enjoy a taste of Paarl On Saturday 22 November, Paarl will be sprucing her feathers for the first Proe Paarl festival in the town’s famous main road. We The festival organisers invite you to this daylong indulgence in awardwinning wines, sumptuous treats, live music and ambient tranquillity. Proe Paarl is a celebration of the flavours of Paarl. It is a showcase of the best Paarl has to offer, including its world-renowned wines, delicious local foods and talented artists and crafts from the community. Paarlites live in a place that is humble about its achievements and history, where family and friends enjoy the beauty and splendour of their surroundings and embrace those who wish to explore and get to know the valley. Being aware of and thankful for their heritage involves more than knowing that Afrikaans got its voice here, that the town boasts the oldest
church in the Cape Winelands or that it was home to the wagon making industry. It is also about the heritage of South African wine, one of the country’s key export products, that started in Paarl. The best way to spend time with friends is around a table with lovely wine and wonderful food under the old oak trees. On 22 November you can do just that when the flavours of Paarl will be celebrated at a key
What’s On
Enjoy a glass of ice cold chenin blanc this summer with Swartland.
Chenin blanc: Enjoy the best of the Swartland Chenin blanc is as much part of the South African landscape as braaivleis, rugby and sunny skies. It’s not only one of the very first wine grape varieties ever planted in the country, but is also still the most planted variety. To celebrate this icon of the South African wine industry, the Swartland Wine Region has decided to host a special Chenin Blanc Day on Saturday 15 November in Cape Town. This popular and versatile white wine will be celebrated with a gastronomical picnic buffet lunch between 10:00 and 16:00, with wine stalls and roaming musicians on the lawns of the old Cape manor house, Welgemeend, in the heart of the city. Inside the manor house, two rooms will be used for more formal wine
tastings. The programme for the day includes Swartland Chenin Uncorked (an informal talk about the various styles and the versatility of chenin blanc), a wine and chocolate tasting and a wine and olive tasting. The cherry on top of the day’s festivities will be a tasting of the 2014 Standard Bank Top 10 chenin blancs as judged by the Chenin Blanc Association. A limited number of celebration passes are available for the Swartland Chenin Blanc Day at R160 per person, which includes a wine tasting glass, a picnic lunch and tasting coupons. Although tickets will be on sale at the entrance, people are advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment. Bookings and enquiries can be made at swartlandinfo@westc.co.za or 022 487 1133.
) On 1 November food and wine lovers will be offered SA’s finest se lection of craft beer, gourmet street food and sublime wines and live mu sic at Somerset Mall. Festivities be gin at 12:00 until 18:00. Tickets are R100 including a free beer glass. For bookings visit www.iTick ets.co.za. ) If you love the smell of braai meat and the taste of the finest sparkling wines, then Bubbles & Braai on 8 November at the Grande Roche Ho tel is the event for you. Guests will taste the celebrated Cap Classique wines paired with mouthwatering braai dishes. There is something for everyone’s taste buds, from seafood to traditional steaks, ribs and chops. As the name implies, you are in for no ordinary evening! The culinary alchemy of Michelin trained Execu tive Chef Roland Gorgosilich has changed the way braaiing is done. For bookings and enquiries contact Christine on 021 863 5100 or christine@granderoche.co.za. ) Winelands Vitamins presents an other fun weekend with Create Your Plate and Eat It. Be the artist and the chef while en joying food and wine in the lap of luxury in the Tuscany of South Africa Wellington. Over a twoday period, participants can look forward to being mentored by Gerard Swart and Anthony Har ris of Ceramic Matters in idyllic sur roundings, literally creating their
own plate.The following day you will create a mouthwatering three course meal with the help of master Johan van Schalkwyk, which you will then eat off your plate. For more information contact gal ery@breytenbachsentrum.co.za or 083 415 0002. ) Vondeling Family & Wine Festival takes place at this Paardeberg estate on 22 November. Join in on a relax ing day with live music, kids enter tainment, craft and jewellery stalls, local home made treats and much more. And of course Vondeling’s awardwinning wines will be on sale at bargain cellar door prices. En trance is R80 per person (children under 18 free) and includes a crystal wine glass and tasting of nine Von deling wines. For tickets go to www.webtickets.co.za. ) BC Wines near Worcester will be hosting a funfilled family day on 29 November. Activities include wine blending, where visitors get the op portunity to blend their own wines, a Kokkedoor cooking demo by chef JF van der Westhuizen and a potji
landmark, the longest main road in South Africa. More than 15 wineries will be participating along with several top restaurants. The timing is perfect for some Christmas shopping in a relaxed festival atmosphere. If you are not a shopper, you can relax under the oak trees, glass in hand, while enjoying the live performances. The R120 entrance ticket includes a tasting booklet and a wine glass. Also, don’t miss the festival special - for every 5 bottles of wine you buy you will receive the 6th bottle for free. As a token of their appreciation to fellow Paarlites, the organisers offer you a R20 discount on your entry ticket. Discounted tickets can be bought at Paarl Tourism, 216 Main Road, Paarl. Bring along your Drakenstein Municipal account or any other proof of residence to qualify for the discount. No more than two tickets per customer. Come and celebrate the Flavours of Paarl!
ekos competition. For the more ener getic, there will be a fishing competi tion and a MTB cycle race. There will be plenty of stalls selling jewellery, clothing, fresh produce and scrumptious food. And for the youngsters there will be much enter tainment such as a paintball course and tractor and wagon rides. ) It’s that legendary time of year again when South Africa’s largest and most comprehensive Festival of Beer returns for the fifth consecutive year to Hamilton’s Rugby Club on 2830 November! Look forward to hundreds of local and international beers on show, delicious food stalls, kiddies play ar eas, live entertainment, food and
beer pairings, homebrewing dem onstrations, beer tours and most im portantly sample all beers on show for free! Children (013yrs) are R50 and there will be plenty of parking avail able on the day. Private tables avail able for bookings, contact in fo@capetownfestivalofbeer.co.za
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