A cross between the French Fêtes des Vendanges and the Italian tradition of Festa dell’uva, the Durbanville Wine Valley’s ‘oes-af’ festivities continues the tradition of having a final send-off for summer.  

 

Hosted on eleven wine farms, the event marks the end of the grape harvest with grape gastronomy, country fare, live music, grape-stomping, hay rides in the vineyards and plenty of seasonal wines to sip.  

 

Participating wine estates are  Nitida, Meerendal,  Klein Roosboom, Hillcrest, Groot Phesantekraal Farm (Phizante Kraal Wines), Durbanville Hills, Diemersdal, De Grendel, D’Aria, Bloemendal and Altydgedacht.

 

Witness the art of wine making with knowledgeable winemakers and cellar masters and discover why the Durbanville Wine Valley won the SA Terroir Top Wine Area award for 2011. Indulge in the valley’s regional dish of lamb sosaties with barley risotto and pumpkin pickle.

 

Don’t miss out on these festival highlights:

 

Nitida does the colour green as their theme. Family fun with picnic baskets, lamb spit, treasure hunts and canoeing on the dam. Bake using grapes alongside flamboyant South African food personality and Chef, Francois Ferreira. Cool down with Sauvignon Slush.

 

Meerendal will spoil 100 energetic, amateur winemakers. Enjoy grape picking and grape stomping, just like back in the day, and get tips from cellar master Liza Goodwin. Breakfast and a vintner’s lunch will be served with a snack of mosbolletjies sold by the deli.

 

Klein Roosboom’s ‘Boogy in the Barrels’, gets visitors into the groove of the harvest with a true ‘60s diner-style day. Jive along with the jukebox and boogy till your heart’s content during grape stomping.

 

Hillcrest says ‘Bonjour, Madame et Monsieur’ with their Fun French Festival at the quarry. Say viva, la vino as you fill your own bottles of Sauvignon and Rosé from the barrel.  Le Petite Pique Nique will be sold as well as additional French cuisine.  Grape stomp the day away and taste some delicious wine.

 

Groot Phesantekraal offers picnics while enjoying Phizantekraal wines. Taste the recently launched Anna de Koning – the first chenin blanc of the Durbanville Wine Valley.  Kids can enjoy tractor rides and a jumping castle.

 

Durbanville Hills rocks to the sounds of The Jack Mantiss Band and more. Relax in the shade of the olive grove and enjoy a snoek braai with Weskus Oysters and delicious potjies. Keep the kids happy with eats, grape stomping, giant twisters and stencil art. Cellar tours are by the hour.

 

Diemersdal offers a day of family fun: croquet, boules, grape stomping, a chipping challenge and live entertainment. Food stalls and wine keep the party going. 

 

De Grendel celebrates the end of harvest with a new beginning, the opening of De Grendel Restaurant. Grape-dedicated dishes will feature, while imaginative foods will catch the essence of grape varieties in the new tasting room.

 

D’Aria allows you to enjoy a wine and grape jam pairing with roosterkoek and to taste fermenting grape juice in the tasting room. Tractor rides and natural views add to the harvest experience.

 

Bloemendal celebrates with ‘Good Times in the Vines’ where visitors can pick, stomp and braai to celebrate the harvest.  Pick your own grapes and have your personalised bottle of wine sent to you.

 

Altydgedacht embodies the spirit of the Italian Festa dell’uva. Be transported to yesteryear harvest celebrations with rural food, charcuterie and live music. Relax with a foot massage or stomp some grapes. Enjoy cellar tours, a coffee bar and a gelato stand.

 

For the Durbanville Wine Valley’s Feast of the Grape festival programme visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za/

All bookings must be made with the farms directly.

 

 

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