SENSORY OVERLOAD PLANNED FOR HELDERBERG WINE FESTIVAL

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Strawberries & bubbly, chocolates & coffee, home-crafted goodies, great Italian, interesting Thai - all set to the sounds of laid-back jazz, classical harp music or up-beat pop - await visitors at the second Rola Motor Group Helderberg Wine Festival.
 
With 28 wineries participating in the beautiful setting of the Helderberg region,
between Stellenbosch & Somerset West from 22-25 October, highlights are:
 
TASTE WINE ON HORSE BACK WITH HEMPIES DU TOIT
Drop in at Annandale wines at 08h00 on Sunday morning and set off on your own horse with the man himself on a wine tasting tour through the vineyards. Grooms will be transported between wineries to look after the horses. Start off with a champagne breakfast, taste wine, enjoy the activities at each winery, and end off with a braai. R100 per adult and R50 per child.
To book and for more info, contact Sonja at 082-559-7565.
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ASPARAGUS FESTIVAL OR A SPIT BRAAI AT DORNIER
Don’t miss the “Big White Asparagus” festival at Dornier over the weekend. A whole menu of delectable treats await the connoisseur – and if you’re more into the carnivorous side of the spectrum, book now for their gourmet spit braai on Saturday.
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JAK DE PRIESTER AT CROYDON
Singing sensation, Jak de Priester is presenting two intimate shows at Croydon on Saturday. Brunch or dinner included.
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VERTICAL WINE TASTING AT GRANGEHURST
Enjoy a personalised vertical tasting experience of Grangehurst wines from 1995-2001 with winemaker Jeremy Walker on Saturday from 10h30 at this boutique winery. Lunch included.
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ART IN THE VINEYARD AT JACANA
Relax into Saturday afternoon in the gorgeous outdoor setting at Jacana Guest Farm. Local art exhibition and the mellow sounds of classical harp music combined with a buffet lunch will soothe the soul.
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ARCHERY AT KEN FORRESTER
Tutored archery experience at this fantastic winery with all equipment provided. Bring friends and participate in the fun bulls-eye shootout. (Proceeds to Pebbles). Enjoy a bottle of wine and a cheese platter afterwards.
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MUSIC, FOOD STALLS & FREE KIDDIES ACTIVITIES AT SOMERBOSCH
Jo Martin and his band will entertain patrons on Saturday with Newton Theron and his merry men setting the tone for Sunday. Great eats, a personalised vertical tasting in the family cellar, lots of strawberries and a new Rosè bubbly round off the offering.
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SUNDOWNER VENUES WITH A VIEW.
Longridge Winery is the place to be on Friday afternoon for sundowners and live music with Uva Mira’s Altitude tasting room offering the best view in the Helderberg and gourmet cheese platters on Saturday from 17h00 onwards.
 
LIVE MUSIC & STALLS AT BILTON WINES
Bilton Wines once again has a packed weekend programme of activities (food, stalls, kiddies entertainment & wine tastings) with live music by local artists throughout Saturday. The highlight is Saturday evening’s performance by the A Capella group “D7” from 19h00.
 
DINNER, BONSAI & ART AT POST HOUSE
Book now for an intimate dinner with winemaker Nick Gebers and his wife Tracey (who is a gifted chef) at Post House on Saturday night. Throughout the weekend home-crafted goodies, art and Bonsai will be on show and for sale.
 
DISCOVER THE HIDDEN GEMS
Romond Wines (with Helderberg boutique producers Miravel & Heron Ridge) will be on hand for tastings in their secluded cellar from Thursday with a great programme of activities on Sunday.
Kleinood, just up the road from Dornier has great wines in a spectacular setting and offers well-known La Masseria products to still those hunger pangs. Yonder Hill is intimate and relaxed with lots of affordable and unusual food items on offer and their Saturday night potjiekos event, is nearly fully booked! Stonewall just across the road on the R44 is the place for picnics with an Italian flavour, has lots of space for kids to run around and offers the chance to blend your own wine under the expert eye of the winemaker.
 
For more info on the programme, participating wineries, costs (if relevant) and times, check out the website at www.helderbergwinefestival.co.za or purchase a festival
pack at any participating winery from Thursday, 22 October.