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Summer is finally on its way and
Capetonians are looking forward
to long, lazy weekends spent
soaking up the sun.
I would like to tell you about
some great events and festivals
coming your way in the next few
weeks, so here goes! |
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In the spirit of
the season, 94.5 Kfm and Santam are
launching the first K-Day music festival
– a full-day, live, local music festival
held at the picturesque Lourensford Wine
Estate.
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On 15
November, 12 of the hottest
local acts on the Kfm playlist
will be performing on the same
stage, to a crowd of thousands,
and you want to be a part of it.
So pack a
picnic, load your family and
friends into the car, lather on
the sunscreen and get ready to
enjoy the sounds of
Freshlyground, Johnny Clegg,
Watershed, Flat Stanley, Karen
Zoid, The Parlotones, Thabo
Mdluli, Dr Victor Jamali, Emo
Adams, Jody Williams and Denim. |
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“I’m so excited
about K-Day,” said Ian Bredenkamp, Kfm
programming manager, “it’s a great way
to showcase the best that Cape Town, and
the local music industry, has to offer.”
The organizers are
confident that K-Day is going to be a
highlight on the summer calendar, and a
great way for locals to come together to
celebrate our magnificent area.
Tickets cost R130
and can be bought through Computicket.
The show starts at 11am and runs through
until 7pm. For more information, contact
Wim Braak at Lourensford, on (021)
847-2305.
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Keeping things local – Wijnhuis
Restaurant is hosting a wine
festival with wines from
Stellenboschkloof, Stellenbosch
Hills & Polkadraai.
The festival is taking place on
Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 October,
from 10:0 to 15:00, in the De Wet
Centre Piazzetta (the courtyard
behind the Wijnhuis Restaurant). Cost
is a R20 refundable tasting glass
fee.
Participating farms include :
Amani, Asara, Beau Joubert, Bein,
Bonfoi Estate, Boschkloof, De Toren,
DeWaal, Gilga, Jacobsdal, Jordan,
Kanu, Neethlingshof, Overgaauw,
Raats, Reyneke, Saxenburg,
Skilpadvlei, Wedgeview & Zevenwacht.
For more information, contact Allan
Ware on
allan@wijnhuis.co.za, or 082
515-8184. |
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Wine lovers
should not miss out on the
inaugural Rola Motor Group “Foot
of the Helderberg Festival”
which takes place along the R44
between Stellenbosch and
Somerset West from Friday 10
October to Sunday 12 October.
Twenty of Stellenbosch’s top
wineries are participating in
the festival which takes the
form of tailor-made events and
programmes at each of the
wineries. Tickets cost R50 each
and can be purchased at any of
the participating wineries.
Funds raised will be donated to
the Round Table, Somerset West.
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Highlights include :
Friday 10
October
Golf day, 12:00
The festival tees
off with a golf day
at Stellenbosch Golf
Club, with fantastic
prizes on offer.
Players will be able
to taste wines at
each hole during the
tournament. Four
balls costs R2000
which includes a
goodie bag on
arrival,
halfway-house lunch
and a three course
dinner. The evening
will be rounded off
with an auction of
sporting items, as
well as Festival
Magnums produced
from wine
contributed by
participating
wineries.
“Os-innie-bos” at
Annandale Winery,
19:00
Friday has been set
aside for the
“Os-innie-bos” party
at Annandale Winery,
with Hempies du Toit.
Except for the ox,
lambs and pork on
the spit, various
veggies, salads and
breads will be
available. Music and
a dance floor will
round off the
festivities, with a
cash bar for thirsty
guests. The cost is
R180pp, and guests
are asked to bring
their own fold-up
chairs or blankets. |
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Saturday 11 October
Mountain Bike Race in the
Helderberg, 08:45
A mountain bike race, taking
participants along the foot of
the Helderberg, starts at
Eikendal Vineyards at 08:45 on
Saturday morning. The cost is
R60 per adult and R30 for
children under the age of 12.
The more experienced riders will
compete over a distance of 45km,
while a 15km course is available
for those who just want to have
some fun.
Somerset College Family Fun
Festival, 12:00
Somerset College is hosting a
variety of fun events from
12:00-20:00 on the school
grounds close to the R44.
Entrance fee of R50 includes a
raffle ticket to win a Quad
Bike. Stalls with a variety of
goodies, food, a beer garden, a
fashion show for teenagers and a
Battle-of-the-bands competition
for High Schools in the region
are on the menu. There will also
be rides, games, a slide-course
and music throughout. Well-known
chefs will entertain guests with
a “Celebrity-Chef-Cookout”.
Supervision for children is
available. For more info, e-mail
festival@somcol.co.za
Sunday 12 October
Foot of the Helderberg Fun
Walk, 09:00
Participants can enter a 5 or
10km walk, for which they will
receive a medal on completion.
This beautiful route takes
walkers along the foot of the
mountain & through various wine
farms. Cost is R60 per person,
and R30 for children under the
age of 12.
Music under the oaks at
Eikendal Vineyards, 16:00
Enjoy a lazy late afternoon
under the oaks at Eikendal with
the laid-back sounds of the
Jesse Jordan band. Guests can
bring their own picnic baskets
or order from the farm’s
restaurant, Harald’s. Entrance
fee is R60 per person or R30 for
children. A parking and shuttle
service is available from
Somerset College to Eikendal on
the Sunday.
Participating wineries are:
Dornier, Blaauwklippen,
Stellenzicht, Kleine Zalze
Wines, Annandale, Alto Estate,
Bilton, Rust & Vrede, Ernie Els
Wines, Guardian Peak, Hidden
Valley Wines, Uva Mira
Vineyards, Eikendal Vineyards,
Somerbosch, Longridge, Ken
Forrester Wines, Grangehurst,
Peter Falke Wines, Webersburg
Wines and Avontuur Estate.
For the full programme check out
the website
www.thewesterncape.co.za. |
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Alluvia Boutique Winery &
Guest House in the beautiful
Banhoek Valley will host its
annual 'GIVE ME A CHANCE'
Trust Fund dinner on Friday,
10 October 2008 in
aid of this awe-inspiring
charity.
The "Give Me a Chance" Trust
Fund was started in October
2004 by Delarey and Sandie
Brugman of Alluvia Boutique
Winery & Guest House in an
effort to make a tangible
contribution in the future
of a community. The project
aims to create a turning
point for promising
youngsters. Ten learners
from Kylemore Secondary were
selected based on their
academic and sporting
abilities as well as
attitude. The Trust works to
help these children realise
their dreams by raising
funds for scholarship
programmes as well as
establishing a network of
strong role models to mentor
these children. All proceeds
go directly towards the
children's school and hostel
fees, school clothing, books
and sport equipment. Not
only do the learners receive
the necessary support to
achieve on academic and
sport levels, but they also
have the chance to fulfill
previously unreachable
dreams.
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According to
trust guardian
Delarey Brugman,
the current
group of
learners has
amazing talents
and he's
confident that
they will
achieve great
things if only
given the
chance. "Since
the inception of
the trust four
years ago, we've
witnessed the
incredible
transformation
that this fund
has affected in
the lives of
these young and
promising
children.
Research has
shown that the
development of a
child from
underprivileged
status into a
commercially
active
individual
results in the
betterment of at
least 12 other
people from his
or her
community.
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Although Kylemore has some
of the poorest people in our
country, it is also home to
a talented group of learners
who dare to dream and are
willing to work hard at
achieving their goals," says
Brugman, who strongly
believes that the future of
any country depends on the
holistic education of its
youth.
The "Give Me a Chance" Trust
Fund dinner will take place
on the Estate. The function
will include a
mouth-watering three-course
meal compliments of Knights
Catering, a performance by
local group Zamar, top wines
hand selected from Delaire,
Alluvia - ilka, Zorgvliet,
Clouds, Boschendal, Tokara,
Thelema, Camberley,
Vriesenhof, Knorhoek,
Froggit & Vonkel and more as
well as amazing lucky draws.
A limited amount of tickets
are still available, for
bookings please contact
Renee on (021) 865-2030 or
mail
admin@peridot.co.za
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Stellenzicht, legendary Pinotage
producer with an impressive
record of five ABSA Top 10
awards, is offering wine lovers
the rare opportunity of tasting
10 vintages of this proudly
South African home grown
varietal, at a food and wine
evening in the cellar on
Saturday, 1 November. Winemaker
and recognised Pinotage master
Guy Webber, with a personal
tally of seven ABSA Top 10
wines, will team up with the
“Grand Dame” of South African
Cookery, Topsi Venter, to create
an unforgettable experience. The
vertical tasting comprises 10
Stellenzicht Golden Triangle
Pinotage vintages from 1998,
when the first Pinotage was made
on the estate, until 2007.
“I believe that one of the most
important factors in being
successful as a wine producer is
a "pedigree" or track record.
When it comes to Pinotage,
Stellenzicht has, over a
relatively short period, built
up a solid reputation for this
variety,” said Guy, who
considers Pinotage his absolute
favourite varietal. |
After the 10 vintage tasting,
guests will be treated to a
hearty three course Pinotage
inspired dinner in honour of
Professor Perold, the father of
Pinotage. From smoked snoek in a
Pinotage vinaigrette and Beef
served with red cabbage in a
Pinotage reduction, to Pinotage
and pepper ice cream, this will
be a celebration of a true South
African original.
At R350 per person for the 10 vintage
tasting and three course dinner, it is a
Pinotage lover’s dream! The evening on 1
November, starts at 18h30 at the
Stellenzicht cellar off Blaauwklippen Road.
For bookings or further information, call
Lucille Jacobs on (021) 883-8988 or
cljacobs@distell.co.za. |
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Blaauwklippen is
one of the
oldest working
farms in South
Africa, boasting
more than 325
years of
history. The
farm is also a
pioneer when it
comes to the
making of
Zinfandel. To
celebrate the
release of their
second vintage
2008 White
Zinfandel and to
pay tribute to
beautiful and
desirable
objects from the
past, they will
be hosting a
Vintage Fair on
the 4th and 5th
of October.
The Fair will be
a festive fusion
of traditional
Cape and German
cultures.
Blaauwklippen
workers will
also use the
fair as a
platform to sell
their handmade
crafts. Some of
these items
include wire
cars, swings,
bead work,
wooden crosses,
wreaths, and
much more! |
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Activities at the farm
during the fair will
include: Coach rides,
antique carriage exhibition,
traditional Paulaner Beer
Garden, exhibition of
yesteryear artisan talents
of a farrier and black
smith, activities for
children, live music,
special wine tastings at the
wine centre, traditional
menu at the Blaauwklippen
restaurant, antique and
collectables fair in the
Manor House, as well as an
exhibition of vintage cars.
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DATE: |
Saturday & Sunday 4 & 5
October 2008 |
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TIME: |
From 10:00 |
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ENTRANCE: |
R10 per car, proceeds
will go towards
establishing an
aftercare facility for
school going children to
complement the existing
crèche. |
For more
information, visit
www.blaauwklippen.com, or
call (021) 88-0133. |
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Stellenbosch Wine Routes’
members performed very well
at the 12th annual
Michelangelo International
Wine Awards. The results
were announced at a
glittering gala event at the
Lord Charles Hotel in
Somerset West on 13
September 2008. |
The Stellenbosch Wine
Routes Golden Oldie Award was won by the Nuy
Winery Volsoet Rooi Muskadel 1987. A
Stellenbosch producer, Blaauwklippen, won
the Laker & Le Roux Most Innovative Wine on
Show Trophy with their BVS Malbec Noble Late
Harvest 2007. 41 wines were awarded Double
Gold, 10 being Stellenbosch wines, which
include : Bergkelder Fleur du Cap Unfiltered
Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Dombeya Samara
2005, Fort Simon Chenin Blanc 2007, Hazendal
The Last Straw 2005, Lanzerac Pioneer
Pinotage 2006, Neethlingshof Lord Neethling
Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2007,
Stark Condé Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon
2006, Stark Condé Cabernet Sauvignon 2004,
Stellenzicht Cellarmaster’s Release Shiraz
2004, and Tokara Zondernaam Cabernet
Sauvignon 2005. Well done to all our
producers!
In accordance with the rules of the
Michelangelo International Wine Awards a
maximum of 30% of the entries may be awarded
a medal which adds to the prestige of a wine
bearing a Michelangelo medal. For more info,
visit
www.michelangeloawards.com
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I would like to use this
opportunity to welcome the new chairperson
of the Helderberg sub-route to her position.
The election of Nicole Arnold, marketing and
sales manager at Uva Mira Vineyards, as
chairperson of the Helderberg, and Margi
Hoffe of Bilton Wines as vice-chair, now
puts the reins for the promotion of this
sub-route of the Stellenbosch American
Express® Wine Routes firmly into the hands
of women.
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Arnold started her career
in the wine industry as tasting room manager
at Lourensford in 2004. Hoffe is currently
marketing manager at Bilton Wines and has
worked for some top wineries, mostly in the
Helderberg area. “I see
huge opportunities for the farms to grow
together into a cohesive unit which reflects
the vibrancy of the area,” says Arnold. “We
have superb wines, incredible views, with
wonderful people offering stunning
hospitality. These areas will be highlighted
and developed even further by the executive
committee.” |
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For more
information, contact Nicole on
hwr@mweb.co.za,
or phone (021) 880-1683. |
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Enjoy the warmer months ahead, get out
and explore our beautiful region. There
is more than enough to choose from! And
remember ... think quality, drink
Stellenbosch!
Until next time!
Annareth Jacobs
CEO Stellenbosch American Express®
Wine Routes
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