From a fierce tiger to the Hairy Fairy...the 7th annual Bot River Barrels & Beards showcase ignited a winelands party like no other when it toasted the new harvest of local wines stemming from this distinct valley in hairy fashion at Barton Vineyards on 22 April.
This hip and hirsute party once again welcomed a cool crowd to barrel tastings of the latest and older vintages from this laid-back yet prized wine region known for its pioneers and mavericks, to give guests a true taste of the Botriviera from vineyard to glass.
“More than an occasion to, ahem, let hair down, our Barrels & Beards highlights the vineyards of the valley that give rise to our unique wines and shines the spotlight on every individual who contributed, explains Kobie Viljoen, Chairperson of the Bot River Vineyards Association.
Each year this event also looks to the future with a ‘Best of Bot’ wine auction of rare and unusual experiences and special vintages to benefit the children of Bot River through various school-level educational projects in the region.
Some of the desirable items that went under the hammer at this year’s hairy hullaballoo included two cases of the 5-star Platter Hope Marguerite from Beaumont Estate; an all inclusive Gabrielskloof Weekend for two; a sip and stay at the luxury Barton Villas; a Wildekrans weekend experience complete with fine dining and vino, and an Overberg whole lamb courtesy of Villion wines. Enthusiastic visitors to the occasion brought their A-Game on the evening and a total of R100 000 was raised.
But...the hairy highlight of the evening was the infamous Beard Parade, famed for its great mirth, when earnest judges crowned Peter Allan Finlayson of Gabrielskloof Estate as the 2017 Best Bot Beard champion. He flaunted his whiskers as a bright eyed and busy tailed Tiger and had the roaring audience on their feet with his svelte stage moves.
Some of the other guises on stage included a quick-witted Chuck Norris, hunky David Beckham, the Botriver Rapper, Beauty and the Beast, the Hairy Fairy, G.I. Beau, Abe Lincoln and the ex-presidents, and the Beer Brew Guru from Honingklip.
“This celebration of the humble beard near the conclusion of our annual grape harvest, began by quite accident. During harvest, there’s little time for shaving; all it took was for me to raise a challenge: who’s the hairiest of them all? Now winemakers of our close-knit wine region deliberately undertake a self-imposed shaving ban during the harvest period which gave rise to our Barrels & Beards festival and Beard Parade. I must admit more than a few have grown accustomed to the fuzzy features that annually appear in the mirror,” quips Luddite winemaker Niels Verburg who added some magic to the spectacular with his fairy wings.
It was in 2010 that Verburg first declared the challenge never before heard in these parts. He cast a steely eye at his colleagues across the valley and dared them to a grand and glorious Bot River clash of beards. The challenge has stuck.
“Once the grapes are in – and to the delight of every partner, no doubt - the shaving ban ends. But not before the barrels are rolled out for a homegrown harvest party and the shaggy growth goes on display,” explains a now clean shaven Verburg.
Producers that took part in the 2017 Barrels & Beards celebration were Barton, Beaumont Family Wines, Eerste Hoop, Gabriëlskloof, Genevieve MCC, Goedvertrouw Wine Estate, Luddite Wines, Paardenkloof Estate, Rivendell Estate, Thorne & Daughters, Villion Family Wines and Wildekrans Boutique Wine Estate.
The evening ended with a delicious feast of the valley, made with all things lekker and local, after which the guests danced the night away in true ‘Bot River opskop’ fashion.
Bot River lies a mere one hour’s drive up the N2 highway from Cape Town. A divine country getaway, the quaint region is famous internationally for its community of free-thinkers who are responsible for some of South Africa’s most outstanding wines. Often mistakenly under estimated, Bot River is also renowned for its conservation initiatives.