The Durbanville Wine Valley is celebrating the annual wine grape harvest with a weekend-long harvest festival during the long weekend of 18 March.
In addition to out-of-the-ordinary wine tastings from tank samples to older vintages, there will be blend-your-own-wine opportunities, a range of dining options from tapas and picnics to a traditional spitbraai and more formal offerings, a true farm-style market, and several live music shows.
The region is also well-known as a hub for avid walkers and mountain bikers, epicureans and parents seeking plenty of run-around space for the kiddies.
Here are what you can expect from each Harvest Festival host from The Durbanville Wine Valley:
Durbanville Hills
Durbanville Hills will host barrel tastings, a market, live music and picnics in its programme. Barrel tastings will take place at its Tangram restaurant, with lunch and dinners served from 18 to 20 March. A tasting of six wines will be available for R105pp.
Brandon-Lee Hunt will keep visitors entertained with live music on Sunday, 20 March.
Picnics will be available from Saturday to Monday during this period. Priced at R500, the picnics will be dispensed on a first come-first served basis and include a charcuterie and cheese board for two, a bottle of Durbanville Hills wine and a dessert platter. A market will also be hosted in the wine cellar, on Saturday and Sunday and feature a variety of independent farm and artisan vendors. Entrance to the market is free of charge.
The winery is open Friday 1oam- 5pm, Saturday 1oam-4pm, Sunday 11am-4pm and Monday 10am-4pm. To book, call (021) 558 1300.
Diemersdal
Diemersdal will host a tapas menu inspired by Sauvignon blanc. With every main meal ordered at lunch and dinner, you get a complimentary glass of 2022 Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc.
The offering is available on 18-20 March, with a different tapas offering on Sunday. Notably, the complimentary wine is among the first of the latest vintage Sauvignon Blancs to be released. The winery will also be open from 12pm to 3pm on 21 March. Reservations should be made via www.diemersdal.co.za.
De Grendel
The De Grendel winery has compiled a series of out-of-the-ordinary tasting tours consisting of a cellar tour, wine tastings, cheese board and snacks-for-two and a blending experience where you can make your own wine. As added motivation, the best wine to be produced will receive a special prize.
The tours are available on 19 and 20 March at 10am. They’re limited to 16 guests, in four groups of four per tour. The cost is R300pp. To book, email tristan@degrendel.co.za.
Meerendal
Meerendal winery is offering a true wine-lover’s experience that provides an early-bird view of the latest harvest. The guided tour will take you to the cellar, giving you the opportunity to taste young white wines from their tanks and red wines that have just been transferred to barrels. Your guides will be winemaker Thys Smit, viticulturist Damien Cadle and Cape Wine Master, Bennie Howard. A hearty brunch will be followed by a young-wine tasting to prepare you for a tutored tasting of the Meerendal bottled wine range presented by the same team of experts.
The unique, three-hour tasting and brunch event takes place on 19 March only, starting at 9.30am. The all-inclusive cost is R350pp.
Bookings are essential as only 20 seats are available. Contact Rene Francis to book on tasting@meerendal.co.za.
For more information about Durbanville Wine Valley, go here. Wines of the region are available here.
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