IN celebration of its variety, quiet beauty, wholesome treasures and good old -fashioned Boland hospitality, Wellington will be welcoming visitors from far and wide during the 4th Wellington Harvest Festival from 20 to 22 March.
Bring along the entire family for a laidback autumn day in the open air or hop from cellar to cellar to meet the masters behind the award-winning wines.
The Wellington wine and brandy route is compact and within easy driving distance. It contains 26 of the country’s foremost cellars, some whom during the course of 2009 have reaped many local and international awards. Although the fruit of the vine is the guest of honour, the festival remains a fabulous family affair with Wingerd Rock, game drives, wild boar on the spit, light classics under the stars, Springbok burgers, potjie competitions, grape stomping, quad bike trails and a fresh goods market specialising in local produce.
* There will be a fresh product market at Welgegund in Blouvlei on Saturday only, featuring olive and herb demonstrations, tastings and cooking demos.
* Diemersfontein presents eats and kiddies’ fun, with the departure of the Absa Cape Epic Cycling Challenge (on Saturday).
* Bring your own bike to the Bovlei Cellar, for the quad and off-road bike adventure on Saturday (R180 and R90 per passenger including festival pass).
* On Sunday enjoy music at Kleinevalleij in a picnic atmosphere: Vivaldi in the Vineyards (Camarata Tinta Barocca and Piet de Beer on violin) and Bacchus Blues with the Albert Frost Band from 17:00 (tickets R190 from www.webtickets. co.za includes picnic).
* Entertainment for young and old will be top priority at the premises of Bovlei Cellar, where a tent (hosted in co-operation with Wamakersvallei and Wellington Cellars) will provide for wine tasting that will tickle the taste buds of even the most esteemed wine lovers.
* Enjoy Doolhof’s international potjiekos competition, with live music, grape stomping, vineyard rides and competitions on Saturday, and a mountain-biking race on Sunday (from Diemersfontein to Doolhof), followed by a harvest festival party with live music and refreshments. On Monday enjoy a jazz buffet lunch on the verandah of Grand Dédale country house. Register for the cycling on the Cape Epic 2010 website.
* Relax daily in the courtyard at Dunstone Winery with the band Adagio, food and wine.
* Welbedacht presents the Stormers on the big screen on Saturday. On Sunday the rugby players will visit, and the day ends with local artists in the Wingerd Rock concert from 17:00.
* At the Breytenbach Centre, poet Breyten Breytenbach is on stage on Friday night with Laurinda Hofmeyr, and Valiant Swart performs Saturday night.
If you love the good life, enjoy the Boland and would like to sample the diverse nature of Wellington, all your expectations will be met. Visit the website www.harvestfestival.co.za for a full programme and regular update. Wristbands will be available at the Info Office or participating farms at R60. Kids under 12 enter free.
For more information, contact tel 021 873 4604 or wine@wellington.co.za.
