Here is our list of current and upcoming wine and food-related events for January. There is so much happening right now that we have split the list up into a separate list for each month. February events are here and March is here. The list may be updated at any time, so watch this space…. (Click on the underlined Green highlights to access websites for more information). We have separate lists of restaurant special offers and wine farms which offer picnics, which are updated as we receive them from the restaurants, farms or their PR agencies. We also have a special list of Valentine’s events. Click on the underlined, bold words above to access them.
Friday, 27th January: The Mount Nelson Hotel, Planet Restaurant Wine & Dine Series. Bot Rivier: Luddite (Niels Verburg), Beaumont (Sebastian Beaumont), Wildekrans (William Wilkinson). Executive Chef Rudi Liebenberg and Sommelier Carl Habel have teamed up with some of the most talented winemakers in South Africa to create the Wine & Dine Series. At each event, guests will sample wines produced in the same region and which share the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine-making savoir-faire. Wine & Dine Series Calendar: 30th March: Durbanville: De Grendel (Charles Hopkins/Elzette du Preez), Hillcrest (Graeme Read), Diemersdal (Thys Louw). 25th May Elgin: lona (Andrew Gunn), Oak Valley (Pieter Visser), Shannon Vineyards (James Downes). 31st August: Pinot Noir: Catherine Marshall Wines (Catherine Marshall), Vriesenhof (Jan Boland Coetzee), Haute Cabrière (Christiane Von Arnim). 26th October: Sauvignon Blanc: Hermanuspietersfontein (Bartho Eksteen), Strandveld Vineyards (Conrad VIok), Bramon Wine Estate (Peter Thorpe). 14th December Methode Cap Classique: Colmant (J P Colmant), Simonsig (Johan Malan), Villiera (Jeff Grier). 17th February 2013: Cederberg: Cederberg Vineyards (Dawid Nieuwoudt). 27th April 2013: Hemel-en-Aarde: Sumaridge (Gavin Patterson), Newton Johnson (Gordon and Nadia Newton Johnson), Creation Wines (JC Martin). 15th June 2013: Garagistes: Callender Peak (Johan Kruger), Scali (Willem De Waal), Topaz (Clive Torr). 28th September 2013: Cape Point and Hout Bay: Cape Point Vineyards (Duncan Savage), Hout Bay Vineyards (Peter and Cathy Roelofse). 30th November 2013: Constantia: Steenberg (JD Pretorius), Buitenverwachting (Brad Paton), Eagle’s Nest (Stuart Botha). For more details please email: restaurantreservations@mountnelson.co.za, call: +27 21 483 1948 or book online
Saturday, 28th January. Delheim Start of Harvest Festival. Get knee-deep in grape juice and family fun on Saturday 28 January at the 2012 Delheim Start of Harvest Festival. Gather from 12 noon to the tunes of a live jazz band on the shaded lawns behind the historic Delheim cellar. Sumptuous picnics featuring gourmet fare can be pre-booked, while delicious snack foods such as ostrich Panini will be on offer at farm stalls throughout the day. A competitive grape stomp relay event will be held at 15h00 to entertain the adventurous with fantastic prizes up for grabs. Tickets will be restricted to 130 guests at R50 per adult, which includes a glass of partially-fermented grape must and a traditional sweet mosbolletjie. Entry for children and to the grape stomp relay will be free. Picnics are available at R130 per adult and R65 per child and takeaway foods will be on offer throughout the day. Bookings are essential, via http://www.blogger.com/delheim@delheim.com, http://www.blogger.com/www.delheim.com or cal 021 888 4600.
Saturday, 28th January: Tantalising Summer Series of Tapas & Jazz at Hartenberg continues with Cape Dutch Connection. Hartenberg Wine Estate presents another summer of mouth-watering Saturday Tapas & Jazz evenings with an outstanding line-up of top local artists including Manouche and Cape Dutch Connection until March 2012. To add a new spin, this year’s lineup will also feature artists from a variety of other music genres, such as the well know South African rock group the Jesse Jordan Band. Ticket price is R150 per couple for the evening. The cover charge includes a bottle of outstanding Hartenberg wine to start the evening on a festive note. Tantalizing tapas platters will be available all evening at between R35 and R80. Additional wine can be purchased at cellar door prices. Further jazz and tapas evenings take place from 16h00 - 20h00, on the following dates: – 11th February: Natasha Meister Band – 25th February: Manouche – 31st March: Cape Dutch Connection. For bookings, call +27 21 865 2541, Email: mailto:info@hargtenbergestate.com or visit http://www.hartenbergestate.com/. You can also purchase your tickets through http://www.webtickets.co.za/. Hartenberg Estate is situated on the Bottelary Road off the R304 to Stellenbosch.
Tuesday, 31st January. Mon Plaisir @ Café Chic Soirée exceptionnelle le 31 janvier 2012: David (Mon Plaisir - Franschhoek) et Françoise (Café Chic - Cape Town) ont le plaisir de vous proposer une soirée "Saveurs de France" à Café Chic (Gardens) avec un menu spécial: David (Mon Plaisir - Franschhoek) and Françoise (Café Chic - Cape Town) are pleased to announce you an special evening of "flavors of France" at Café Chic (Gardens) with a special menu: Tartare de Thon ou/or Oeuf meurette - Onglet aux échalottes ou/or Grand Aïoli (Kingklip) - Tarte Fine aux Pommes. Menu 3 courses à R220 par personne - hors boisson. Pour les amateurs de jeux de cartes, la soirée se poursuivra avec au choix Tarots ou Poker. For fans of card games, the evening will continue with the choice of Tarot and Poker. Café Chic, 7 Breda Street - Gardens, Cape Town. Réservations indispensables : http://www.blogger.com/francoise@cafechic.co.za / 071 495 4852
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICETapas Sundays at Holden Manz in Franschhoek. Every Sunday from 11h00 till 17h00 this summer until the end of March: Chill out on Sundays amidst the Franschhoek vines and live la dolce vita with tapas, wine and lounge music at Holden Manz, the magnificent boutique wine estate nestled between two rivers with majestic mountain views. Join tapas lovers on the vibrant cellar terrace for a wide selection of tapas dishes. Better still, start with tapas and stay for a more substantial lunch at the Franschhoek Kitchen, the Holden Manz signature restaurant situated above the cellar. The tapas menu, created by Chef Bjorn Dingemans, who joined the Franschhoek Kitchen after honing his craft working alongside some of the finest chefs in London, changes weekly and includes all the favourite classics. From patés, risotto balls, crispy squid and artisanal cheeses to a double shot of watermelon gazpacho, the tapas dishes are priced between R20 and R40. Enjoy this array of tastes with Holden Manz wine by the glass at R25 or R90 per bottle to share with friends. With house music creating just the right chilled out vibe, this is the perfect summer escape to laze away your Sundays. For Sunday Tapas or bookings at the Franschhoek Restaurant, Call 021-8762729, email wayne@holdenmanz.com or visit www.holdenmanz.com. To reach Holden Manz, turn right at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek and follow the signs for two kilometres.
Friday Sundowners in the Tasting room at De Grendel 17h00 till 20h00. Make the best of summer sunsets. L’Heure bleue - the hour of blue. This is how the French describes the period when the sun has set, due to the wonderful quality of the light. Now imagine celebrating this special time of day on a Friday at De Grendel as the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean and Robben Island. From November onwards you can make sundowners part of the rhythm of your week: a glass of exquisite De Grendel wine and a nibble in hand, the picturesque view of Table Mountain and a week-end to look forward to. What more can you ask for? Cost: R100 per person. This includes a welcoming drink by De Grendel Wines and canapés prepared by our guest chef. These flavour-packed bite-sized morsels might just be enough to replace dinner, depending on your appetite. Contact Christelle at 021 558 6280 or Christelle@degrendel.co.za for more info or to book.
