The theme was black and white and it also has quite a smart feel. This year we were told by the farms that peoples’ behaviour was very good and there was no drunkenness. The weather on Saturday was apparently cooler, but Sunday was a scorcher and we would love it if the festival was moved into November, because drinking bubbly outside (under marquees) in 39ºC is not great. Lynne takes a portable fan with a mist spray and just survived. They had a food area where local restaurants provided snacky food and we were a little disappointed at the choices this year, as we thought them rather unadventurous. We had lovely ciabattas from Haute Cabrière restaurant: one stuffed full of smoked salmon & avo puree and the other filled with lamb confit and salad.
Perhaps, with the recession, they feared that people would not buy much, but they did. You could also buy bottles and cooler bags and find a table and sit down to lunch with your friends. Some people did leave the festival at lunch time for a proper lunch in a local restaurant and then came back for the afternoon.
John Loubser, Silverthorn MCC
Steenberg, with enthusiastic young presenters
Allan Mullins, South Africa's Mr Champagne
Villiera Tradition and Monro and Domaine Grier, always a popular choice
Weltevrede came from Robertson
and My Wyn
Johan Kruger showed his Astra MCC
The best looking menu on show
Thank heavens for the umbrellas, but we missed the mist sprayers from earlier years
There were competitions for best dressed people, couples and teams
Achim von Arnim of Pierre Jourdan, in philosophical mood
Young ladies like sharing fun with their dads
JP Colmant was there with his MCC and champagnes
Wine and women, the songs came later
Carl, Mount Nelson sommelier in enthusiastic discussion about Laborie's new range
The Huguenot Monument, an appropriate site for the festival
