The
Festival was at the top of the main road and next to the Huguenot monument. The
layout was very impressive this year. The marquees were much wider and there
seemed to be so much more space. Finding a seat, however, is still as difficult
as people reserve empty seats for ages while their friends do the
rounds tasting, leaving others standing around. There was lots of food from the
top restaurants, pulled pork seemed to be the dish of the day from many. And
the wines from Franschhoek can be very impressive
An avenue of Tricolor flags
We hear Saturday was full, they sold 4000 tickets.
Sunday is always more relaxed, more of a family day. And lovely in the warm
sunshine
The tents were buzzing too
And if you had not got the message that everyone is
supposed to dress up in Red White and Blue there was this stand to sell you the
appropriate merchandise
Straight to the busy Cabrière stand
where we met up with Achim von Arnim, Patriarch of
Cabrière, for a chat and a glass of their Belle Rose MCC
Achim, with Carina Bouwer, enjoying life in his starred and striped red
white and blue waistcoat
Lynne with suitable attire and a moustachioed
wineglass
If you could toss a “quoit" (actually a roll
of gaffer tape) well enough, Linda Coltart gave you a prize. Some families did rather too well
at this and nearly cleared them out of soft toys. The proceeds went to a local
charity. Nice action shot John!
She did but he didn't want his photo taken
Chef Neil Jewell of Bread and Wine restaurant
manfully slicing his excellent charcuterie for their platters. He does this
nonstop for the entire festival as the platters are very popular
L’Ormarins poured us a taste of their MCC
The belles dames, Kathy van Niekerk and
Marguerite Nel, on the Boschendal stand with their chilled wines
And at Black Elephant's stand, partners Kevin
Swart (Black in Afrikaans) and Raymond Ndlovu (elephant in Nguni) were having
fun
We liked their wines and their charming labels:
Timothy White (a Viognier) and Nicolas Red (a blend) are self explanatory.
Named after Kevin's two sons, Timothy is the hare and Nicolas the Tortoise
Partner and winemaker Jacques Wentzel, also enjoying
the day
It is always a very happy, well organised festival
Children are welcome and there is lots for them to
play on
Nice use for used corks
Chilling with some wine as the afternoon wears on
And a familiar face, Jacques Roux of Douglas Green Bellingham
There was a band and lots of dancing
Two chefs comparing notes on how the day went:
Chris Erasmus of Foliage and Neil Jewell of Bread and Wine
Fun and fame in the sun
Vogue poses!
© John & Lynne
Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2016
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