John & Lynne Ford’s Main Ingredient list of Special events with wine and/or food connections. (Click on the bold highlights to
access websites for more information)
Events
are listed in the order in which they will occur, starting with the most
imminent date.
Note: These
events are published with information provided by the event organisers or their
representatives. John & Lynne Ford and their businesses cannot be held
responsible for any incorrect or misleading information and receive no
remuneration for this service
AUGUST
Friday, 8th
August at 20h00 CELEBRATIONS WITH PRETTY YENDE at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. A programme of familiar
opera favorites and some lighter classics with South Africa's international
Opera sensation, Pretty Yende! Including students from the University of Cape
Town music school and directed and accompanied by Professor Kamal Khan
(Director of the UCT Opera School). The concert celebrates the growing
operatic talent in South Africa, and in particular, Pretty Yende's wonderful
successes to date. The concert is a fundraiser for Diemersfontein's
"Excellence out of Africa Trust" - which supports talented graduates
at the beginning of their careers. Ticket prices range from R150 to R500
(complimentary Diemersfontein & Thokozani wines will be served at interval,
and the R500 tickets include an after party with light snacks and the
opportunity to meet the artists) Tickets are limited - and available at Computicket
Friday, 8th to
Sunday, 10th August ROBERTSON SLOW
time will go by exceptionally slowly in the beautiful Robertson Wine Valley
when the 7th Robertson Slow will take place.
26 Wineries and Guesthouses from Ashton, Bonnievale, McGregor and
Robertson will welcome visitors into
their homes, to their dining tables and onto their farms for a food & wine
experience - enjoyed SLOWLY. Guests can look forward to dinners at the homes of
our winemaking families, cooking traditional Robertson Country Fare such as
Waterblommetjie Bredie, "melktert", venison and Karoo Lamb. As always
wine will be central to the weekend and you will have ample opportunity to meet
with our winemakers to taste and discuss their wines. The weekend will also
include some great options where you can learn to make pasta or gnocchi, taste
wine from grape specific glasses or learn to play poker! Other activities will
include Horse Riding, Boat Cruises and Fynbos and Renosterveld Walks as well as
vineyard tours. On Sunday, 11th August, join us for our 6th annual Regional
Food Market where local foodies & cooks alike bring the finest from their
kitchens. With live music and plenty of food, this is one of the highlights of
the weekend and not to be missed! This weekend is definitely a must for the
wine lover who prefers to take the slower lane - but please do not wait too
long to book
your tickets as they are limited.
Sunday, 10th
August from 10h00-14h00 Regional Food Market @ Klipdrift Farm - Join
us for the 6th Regional Food Market. This market takes place only ONCE a year
to coincide with the Robertson Slow. Fruit & Veggies | Organic Produce |
Fresh Meat | Olive Products | Dairy | Baked Goods | Flower & Garden | Pasta
| Food on the Go | Drinks & Cordials | Condiments & Preserves. With
live music, enough to eat and drink and some seating, this is the perfect
excuse for a family day out in the Robertson Wine Valley. Directions: From
Robertson, take the R317 towards Bonnievale (turn right at the circle); cross
the railway line; soon after turn right onto a gravel road (look for signage
that says Majors Hill or Constitution Road); approximately 150m further, you
will see the market on your right.
Saturday,
16th August 11h00-17h00 Simonsig’s
Vintage Wine Day.
Taste and buy rare vintage wines and enjoy a family day out, filled with hearty
food, music and children’s activities at Simonsig’s Vintage Wine
Day. With wines dating back to the early 90’s, you can enjoy
Cellarmaster Johan Malan’s private selection at superb prices. Besides the rare
chance to taste and buy these older vintages, visitors will have the
opportunity to attend a Master Class by Simonsig Cellarmaster Johan Malan and
winemaker Hannes Meyer, who will lead a tasting showcasing older Kaapse
Vonkels, wooded Chenin blanc, the Tiara red blend and Johan’s Heirloom
Shiraz... Entry
fee: R150 pp. Simonsig Wine Club members: R120 pp. Tickets can be bought from WebTickets.
SEPTEMBER
Saturday, 13th September 12h30 to 19h00 Pinotage on Tap - Jo’burg, 2014 at Val Bonne
Country Estate, Modderfontein Reserve, 1 Arden Road, Conservation Park (GPS:
-26.089202, 28.147573). Bands: December Streets, Monarch and Daniel Baron.
Festival Pass includes: Entry, free-flowing wine on tap & meals. Ticket
prices: R 370 (Festival pass only), R 840 (Festival pass + case of Pinotage), R
1290 VIP Ticket (Fest Pass + VIP Seating + After party) No under 18's. Tickets at Computicket - No tickets at gate
Wednesday
17th to Saturday 20th September AGRI MEGA WEEK 2014 from 09h00 to 17h00 (Wednesday until
Friday) and 08h00 to 16h00 (Saturday) at Mega Park, Bredasdorp will not only be
attended by more than 14 African agricultural delegations and decision makers,
but also host the 2014 Jersey National Championship and the 2014 Dorper
Championship. International conferences will be hosted by both the Jersey- and
Dorper Breeders Associations. Theme: "Focus
on Africa". Our 6000m² BKB exhibition hall is extended by an additional
2000m² with the brand new Voermol Wing ready for the 2014 Agri Mega Week
Showcase, to complement our existing array of premier undercover and outdoor
infrastructure and undercover exhibition space on 28 hectare Mega Park,
Bredasdorp. However with more than 20 000 visitors experienced on average over
the past two years even this additional space seems to be insufficient for the
current demand by exhibitors and participants. Space is indeed limited as we
wish to accommodate your unique requirements. Since 1992, we have developed our
expo as an informative, educational and unveiling event and platform for
innovation, the latest technology, equipment, products, services and current
topical agricultural and rural debating and workshops. AGRI MEGA WEEK is indeed
the ultimate showcase of the genuine character of agricultural production and
life in the rural areas. Share your showcase with your target audience at the
largest agri expo in southern South Africa - this is the ideal platform where
exhibitors and advertisers can reach their respective target markets. With our
focus firmly on Africa AGRI MEGA WEEK 2014 is drawing global attention to the
imperative position of the continent in food production for the world's growing
population. Farmers, smallholders, manufacturers, suppliers, delegations,
stakeholders, farm workers, authorities and consumers are excited and can
hardly wait to enjoy in excess of 400 exhibitions, debates, workshops,
demonstrations, fresh farm produce, competitions, family fun and much more. To
ensure your participation at Agri Mega Week 2014 reply NOW! Enquiries should be
directed to Reinette Basson, Client Services Manager - Mega Events, Agri Mega
Investments (Pty) Ltd. Phone: +27 21 863
0397, Fax: +27 86 425 1068, Email: eventsadmin@agrimega.co.za. Website: www.agrimega.co.za
Saturday, 27th
& Sunday, 28th September Franschhoek Uncorked. Get into the swing of spring and sample superb wines at this
year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival, over the weekend of 27th and
28th September. Wineries in and around the Valley will be putting out the
stops showcasing limited releases wines and possibly a new release (or two). Don’t miss out on the wine specials either, valid
for the weekend only. The perfect excuse to stock up on your wine collection as
you travel from farm to farm. Choose to stop and
sample wines or take in the entertainment and activities on offer at some of
the farms. Look forward to cellar and vineyard tours, food and wine pairings,
art exhibitions and live entertainment. Get your Uncorked Weekend Pass,
at a cost of R120 per person, and available directly from www.webtickets.co.za. Your pass includes a
tasting glass and free wine tastings at the participating wineries for the
duration of the weekend. For more info contact the Franschhoek Wine Valley
offices on 021 876 2861 or visit www.franschhoekuncorked.co.za for further details
and a list of participating farms. For regular updates follow us on Twitter @Franschhoek_SA.
Saturday,
27th September SHEEP RACING, WINE
TASTING AND BRING-AND-BRAAI AT DORAN VINEYARDS’ OPEN DAYS. At
Doran Vineyards in the Voor-Paardeberg, five tame sheep earn their living in a
unique way. Rambo, Sid, Lucky, Séan and Alice are regularly decked in colours
then, lured by offers of food, run an 80-metre course while spectators shout
encouragement from the sidelines. “The
last race was spectacular,” says farm manager Basson Potgieter of the most
recent Doran Vineyards Sheep Derby. “Sid was right at the back but at the last
minute he overtook the field and won by half a length!” Two years ago, these
five Île-de-France lambs, born on the farm between Wellington and Malmesbury in
the Western Cape, were rejected by their mothers – something that isn’t unusual
among sheep – and taken in by Basson and his wife. And while hanslamme
(Afrikaans for orphaned or tame sheep) do make charming pets, these lovingly
hand-reared specimens became the basis for a stable of racing sheep. “Basson is
already raising two more orphans from this year’s breeding season,” says farm
director André Badenhorst, the brains behind the Sheep Derby. André – whose
impeccable farming credentials include the iconic Buitenverwachting and
Constantia Uitsig farms in Cape Town – is a great fan of this particular breed
of sheep, which are farmed for both wool and meat. “I’ve seen sheep-racing elsewhere but not in South Africa,” he
says. “The next step is to get the sheep used to having jockeys on their
backs,” he adds – the “jockeys” being knitted teddy-bears. The Doran Vineyards
Sheep Derby takes place on the farm’s open day on the last Saturday of each
month from September 2014. Visitors can roam the 180 ha property, which is home
to the rest of the flock of Île-de-France sheep (currently 200, but with the
aim of increasing this to 500 ewes), 60 Aberdeen Angus cattle and a large flock
of chickens, and just under a third of which is planted with vines.
Award-winning winemaker Martin Lamprecht produces both the flagship Doran range
of three reds, a white and a rosé, and the Horse Mountain range. All are
available for tasting and purchase at the open days, and André encourages
visitors to bring along picnics or meat for a bring-and-braai. Irish-born, London-based Edwin Doran,
the other half of the Doran Vineyards partnership, describes the goal of this
family farm as “To have fun and enjoyment in everything we do and to share that
pleasure with as many people as possible.” And, with the Sheep Derby, this is
certainly what they’re doing. Visitors
to Doran's Sheep Derby are invited to donate generously to the SPCA Wellington
on the day. For a quick view on what to expect at the Doran Vineyards Sheep
Derby, please follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWvGMGh7Rc&feature=youtu.be Doran Vineyards is situated off the R45,
Voor-Paardeberg Road, Paarl 7630. To arrange a personalised tasting email deidre@doranvineyards.co.za
or call 27 21 869 8328. For more
info visit http://doranvineyards.co.za
OCTOBER
Thursday, 2nd October
from 10h00 to 21h00 CWG Golf Day at De Zalze Golf Course, Stellenbosch.
Bookings & Enquiries: Please contact
the CWG Office.
Price: R2 800 per team (4 players in a
team). The Cape Winemakers Guild Golf Day offers golf enthusiasts the
opportunity of rubbing shoulders with some of the country's finest winemakers.
The day includes on arrival snacks, a halfway house lunch and dinner enjoyed
with superb Guild members' wines. Wonderful wine prizes to be won. The CWG
Sports Day is sponsored by Consol Glass.
Saturday, 4th October
12h30 to 19h00 Pinotage
on Tap - Durban, 2014 at The Litchi Orchard, Seaforth Drive, Salt
Rock, Durban (GPS: -29.285968, 31.134348). Bands: Redlight Stereo and Daniel
Baron. Festival Pass includes: Entry, free-flowing wine on tap & meals.
Ticket price: R 310 (Festival pass only), R 780 (Festival pass + case of
Pinotage), R 80 (Under 18's) Tickets at Computicket - No tickets at gate
Saturday, 4th October
09h00 to 15h00 (Collection of bidder's paddles from 08:00). Nedbank Cape
Winemakers Guild Auction at Spier Conference Centre, Stellenbosch.
Recognised as South Africa's leading wine auction and open to the wine trade
and general public, the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction offers rare wines
with a creative edge and great diversity of style. All the wines are crafted
exclusively for the Auction by members of the Guild in small lots, representing
the pinnacle of what can be achieved in South African winemaking. Pre-Registration is essential and first-time
bidders will be requested to pay a refundable deposit of R5 000. Online, telephonic and proxy bidding options
are also available for those unable to attend the Auction. Book your Auction Week Accommodation at
Spier. Frans Smit, Cellar Master of Spier and proud Cape
Winemakers Guild member, invites all guests attending the 2014 Nedbank Cape
Winemakers Guild Auction week to enjoy a special discounted rate at the Spier
Hotel. Please note there are very limited spaces available so book early to
avoid disappointment! Check out the CWG Blog
for more information on these special rates and how to book. Bookings &
Enquiries: Please contact the CWG Office
Saturday, 11th October
12h30 to 19h00 Pinotage on Tap - Cape Town, 2014 at
Diemersfontein Wine Estate, R301 Jan Van Riebeeck Drive, Wellington, Western
Cape (GPS: -31.428663, 18.808594). Bands: Lucy Kruger, Farryl Purkiss and
Daniel Baron. Ticket price: Festival Pass includes: Entry, free-flowing wine on
tap & meals. R 370 (Festival pass only). R 840 (Festival pass + case of
Pinotage). No under 18's. Tickets at
Computicket - No tickets at gate. Transport: FS Tours - Be Responsible &
"Take the Bus" to POT. Collection points and times on Saturday 11th
October: 10h00: Newlands Swimming Pool -
10h30: Water Taxi parking lot (just past City Lodge on left hand side entering
the V&A Waterfront from the Conference Centre side) - 11h00: Canal Walk
entrance 2 - 11h30: McDonalds Tygervalley. Proceed to Pinotage On Tap,
Diemersfontein Wine Estate, Wellington! On departure: Please note that
the busses will leave at the the advertised time. We cannot wait for
latecomers. On return: The busses will leave at 19h15. There will be no
earlier busses and we cannot wait for anyone that is late. Please look after
valuables as the bus drivers cannot be held responsible for anything that is
lost. No smoking or drinking on busses. Please return on the same bus that you
departed on. Payment: Email norm@fstours.co.za for payment details
Friday, 17th to
Sunday,19th October Join us in Spring
2014 for the Robertson Wine on the River
Festival.
The Robertson Wine Valley brings a spring Experience on the banks of the Breede
River! This idyllic open-air wine festival takes place on the banks of the
Breede River at the Goudmyn Farm between Robertson and Bonnievale. Just imagine
a setting with the river flowing by, vineyards all around, beautiful hills and
shading poplar trees. Add to that live
music, plenty of wines to taste, BIG SCREEN RUGBY, picnics and other local
produce – and you’ve got yourself a spring festival not to be missed! Cost and Bookings here
Saturday,
25th October SHEEP RACING, WINE
TASTING AND BRING-AND-BRAAI AT DORAN VINEYARDS’ OPEN DAYS. At
Doran Vineyards in the Voor-Paardeberg, five tame sheep earn their living in a
unique way. Rambo, Sid, Lucky, Séan and Alice are regularly decked in colours then,
lured by offers of food, run an 80-metre course while spectators shout
encouragement from the sidelines. “The
last race was spectacular,” says farm manager Basson Potgieter of the most
recent Doran Vineyards Sheep Derby. “Sid was right at the back but at the last
minute he overtook the field and won by half a length!” Two years ago, these
five Île-de-France lambs, born on the farm between Wellington and Malmesbury in
the Western Cape, were rejected by their mothers – something that isn’t unusual
among sheep – and taken in by Basson and his wife. And while hanslamme
(Afrikaans for orphaned or tame sheep) do make charming pets, these lovingly
hand-reared specimens became the basis for a stable of racing sheep. “Basson is
already raising two more orphans from this year’s breeding season,” says farm
director André Badenhorst, the brains behind the Sheep Derby. André – whose
impeccable farming credentials include the iconic Buitenverwachting and
Constantia Uitsig farms in Cape Town – is a great fan of this particular breed
of sheep, which are farmed for both wool and meat. “I’ve seen sheep-racing elsewhere but not in South Africa,” he
says. “The next step is to get the sheep used to having jockeys on their
backs,” he adds – the “jockeys” being knitted teddy-bears. The Doran Vineyards
Sheep Derby takes place on the farm’s open day on the last Saturday of each
month from September 2014. Visitors can roam the 180 ha property, which is home
to the rest of the flock of Île-de-France sheep (currently 200, but with the
aim of increasing this to 500 ewes), 60 Aberdeen Angus cattle and a large flock
of chickens, and just under a third of which is planted with vines.
Award-winning winemaker Martin Lamprecht produces both the flagship Doran range
of three reds, a white and a rosé, and the Horse Mountain range. All are
available for tasting and purchase at the open days, and André encourages
visitors to bring along picnics or meat for a bring-and-braai. Irish-born, London-based Edwin Doran,
the other half of the Doran Vineyards partnership, describes the goal of this
family farm as “To have fun and enjoyment in everything we do and to share that
pleasure with as many people as possible.” And, with the Sheep Derby, this is
certainly what they’re doing. Visitors
to Doran's Sheep Derby are invited to donate generously to the SPCA Wellington
on the day. For a quick view on what to expect at the Doran Vineyards Sheep
Derby, please follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWvGMGh7Rc&feature=youtu.be Doran Vineyards is situated off the R45,
Voor-Paardeberg Road, Paarl 7630. To arrange a personalised tasting email deidre@doranvineyards.co.za
or call 27 21 869 8328. For more
info visit http://doranvineyards.co.za
NOVEMBER
Saturday, 29th
November SHEEP RACING, WINE TASTING AND BRING-AND-BRAAI AT DORAN
VINEYARDS’ OPEN DAYS. At Doran Vineyards in the
Voor-Paardeberg, five tame sheep earn their living in a unique way. Rambo, Sid,
Lucky, Séan and Alice are regularly decked in colours then, lured by offers of
food, run an 80-metre course while spectators shout encouragement from the
sidelines. “The last race was
spectacular,” says farm manager Basson Potgieter of the most recent Doran
Vineyards Sheep Derby. “Sid was right at the back but at the last minute he
overtook the field and won by half a length!” Two years ago, these five
Île-de-France lambs, born on the farm between Wellington and Malmesbury in the
Western Cape, were rejected by their mothers – something that isn’t unusual
among sheep – and taken in by Basson and his wife. And while hanslamme
(Afrikaans for orphaned or tame sheep) do make charming pets, these lovingly
hand-reared specimens became the basis for a stable of racing sheep. “Basson is
already raising two more orphans from this year’s breeding season,” says farm
director André Badenhorst, the brains behind the Sheep Derby. André – whose
impeccable farming credentials include the iconic Buitenverwachting and
Constantia Uitsig farms in Cape Town – is a great fan of this particular breed
of sheep, which are farmed for both wool and meat. “I’ve seen sheep-racing elsewhere but not in South Africa,” he
says. “The next step is to get the sheep used to having jockeys on their
backs,” he adds – the “jockeys” being knitted teddy-bears. The Doran Vineyards
Sheep Derby takes place on the farm’s open day on the last Saturday of each
month from September 2014. Visitors can roam the 180 ha property, which is home
to the rest of the flock of Île-de-France sheep (currently 200, but with the
aim of increasing this to 500 ewes), 60 Aberdeen Angus cattle and a large flock
of chickens, and just under a third of which is planted with vines.
Award-winning winemaker Martin Lamprecht produces both the flagship Doran range
of three reds, a white and a rosé, and the Horse Mountain range. All are
available for tasting and purchase at the open days, and André encourages
visitors to bring along picnics or meat for a bring-and-braai. Irish-born, London-based Edwin Doran,
the other half of the Doran Vineyards partnership, describes the goal of this
family farm as “To have fun and enjoyment in everything we do and to share that
pleasure with as many people as possible.” And, with the Sheep Derby, this is
certainly what they’re doing. Visitors
to Doran's Sheep Derby are invited to donate generously to the SPCA Wellington on
the day. For a quick view on what to expect at the Doran Vineyards Sheep Derby,
please follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWvGMGh7Rc&feature=youtu.be Doran Vineyards is situated off the R45,
Voor-Paardeberg Road, Paarl 7630. To arrange a personalised tasting email deidre@doranvineyards.co.za
or call 27 21 869 8328. For more
info visit http://doranvineyards.co.za
DECEMBER
Saturday, 27th
December SHEEP RACING, WINE TASTING AND BRING-AND-BRAAI AT DORAN
VINEYARDS’ OPEN DAYS. At Doran Vineyards in the
Voor-Paardeberg, five tame sheep earn their living in a unique way. Rambo, Sid,
Lucky, Séan and Alice are regularly decked in colours then, lured by offers of
food, run an 80-metre course while spectators shout encouragement from the
sidelines. “The last race was
spectacular,” says farm manager Basson Potgieter of the most recent Doran
Vineyards Sheep Derby. “Sid was right at the back but at the last minute he
overtook the field and won by half a length!” Two years ago, these five Île-de-France
lambs, born on the farm between Wellington and Malmesbury in the Western Cape,
were rejected by their mothers – something that isn’t unusual among sheep – and
taken in by Basson and his wife. And while hanslamme (Afrikaans for
orphaned or tame sheep) do make charming pets, these lovingly hand-reared
specimens became the basis for a stable of racing sheep. “Basson is already
raising two more orphans from this year’s breeding season,” says farm director
André Badenhorst, the brains behind the Sheep Derby. André – whose impeccable
farming credentials include the iconic Buitenverwachting and Constantia Uitsig
farms in Cape Town – is a great fan of this particular breed of sheep, which
are farmed for both wool and meat. “I’ve
seen sheep-racing elsewhere but not in South Africa,” he says. “The next step
is to get the sheep used to having jockeys on their backs,” he adds – the
“jockeys” being knitted teddy-bears. The Doran Vineyards Sheep Derby takes
place on the farm’s open day on the last Saturday of each month from September
2014. Visitors can roam the 180 ha property, which is home to the rest of the
flock of Île-de-France sheep (currently 200, but with the aim of increasing
this to 500 ewes), 60 Aberdeen Angus cattle and a large flock of chickens, and
just under a third of which is planted with vines. Award-winning winemaker
Martin Lamprecht produces both the flagship Doran range of three reds, a white
and a rosé, and the Horse Mountain range. All are available for tasting and
purchase at the open days, and André encourages visitors to bring along picnics
or meat for a bring-and-braai. Irish-born,
London-based Edwin Doran, the other half of the Doran Vineyards partnership,
describes the goal of this family farm as “To have fun and enjoyment in everything
we do and to share that pleasure with as many people as possible.” And, with
the Sheep Derby, this is certainly what they’re doing. Visitors to Doran's Sheep Derby are invited to donate generously
to the SPCA Wellington on the day. For a quick view on what to expect at the
Doran Vineyards Sheep Derby, please follow the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaWvGMGh7Rc&feature=youtu.be Doran Vineyards is situated off the R45, Voor-Paardeberg
Road, Paarl 7630. To arrange a personalised tasting email deidre@doranvineyards.co.za
or call 27 21 869 8328. For more
info visit http://doranvineyards.co.za
