As the only wine-producing country in the world that can pinpoint the exact start of our industry, we're excited to celebrate the birthday of South African wine on 2 February 2024! “Today, praise be to God, wine was made for the first time from Cape grapes,” Jan van Riebeeck wrote in his diary on 2 February 1659.
A birthday well worth celebrating, the wine industry annually hosts birthday parties and harvest festivals around this time. Here's a roundup of exciting events to attend in honour of #HappyBirthdaySAWine.
The famous Stellenbosch Harvest Parade is returning to the streets of South Africa’s wine capital at the end of January. The parade sees farmers, workers and wine lovers mount colourful floats and paint the town red to herald towards another fruitful wine grape season. And you’re invited! Join in the human train through the historic streets of Stellenbosch, experience the blessing-of-the-harvest ceremony, and share the joy of the year’s harvest.
Click HERE to find out more.
A fun family feast awaits at Delheim Wine Estate’s harvest festival on 27-28 January. The most exciting part of the Harvest Festival is the opportunity for visitors to harvest their own grapes in the vineyard. Guests will snip off the ripe grapes and stomp them to remove the juice – just as was the case in the early days of wine-making. For a bit of added fun, guests can compete in a set of harvest challenges and embark on a tractor drive through the farm. Lunch will be a traditional winelands harvest spread at the Garden Restaurant. There will also be live music to add to the ambience.
Click HERE to book.
Harvest has arrived! And with it comes the most popular and cherished event on Lomond Wine Estate: Blessing of the Harvest. Expect an incredible afternoon with the winemakers, Anné van Heerden and Trevor DeRuisé, like you’ve never experienced before. Guests meet up at the Lomond tasting room where they'll board boats and head 3 km up the dam to the most secluded venue on the farm. Fynbos all around you and vineyards in the distance, you'll be greeted here with a glass of bubbles. Anné and Trevor will each present 4 of their own special/limited releases, including both Lomond and LOST BOY wines (8 in total). You'll then be treated to lunch on the shores of the dam.
Click HERE to book.
The Wine Harvest Commemorative Event is the cornerstone of #HappyBirthdaySAWine. This annual event, taking place at Groot Constantia Estate, marks the birth of South African wine and pays tribute to the country’s rich wine heritage. The event, importantly, pays tribute to the individuals who have made extraordinary strides towards the success of South African wine – and over the years, many greats have been recognised, including Nelson Mandela. Attend virtually or in-person. Virtual attendance is free, while in-person attendance costs R1 150 per person and includes a sit-down dinner with entertainment.
For more information or to book, email event@sawineharvest.co.za.
Join La Motte for a harvest experience and share in the excitement of harvest time on a historic wine estate. Enjoy a tour of the vineyards and cellar and try fermenting grape juice from the tanks. Walk through the beautiful summer gardens to taste the estate’s latest vintages in the Historic Cellar, accompanied by the optional Taste of the Harvest platter (R150 for two). End off the experience with the breakfast or lunch in the La Motte Bakery and Garden Café.
Click HERE to book.
Join One&Only Cape Town, in partnership with Wesgro, in celebration of South Africa wine's 365th birthday. The hotel will feature a series of exceptional wines from 14 estates as they consider a story that has unfolded over nearly four centuries. There will also be a feast of culinary delights to pair with the wines on offer. The unique sounds of local band Acoustic Element will provide the soundtrack as the sun sets and the lights of the city start to twinkle. Good wine, good food and smooth sounds in one of Cape Town’s most elegant venues – it promises to be a celebration to remember.
For more details, click HERE.
With harvest 2024 now underway, it's with great excitement that Diemersfontein is bringing you their Harvest Experience. This event is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a real harvest experience and get a glimpse into what their winemaking team gets up to during this exciting time of year. Join them for an evening of celebration! The event will start off with a tour of their wine cellar, followed by a wine tasting in the vineyards, and round off with a two-course meal, including a glass of wine, at Hope Restaurant.
Click HERE to book.
Mark your calendar for Saturday 3 February 2024 for the Spogwijn Oesfees! Tyrrel and his winemaking friends have lots to celebrate – years of friendship, winemaking trials, successes and tribulations, and the excitement of the first grapes of 2024. The wine brands that are part of the Spogwijn group are Joostenberg Estate, AA Badenhorst, Raised by Wolves, Newton Johnson, Beaumont Family Wines, and Miles Mossop Wines. Join the winemakers for a sunset tasting of their wines, followed by a generous summer supper served by the Kraal team. Join the camaraderie and share delicious wines and good food.
For more info, click HERE.
Zoetendal Vineyards and River Estate has a special treat for you this February: the Zoetendal Harvest Festival. Have a blast picking grapes with them, while also admiring the stunning scenery of the Overberg. Make a day of it and spend it with friends and family! The fun starts at 0700, with a warm welcome of tea and coffee. Next, Denzel Swarts, Zotendal's brand and sales executive, will do a harvest presentation, followed by grape picking. There will also be a delicious light lunch, and live music until 15h00.
Email hospitality@zoetendal.co.za for booking and queries.
Come and pick your own Hanepoot grapes at Lourensford in Somerset West, fresh off the vines. Bring your own scissors and containers (if possible), lather on sunscreen, put on a hat, and join Lourensford for this fun harvesting event. It's something foferfect for the whole family to do!
For more details, phone 021 847 2200.
All roads lead to the Durbanville Hills Harvest Tour 2024. Attend this event to celebrate the journey from vine to wine with a personalised harvest experience at Durbanville Hills. Join on a Wednesday or Thursday evening or spend your weekend in the company of fine wine as the cellar will open its doors for a sneak peek behind the harvest scene and what it takes to make their award-winning wine. The harvest tour includes a cellar tour and must tasting; a wine blending session; and a two-course dinner paired with Collectors Reserve wines. Book your ticket and celebrate the harvest with Durbanville Hills!
Click HERE to book.
The 2024 harvest season at Brookdale Estate is underway, and you're invited to join in. Winemaker Kiara Scott Farmer is giving guest the opportunity to join her for a morning harvest, followed by bubbles and breakfast. The harvest breakfast at The Bistro at Brookdale Estate consists of a continental breakfast, Brookdale Eggs Benedict, and a glass of Mason Road Cap Classique.
Click HERE to book.
The 2024 harvest is well underway. Join the Vergenoegd Löw team for a celebratory evening of live local music, long tables on the lawn, farm-style fare and distinctive, terroir-specific wines. All your favourite Vergenoegd Löw wines will be on offer at exclusive harvest prices in celebration of the South African wine harvest 2024.
Click HERE to book.
Darling Cellars has been hosting guests to have some harvest fun with them since 2007. In March, it's once again time for their annual Crush Day. Celebrate the wine grape harvest with grape picking, grape stomping, tractor rides and live music. Your ticket also includes breakfast and grape must upon arrival, lunch, and a bottle of Darling Cellars wine. Plus, there will also be entertainment for the little ones!
Click HERE to book.
Celebrate the bounty of the harvest season at Rickety Bridge's Harvest Festival! Join them for a day of fun-filled activities, including unlimited wine and rugby talk with Os du Randt, bottomless wine tastings, grape stomping, wine-blending sessions, and cellar tours. Your ticket includes breakfast and Cap Classique on arrival, access to all the activities, limitless tastings, lunch, and a wine gift (2 bottles of 2024 harvest wines that will be shipped to your home when bottled). Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the magic of the harvest at Rickety Bridge.
Click HERE to book.
This March, Riebeek Valley Wine Co invites you to join them for a fun day of grape stomping. At their annual Grape Stomping competition, wine lovers get together to form stomping teams, with each team being responsible for treading their own vat of grapes. There are great prizes to be won in categories like 'best dressed team' and 'best team name'. There will be live music, delicious food, great wines, and kids entertainment (including a water slide for the little ones). It is set to be a day filled with lots of fun, so you don't want to miss it!
For more information or to book, email mignon@riebeekwineco.co.za.
In celebration of the 2024 Elgin harvest, Elgin will be hosting a festival. It is set to be a great event where you can bring your family and friends either for a day visit or a weekend getaway. What is nicer than visiting a farm to harvest your own grapes or pick your own apples! There will also be wine tasting, live entertainment, outdoor activities, and kids entertainment. A highlight of the weekend is the Medieval Harvest Banquet. Expect a good time for everyone!
For more details, email comms@elgingrabouw.co.za.
Solms-Delta Wine Company is thrilled to announce the revival of the Solms-Delta Oesfees after a hiatus of six years. This iconic festival is unique on the South African cultural calendar, bringing together farm workers and owners to celebrate their hard work and the Cape’s rich cultural heritage. Experience traditional and modern music and Kaapse kos while enjoying delicious Solms Delta wines. Prepare to be enchanted by an incredible line-up of artists, including Spoegwolf, Anton Goosen, Oom Hannes Coetzee, The Hanepoot Brass Band, Schalk Joubert, The Solms Delta Optelband, Soetstemme, and others. The Oesfees is not just a festival. It's a celebration of community, culture, and the spirit of the Cape.
Click HERE to book.
Not for sale to persons under the age of 18. Enjoy Responsibly.
