It’s harvest time in the Winelands! As the chugging of heavy-laden tractors echoes through the Winelands, many a toe is feeling the itch to squelch its way through a barrel of ripened grapes. Here are 10 fabulous harvest festivals worth raising a glass or 3 to this season…

Robertson Wine Valley’s Hands-on Harvest Festival

Get stuck in at one of the many hands-on vino experiences at over 20 participating wine estates in the Robertson Wine Valley.  The Hands-on-Harvest Festival is happening throughout February and March with a range of harvesting, winemaking, and leisure activities. Each participating estate offers something unique, from grape picking and creating your own MCC, to picnics, nature walks, and open air concerts.

When: 1 February – 30 March 2014

Tickets: Prices depend on the specific event. Tickets are limited and must be booked directly with the participating estate at least 3 days in advance.

Contact: +27 (0)23 626 3167 or manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

Master the Harvest at Dusk with Nederburg

Get your friends and family together for a grape-plucking adventure by twilight at the annual Harvest Day at Dusk, taking place on 22 February at Nederburg in Paarl.  A steady supply of mezze platters, juice, and mineral water will keep you refreshed throughout the harvesting activities, and a delicious outdoor feast will be but the grape on top.

When: 22 February 2014, 18:30 for 19:00 till late

Tickets: R250 per adult, R100 per teenager (12 – 18 years), R50 per child under 12. Booking is essential!

Contact: +27 (0)21 862 3104 or nedwines@distell.co.za

Grande Provence Harvest Festival

Experience the magic of harvest day at Grande Provence in Franschhoek on 22 February 2014. The fruitfully fun festival features an old-fashioned stomping competition, vineyard tractor ride, cellar tour, and a feast under the ancient oak trees. While it’s perfect for families and friends, the festival is a fantastic team-building excursion and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

When: 22 February 2014

Tickets: R450 per adult, R280 per child under 12.

Contact: +27 (0)21 876 8600 or reservations@grandeprovence.co.za

Muratie Harvest Festival

The family-friendly Muratie Harvest Festival in Stellenbosch is a barrel load of fine food and wine, grape-stomping fun, and live music by the Kitchen Jammin Blues Band. Entrance is free and you receive a complimentary glass of wine on arrival. Food, wine, and cold drinks will be on sale. Book soon and be part of the 20 people that enjoy a vertical wine tasting (an additional R50 per person).

When: 1 March 2014, 11:30

Tickets: Free entrance.

Contact: +27 (0)21 865 2330 or info@muratie.co.za

Crush Day at Darling Cellars

You won’t mind getting up with the roosters, because the annual Crush Day at Darling Cellars promises a day of adventure on 1 March 2014. Kicking off at 08:00, the festival includes breakfast, tractor rides, grape picking, a grape stomping contest, wine tasting, live music, a label design contest, and sizzling lamb on the spit. Kids will love the slip ‘n slide and Easter egg hunt!

When: 1 March 2014, 08:00 – 15:00 (or later)

Tickets: R220 per adult, R150 per teenager (13 – 17), R80 per child under 12. Last day for bookings is 24 February!

Contact: +27 (0)22 492 2276 or tasting@darlingcellars.co.za

Feast of the Grape

Join 12 wine estates from the Durbanville Wine Valley as they celebrate the end of the harvest season at the Feast of the Grape, taking place at D’Aria Winery on 1 and 2 March 2014. Each estate will offer wine tastings as well as signature dishes prepared by their restaurant. Highlights include bake-offs, blending competitions, tutored tastings, and a cook-off to find the Harvest Dish of the Year. The Kids Country Zone will keep the little ones entertained.

When: 1 March 2014, 11:00 – 19:00 and 2 March 2014, 11:00 – 18:00

Tickets: R50, free for children under 12. R20 entry to Kids Country Zone.

Contact: +27 (0)83 310 1228

Eikendal Weintaufe

Kick off you shoes in a gorgeous waterside setting and celebrate the harvest at Eikendal in Stellenbosch on 2 March 2014. Flowing with music, food, and wine, the festival has a full programme of activities for all ages, from grape stomping and vineyard walks, to pony rides and cheetah viewing.

When: 2 March 2014, 10:00 (official baptism and tasting of the new Eikendal Chardonnay at 12:00)

Tickets: R30 (includes a complimentary glass and barrel tasting of the newly christened Chardonnay), free entry for children under 12.

Contact: +27 (0)21 855 1422 or info@eikendal.co.za

Paarl OmmiBerg ‘Round the Rock’ Festival

Sample your way through 17 wine estates dotted around Paarl Mountain at the annual Paarl Ommiberg “Round the Rock” festival, from 8 – 9 March 2014. Each estate has a unique programme of activities and taste sensations for the whole family. Kiddies will love activities like goat wagon rides, slippery slides, and kids’ croquet; whilst the bigger kids can enjoy grape stomping, wine blending, cellar tours, cooking demos, and art displays. With all the wine tasting on offer, there will be loads of gourmet food to keep the stomach lined.

When: 8 – 9 March 2014, 10:00

Tickets: One-day tickets are R80 via Webtickets or R100 at any of the participating venues on the day (includes access to all wineries and entertainment on offer). Free entry for under 18s. Select activities are an additional fee.

Contact: +27 (0)82 787 4118 or info@dnaevents.co.za

Wellington Wine Harvest Festival

Wellington Wine Harvest is a 3-themed festival representing over 15 wine estates and distilleries at 3 different locations around Wellington on 15 March 2014. “New Fashioned Boere Bazaar” at Diemersfontein portrays all things authentically South African, from food and wine, to games and music; “Top Chilling” at Bosman Family Vineyards is a laid-back, family-friendly lunch; and “Wilder as die Wildtuin” at Welbedacht is an animal-theme where festivalgoers can pet alpacas, feast on a wild boar spit braai, and enjoy live entertainment.

When: 15 March 2014, 10:00

Tickets: R100

Contact: +27 (0)21 873 4604

ATKV Oesfees

The authentic cultural music and food of the rural Cape makes the annual ATKV Oesfees a harvest festival with a difference. Taking place on 22 March 2014 at Solms-Delta Wine Estate in Franschhoek, the ATKV Oesfees is as much a celebration of the land’s bounty as it is a music fest, so come and kuier to the sounds of Cape jazz, ghoema, langarm, vastrap, and boeremusiek as you dig into traditional foodie favourites like waterblommetjie bredie, snoek en patat, and koeksisters. Kids will be well entertained in the Kidz Zone with a wide range of arts and crafts, activities, and carnival games.

When: 22 March 2014, 09:00 – 21:00

Tickets: Available at Plankton.mobi at R130 per adult, R30 per child (2 to 12), and free for children under 2.  A limited number of tickets will be sold at the gate on the day for R150.

Contact: +27 (0)21 874 3937 or info@solms-delta.co.za

Which harvest festival gets your toes-t of approval?

Feature image courtesy of Hands on Harvest