Rich, warming foods and a glass or two of wine is the perfect complement to the winter chill. Here are 3 food and wine events taking place in the Cape Winelands this June.
Taste the Helderberg
12 June 2014
For one night only, the 6th annual Taste the Helderberg will transform the NH Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West into a treasure chest of the finest wines and food from the Helderberg region. This renowned and rapidly growing sub-route of the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes – which stretches from Somerset West to Stellenbosch and Sir Lowry’s Pass Village –promises a bigger and bolder array to sip and savour than ever before.
“Taste the Helderberg is exactly what the name states. It’s an exclusive tasting experience of produce unique to this premium Winelands pocket, where one’s precocious palate gets supreme satisfaction. It is a not-to-be-missed, heart-warming event on our winter calendar for likeminded food and wine lovers who all treasure the finer indulgences in life,” explains Annareth Bolton, CEO of the Stellenbosch Wine Routes.
Culinary enthusiasts can mingle with a stellar mix of local winemakers, chefs, and artisan producers when more than 100 fine wines and signature dishes from celebrated restaurants along the Helderberg Wine Route captivate the senses under one roof. While sipping premium wines from at least 25 producers, including Hidden Valley, Ken Forrester Wines, Longridge, Lyngrove, Peter Falke, Vergenoegd, and Waterkloof Estate, foodies can purchase signature dishes from the likes of 96 Winery Road, Avontuur, Longridge Restaurant, and Overture.
During the evening, guests can relax in cosy chill areas or make use of the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. Pre-bookings for the restaurant are recommended to avoid disappointment. Call 021 855 1040 to make a reservation.
When: 12 June 2014, 17:00 – 21:00.
Tickets: Tickets cost R70 per person and are limited to 500 as the show is kept intimate for guests to socialise with the winemakers and chefs without feeling cramped. The ticket includes an elegantly branded wine glass and access to tasting some of the best wines in the country. Contact 021 886 4310 to book your ticket. Tickets will also be available at the door.
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Delheim’s Wild Mushroom Hunts
16 & 17 June 2014
Join a small group of avid fungi foragers, eccentric hobbyists, and amateur mycologists (those who study fungi) for an exclusive Wild Mushroom Hunt in the forest of Delheim. While many fungi fans remain tight-lipped about their favourite hunting spots, Delheim’s Nora Sperling-Thiel welcomes foraging fans to join her and Gary Goldman – an enthusiastic mushroom expert and cultivator who goes by the moniker Mushroom Guru – for a walk on the ‘wild side’ to indulge in some mushroom magic on this legendary Stellenbosch wine estate.
“I grew up on the farm and learned to pick mushrooms from my mother. Knowing that this is one of the most exhilarating experiences, I decided to make it open to the public once a year so that they can learn more and also enjoy what we have. Gary can identify most of the wild mushrooms around here – edible and inedible. He can spot a camouflaged porcini in no time and under his watchful eye, we teach visitors to become comfortable in picking their own mushrooms, which is the whole idea after all,” explains Delheim’s co-owner Nora Sperling-Thiel.
The day starts with an insightful lecture on wild mushrooms, followed by an enchanting excursion through the pine forest to hunt for varieties ranging from pine-rings to ceps. After working up an appetite, guests will be rewarded with a mouth-watering mushroom-themed buffet in Delheim’s historic Vat Cellar.
There are only 40 spots available per day as Delheim treasures a delicate balance between sharing their ‘family passion’ andprotecting their mushroom patches and natural habitat.
When: 16 & 17 June 2014, from 10:30
Tickets: Tickets cost R350 and include the short-course, forest forage, lunch, and a glass of Delheim wine. Pre-booking is essential. Given the intimate nature of these events, no group bookings are allowed. For more information or to secure your spot contact 021 888 4600 or email info@delheim.com.
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Franschhoek Winter Wines
21 June 2014
Each of the Franschhoek Vignerons will showcase their top red at this year’s Franschhoek Winter Wines, taking place at the Franschhoek Motor Museum, L’Ormarins Estate. Brave the cold and enjoy the best winter-inspired reds, delicious comfort food prepared by the chefs at Terra del Capo restaurant at Anthonij Rupert Wines, and a display of the finest vintage and luxury vehicles.
The Franschhoek Motor Museum showcases more than 100 years of motoring history with its unique and exciting collection of vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and memorabilia in the magnificent setting of L’Ormarins. Vintage cars include a 1903 Ford and 1935 Rolls Royce, whilst fans of the more modern luxurious cars can catch a glimpse of a 2002 Ferrari or the 2003 Mercedes Benz CLK DTM AMG.
Live entertainment will round off what promises to be a perfect winter experience.
When: 21 June 2014, 12:00 – 17:00
Tickets: Tickets cost R180 per person and are available directly from Webtickets. Tickets include a wine glass, tasting of all wines, and entrance to the Franschhoek Motor Museum. Booking is essential. For more information, contact 021 876 2861 or email office@franschhoek.org.za.
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Looking for more food and wine events in the Winelands? Check out these other Winter Foodie Fests!
What Winelands events do you recommend this winter?
