The Western Cape is currently a hive of activity, with people getting up long before dawn and working late into the night, with very little sleep in between. These dedicated folk are taking part in the annual grape harvest at farms across the province. In a few months time, we’ll get to enjoy the fruits of their hard labour. In the meantime, you can get involved too. Here’s a list of some of our favourite harvest festivals where you can stomp grapes, taste wines, eat food and enjoy the general jolliness that surrounds wine-making.

Durbanville Wine Route's Feast of the Grape
Durbanville’s annual Feast of the Grape is a highly anticipated event, with twelve farms celebrating theend of the grape harvest. The day is jam-packed with grape-related activities – from grape stomping and grape jam making, to vineyard hay rides, barrel rolling, wine tasting and country fare to feast on. Each farm will offer its own unique line-up for the day, so make sure that you plan ahead to be able to experience it all. Taste your pick of the grape-inspired menus on offer at the participating eateries or save yourself for the Grecian feast at Klein Roosboom. Bring your little ones along for face painting, jumping castles and pony rides. 

The event kicks off at 9am with tea, coffee, fresh muffins and pastries prepared by the estate’s executive chef. Then you’ll enjoy a tractor ride into the vineyards to harvest the grapes. Once the grapes have been selected, Jaco will host a cellar tour and exclusive tasting for a true behind-the-scenes experience in the cellar. Once the tour is complete, it’s time to take off your shoes and stomp your grapes in barrels, before retiring under the trees for a traditional braai, live music and games.

Tickets cost R290 per adult (excluding drinks) and R130 for children under the age of 12. The price includes one bottle of Angels Tears wine per adult, to be collected upon departure. Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more. To book, contact Nicole on 021 876 8600 or email her here.

Win! Grande Provence is giving one lucky couple a set of double tickets to the harvest festival, valued at R580. To enter, click here.

Mischa Wine Estate
This Wellington valley farm only opens its doors to the public once a year. This highly anticipated event takes the form of the annual Mischa Wine Festival to be held from 19 to 21 March this year. Think Moroccan tents, giant cushions for lounging upon and breathtaking views. Kids can look forward to a kids’-only area, complete with tasty food. Taste the award-winning estate wines, including vertical tastings, and indulge in some of the delicious local food on offer, while live music creates a relaxing atmosphere. 

If the heat of the valley is a little too much for you, plunge into the freshwater pool to cool off. Plenty of prizes will be up for grabs throughout the day. Raffle tickets will also be on sale, and there will be a golf-ball hitting competition to raise funds for PETS (Pet Empowerment in Townships). End the day with one of Mischa’s ice-cold wine cocktails while watching the sun set over Table Mountain in the distance.

To book your spot at the Mischa Wine Festival, contact the estate at 021 864 1020 or email it here.

Môreson Wine Estate
On 5 and 6 February, the farm celebrates its annual Blessing of the Harvest event, when old-fashioned wine-making is celebrated by family and friends stomping grapes in a barrel. The day begins with hand-harvesting in the vines, where you put on your oenologist cap and select your own grapes. Then it’s on to the barrels, where you’re encouraged to hold onto a friend for support as you dance, jump and stomp your way to your own pressed wine.

After all that exertion, you’ll be glad to know that a lunch feast awaits you at the acclaimed Bread & Wine restaurant. Take the opportunity to try some of the award-winning wines available and you’ll discover what there is to look forward to with your own wine, which started its journey earlier that day. If you’re creatively inclined, take part in the Blessing of the Harvest label design competition. If the good people at Môreson like what they see, your label might just be wrapped around the 2011 Blessing of the Harvest bottles.  

Tickets cost R300 per person and include bubbly on arrival, harvesting, stomping, lunch and your own bottle of wine, which will be ready for collection in November 2011. For more information, contact Tina on 021 876 3692 or email her here.

Robertson Wine Valley’s Hands-On Harvest
The Robertson Wine Valley is home to a host of wine farms, both large and small, and some of our country’s most exciting wines. Encompassing the towns of Bonnievale, Montagu-Ashton, McGregor and Robertson, there’s a lot of activity that takes place at every harvest.

The region doesn’t keep all of this excitement to itself – the Robertson Wine Valley is about to hold its third annual Hands-on Harvest festival from 25 to 27 February. This boutique event offers wine lovers the opportunity to experience all the fun of the harvest, without having to quit their day jobs. Visitors can look forward to a variety of harvest-related events, such as grape-picking, bunch-sorting, stomping of grapes, grape versus wine tastings and must tastings. There’s also a harvest market and vineyard tractor trips and wine-tasting by horse and cart.

Groups are kept small and intimate to maximise the hands-on harvest experience, which means that bookings are essential and must be made before 23 February. To book, or for more information, contact the Roberston Wine Valley office on 023 626 3167 or email them here.

Solms-Delta
Join Solms-Delta in celebrating their traditional Oesfees on Saturday 26 March from 11am to 9pm. Guests can look forward to a great lineup of South Africa's most talented musicians, from Radio Kalahari Orkes to Valiant & Ollie, as well as the farm's own Delta Genootskap bands. Food stalls will offer a variety of traditional Cape cuisine, including snoek, patats, askoek, jams and waterblommetjie bredie.

Pre-sale tickets cost R110 per person or R130 per person at the gate. Children under the age of 12 enter free of charge. For more information, email them here.

Spier
This year, Spier will be celebrating its annual Wine Harvest Festival on 27 February. The lawns surrounding Spier’s Eight restaurant will be transformed into a wine wonderland, with delicious food and great wines available throughout the day. Relax on the banks of the Eerste River and listen to the sounds of Gerald Clark and other musicians while you taste the estate’s award-winning wines. A host of interactive games will be available for the kiddies, including grape-stomping, tractor rides through the vineyards and face-painting.

Entrance costs R60 per person and includes five wine-tasting tickets and a tasting glass. Kiddies’ vouchers the games will be available at R10 each. Tickets are available at the farm on the day and the lawns are open from 10:00 until 16:00. Contact the farm at 021 809 1100 for more information. 

Vrede en Lust
On Saturday 5 March, this well-known Franschhoek farm will host its annual Savoye Harvest Festival. This year's theme is “Black and white with a dash of red”, so make sure you come dressed for the occasion. The best dressed couple will walk away with a whopping R30 000!

The day begins with a continental breakfast, followed by hand harvesting in the vineyards. Enjoy a cool cocktail before stomping your grapes and end off your afternoon with a harvest lunch feast.

Tickets are limited and cost R295 per person, including lunch, wine on tap, and all activities. There is no charge for children under 12 years of age and they can enjoy food, cooldrinks and games in the secure play area. For more information, email there here.