As one of the country’s biggest culinary events, welcoming over 60 000 foodies and lifestyle lovers through its doors each year, the Good Food & Wine Show certainly needs no introduction. The 2016 show, presented by Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa, will showcase international food trends with a whole new look and feel. This year’s events will be taking place in Cape Town from 27 to 29 May, Johannesburg from 29 to 31 July, and Durban from 28 to 30 October and, in keeping with its fresh transformation, will explore the latest in lifestyle and design, as well as urban and rural integration.

This year’s even will boast a fresh farm-to-fork theme. Photo supplied.

First and foremost, visitors to the revamped event can look forward to new interactive, experimental and educational elements. This includes the introduction of an experienced curator, Hannerie Visser, the founder of Studio H, part of the creative team behind the success of Spier Secret Festival, and the artisanal food curator for Design Indaba 2015.

As for what we can expect at this year’s show, Hannerie explains, “For the Good Food & Wine Show, curation has meant finding celebrities and experts to showcase how to work with quality ingredients in a fresh and exciting way. The abundance of fantastic work happening locally at the moment has made our process a lot easier. Exhibitors can expect exciting activations and many new and unusual experiences for visitors, including a sensory installation at the entrance, which will transport them into a magical world of food and wine.”

The 2016 Good Food & Wine Show’s line-up will showcase urban farming and gardens, take a look at food markets, and track the move towards more sustainable lifestyles. Photo: Thinkstock.

The show’s line–up will showcase urban farming and gardens, take a look at food markets, and track the move towards more sustainable lifestyles. There will also be demonstrations on the latest in nutrition, and a number of unique sensory experiences. Alongside the educational element, foodies will still be able to experience the latest and greatest in the culinary scene, with celebrity chefs, street–food stalls, baking demos, and an exciting new–look wine area featuring an interactive wine pairing theatre. Here visitors can look forward to special tastings, talks, a wine smell wall, as well as wine–and–food pairing sessions designed to turn enthusiasts into connoisseurs.

Visitors can also look forward to the ultimate dinner-table installation at this year’s event. Photo supplied.

The fresh farm-to-fork theme will also be creatively explored via a number of channels, with some of SA’s leading magazines creating their ultimate dinner–table installation inspired by the latest trends. Special talks on these installations will be held in an intimate theatre environment.

Maria Chieppa, General Manager of Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa, says, “We have transformed Africa’s biggest food and wine show with highly interactive content and exciting new experiences. We look forward to announcing more about our celebrity chef line–up, expert speakers, unique immersive experiences, and innovative food and wine activations – watch this space!”

The Good Food & Wine Show will be relaunching its website in April. Stay tuned to www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za for ticket sales and more information leading up to this year’s events. This year’s entrance ticket offers more value for money, including free entrance to the celebrity chefs theatre. Entrance is free for children under 12 years, there’s a discount for students and children under 18, and pensioners will enjoy free entrance on Friday (opening show day).