It’s spring! So get out there and enjoy a wine festival, Vietnamese food, a beer fest, a spit roast, or a lunch in the Winelands this weekend.

Gauteng

Soweto Wine Revolution (Kliptown)
Join in a wine celebration at the exciting 11th annual Soweto Wine & Lifestyle Festival at Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown from 4 to 6 September.

This year’s event will be showcasing the country’s finest wines as well as delicious food and lifestyle brands. A ticket gets you a wine glass and bag on arrival. Tickets cost R130 for the Friday night and R150 for Saturday and Sunday passes. A VIP ticket costs R550 per day, and an all-access weekend pass costs R400 standard and R1 250 VIP. To buy tickets, visit Webtickets.

Vietnamese Food Festival (Rosebank)
Hyatt Regency Johannesburg will be hosting a Vietnamese Week at its oneNINEone Restaurant from Thursday to Saturday, 3 to 12 September.

This event will bring an authentic taste of Vietnam to guests and diners. The restaurant will host two chefs from the pan-Asian Wox Restaurant at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, Ma-khi Tan and Duong Bao Son, who will showcase their country’s cuisine. All the dishes, sauces, pastes, dips and condiments will be made from scratch by the visiting chefs.

Vietnamese Food Festival

On the two Saturday evenings (5 and 12 September), there will be a Vietnamese buffet that will give diners a chance to taste from many authentic dishes, including stir-fried beef with five spices, crispy shrimp and minced pork spring rolls, and banana sago with coconut cream. The cost is R340 per person. For more information, go to www.johannesburg.regency.hyatt.com.

Cellar Rats Spring Wine Festival (Magaliesburg)
Get yourself to Magaliesburg and taste more than 600 of South Africa’s best wines. This family festival is set in a tranquil outdoor setting under leafy trees on the banks of the Magalies River. Now in its 15th year, the festival will appeal to beginner as well as experienced wine tasters, with a host of producers showcasing their wine ranges.

Tickets to the festival cost R115 online and R130 at the entrance, and include a complimentary tasting glass. Buy tickets online at Computicket.

Durban

Durban Bierfest (Suncoast Casino)
This year’s Bierfest will see be hosted in a 4 000-seater Bauhaus marquee on 4 and 5 September at Suncoast Casino. Festival-goers can look forward to oompah music, refreshing German beer and delicious Bavarian cuisine, while being hosted by stand-up comedian Brendan Murray in the role of Klaus, ze mayor of Munich. Visitors can also look forward to participating in a range of traditional games in lederhosen and pigtails.

Tickets include the Braumeister (V-VIP option), from R875 per person, which includes a three-course meal and a limited bar tab plus some fun dress-up options; and the Brauhaus (VIP option), from only R445 per person, which includes a two-course meal, a limited bar tab and costume accessories.

Entrance to the Über Bier Hall costs R195 per person for the day-time session and R215 for the night-time session. This includes one 500ml bier, beer tastings and a dress-up item.

Standard Bier Hall tickets cost R125 per person for the day-time session and R140 for the night-time session. This includes entrance and a complimentary beer tasting.

Inside The Village Idiot. Photo by Laura McCullagh.

Cape Town

Sundaze Spit Roast at The Village Idiot (Loop Street, City Bowl)
Cap off your weekend with a hearty Sunday roast and festive acoustic music. This buzzing City Bowl bar invites Capetonians to a spit-braai feast. The roast will feature pork belly or lamb that has been slow-roasted on a spit. Wholesome veggies like roasted fennel, carrots and sweet potato are served on the side, as well as a rosemary-and-garlic velouté, coleslaw, baguettes and more. Entertainment will be provided by a smooth-sounding acoustic set that begins at 2pm.

The Sunday lunch at The Village Idiot takes places every Sunday from 12pm to 1pm and costs R110 per person, excluding drinks. To book a table, email info@thevillageidiot.co.za or call 021 418 1548.

Winelands

Burgers and Blends (Spier, Stellenbosch)
Wine aficionados are invited to try their hand at blending their own wine inspired by the Spier Signature Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz blend. Canapés will be served and an educating tasting will also be offered where guests can learn the secrets of blending wine from Spier’s passionate winemakers. After all the hard work, two delicious burger options will be served: Eight at Spier’s famous beef burger with gorgonzola, plum-and-pink-peppercorn chutney, and a speciality burger, which changes each time – all served with chips and followed by sweet dessert.

A burger combo at Eight at Spier. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The event will be held at the Spier tasting room on Saturday, 5 September. A ticket costs R195 per person; visit Webtickets.

Kingdom Day at Cavalli Estate (Somerset West)
Kick off spring at the beautiful Equus Dine at Cavalli Estate. On 5 and 6 September, the estate will celebrate the Cape Floral Kingdom with Kingdom Day, an event that will showcase art, design, fashion and live music.

Chef Hylton Espey will offer a nature-inspired dining experience, paired with Cavalli’s award-winning wines. The three-course menu will include items such as harvest platters, sorbet, grass-fed beef and lavender-infused petit fours. Botanical cocktails will also be served after lunch on the terrace overlooking the Helderberg, with soothing live music by Digby and the Lullaby.

The lunch costs R400 per person and includes wine and entertainment. To book your table, email restaurant@cavalliestate.com or call 021 855 3218.

The terrace at Equus dine at Cavalli. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.