Celebrate all things fresh, summery and delicious with the Season of Sauvignon festivities from Friday 30 September to Sunday 2 October 2011. This family-focused festival offers delicious food, great wine and live music in the crisp country air of the Durbanville Wine Valley.

One of the highlights is the so-called wine ferry, which takes to the air on Saturday at noon. A fleet of Base 4 helicopters will sweep you up for an adventure of fine wines and brilliant views, with stopovers at De Grendel, Durbanville Hills and Meerendal. Flights depart at 12 noon, 1pm and 2pm, and at 3pm you will be returned to your original location. The cost of R650 per person includes a tasting glass, wine tastings and helicopter shuttle. (Passengers must be six years or older.) Book your seats with Natasha Apollis on 082 768 8695 or natasha@base4.co.za.

But if heights are not your thing, there’s a wealth of wine, music and food awaiting you on the grounds of each participating wine estate. Here are our top twelve highlights to check out.

1. Jazz at Altydgedacht Estate
Relax at historical Altydgedacht under the trees while listening to light jazz. Take an educational tour through the vineyards on an open vehicle, or tour through the 300 year-old Cellar with the wine maker. Sample and buy award-winning wine, or unwind with a massage after you’ve dropped the kids off at a supervised play area with jumping castles, face paints and pony rides. 

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: 11am to 5pm
Cost: Buy a glass for R15 and taste all the wines. There’s no entrance fee, but there are separate fees for activities. Pre-packed picnic baskets cost R250 for two and include a bottle of Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc.
Contact: eat@altydgedacht.co.za or 021 975 7815 to book.

2. Good Times in the Vines at Bloemendal
Enjoy comedy and a music festival of country, rock, golden oldies and boere orkes by various artists. Saturday 1: October Music by Broers, DJ Ossewa, Ghapi, Steyn Fourie, Jesse Jordan and more. Master Chef demonstrations and big screen Currie Cup entertainment. One free drink per person during game of WP vs Sharks.
Sunday 2: October Live music by Wynand and Cheree, Nianell and more. Free wine tasting of Bloemendal’s Sauvignon Blanc, the estate’s gold medal award-winning flagship wine. Special festival prices for wines at the cellar. A variety of platters will be available, as well as a spit braai, boerewors rolls, hamburgers and sushi. There’s supervised entertainment and games for the young-hearted, including tractor- and pony-rides, face paint, jumping castles and more. 

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: Saturday 11am to 11pm. Sunday 11am to 7pm.
Cost: Saturday R100 per person; Sunday R80 per person; weekend pass R160 per person.
Book: www.webtickets.co.za or with Riette Coetzee on 082 374 9981 or info@bloemendalwines.co.za.

3. D’Aria Food of the World Market
Enjoy mountain biking, walking trails, mini golf, boules competition and tractor rides, as well as a live music tent with sauvignon blanc on tap. For the kids there’ll be caretakers, jumping castle, face painting and pony rides. Don’t miss the Food of the World market, offering a feast of Indian curry; German sausage; Chinese noodles; Japanese sushi; Dutch cheese; and Italian, French and South African specialities.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011 Time: Saturday 10am to 7pm. Sunday 10am to 5pm. 
Cost: R20 per person. Wine Tasting at the Cellar Door is R10 per person, which includes a tasting glass. 
Book: Contact D’Aria on 021 801 6772 or tasting@daria.co.za.
For more info on the activities for the day, visit www.dariawinery.co.za.

4. De Grendel
Food stands present a variety of ready-to-eat meals and a selection of top quality produce. Take a 4×4 drive up to the Kliphuis for sauvignon workshop. On Saturday the helicopter trips will be leaving from De Grendel, and on Sunday the Lion of Africa De Grendel MTB Races of 10km, 30km and 60km will take place. Try Marc Wassung’s steak rolls; fresh West Coast oysters will be shucked and served in the shell with all the trimmings; and Simonsberg will offer a wide selection of top quality cheeses.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: 10am to 4pm
Cost: R150 per person for the Kliphuis Sauvignon Workshop. Free entry for market and tasting.
MTB race: visit www.pedalpower.org.za for more info.
Contact: Christelle van Niekerk at 021 558 6280 or christelle@degrendel.co.za.

5. De Vallei Rodeo Town
This year it’s all about saddling up for a fun family day. Taste fine wines at the saloon, take the Vitaminwater mechanical bull by the horns, or test your speed at the Indwe Risk Saloon shootout game. Dewald Forest will be jamming old classics while the kids’ area will supply entertainment for the children. There’ll be ice cream, sushi, pizza and other treats. Keep an eye out for our most wanted, and claim your reward.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: 10am to 5pm
Cost: R30 for adults (includes glass, wine tasting, De Vallei badge & one complimentary bull ride ticket). Entry for children is free.
Contact: 072 279 1429 or info@devallei.co.za

6. It’s a Kind of Magic at Diemersdal
Live music, kids’ entertainment, pony rides, a food market, games for everyone, lots of wine and a bit of magic in between. Come sample sushi, pizza, cheese platters, Mediterranean deli goodies and hotdogs.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: 11am to 6pm.
Cost: R100 per person and R30 for children.
Contact: rita@diemersdal.co.za, info@diemersdal.co.za or 021 976 3361.

7. Durbanville Hills
Experience a weekend of family fun to the lazy sounds of rock and blues. The Eatery chef has created the ‘Perfectly Paired Picnic’ to compliment the cellar’s award-winning sauvignon blancs with dishes like marinated prawns, asparagus quiche and melon salsa. Otherwise, create your own wrap at the Grill Bar, where fresh West Coast oyster buckets and a selection of flatbreads will be available. The Durbanville Hills Eatery will serve a bistro menu on both Saturday and Sunday. Kids have the chance to create their own pizza in true chef’s style, or enjoy face painting, sand art, a jumping castle and more.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: Saturday 10am to 5pm. Sunday 10am to 6pm.
Cost: R50 entrance gets you a souvenir crystal glass filled with your choice of Durbanville Hills Sauvignon Blanc. Entry for children under 12 is free. Picnic baskets cost R180 for two people.
Contact: Simone Brown on 021 558 1300 or SIBrown@durbanvillehills.co.za.

8. Family fun at Phesantekraal
Enjoy a fun-filled family day on the historic Groot Phesantekraal farm. Live music by Newton & Co on both days will set the scene, where there’s something for everyone. Enjoy the country-style food, venison kebabs, boerewors rolls and sushi, along with good wine. For the kids there will be a jumping castle, sand pit and tractor rides. 

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: 11am to 5pm.
Cost: R50 per person, includes wine tasting.
Contact: info@phesantekraal.co.za or or 021 976 2114 9.

Hillcrest Estate at The Quarry
Join Hillcrest Estate this year at The Quarry to rock to the sound of Jacobus Brink. Taste wine in the new function facilities for R40 per person, which includes a tasting glass. Private vertical tastings of Hillcrest Estate Sauvignon Blanc each day will be hosted by award-winning winemaker Graeme Read for R100 per person. Picnic baskets will be on sale, or guests can have their fill of hamburgers, cupcakes, wraps, roosterkoek and more. There will also be a beer tent, jumping castle, face painter and balloons for the children. Your own picnic baskets, umbrellas and blankets are welcome, but no alcohol is permitted.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011 
Time: Saturday 10am to 5pm. Sunday 10am to 5pm.
Cost: Free entry to the Quarry. R40 for wine; R100 for wine tasting with the winemaker.
Picnic baskets: R110 and R150.
Contact: Karlin de Goede on functions@hillcrestfarm.co.za, or phone 021 976 1110.

10. Rocking the Pink Paisleys at Klein Roosboom
They’re going pink to mark the start of Breast Cancer Month at Klein Roosboom. (Part of the gate proceeds benefit The Pink Drive.) There will be loads of entertainment for both adults and children, as well as food stalls offering sushi; prego roll;, calamari and fish wraps; boerewors rolls; desserts like pink candy floss and slush puppies; and a cupcake station. For the kids, there’ll be a Bubble Ball, giant sandpit and sand art. Live music by Jacobus Brink, and Vosloo Bekker and friends.

Date: 1 and 2 October 2011
Time: Saturday 11am to 5pm. Sunday 11am to 4pm.
Cost: R45 per adult, which includes bandana and wineglass (R5 goes towards the Pink Drive)
Enquiries: cellar@kleinroosboom.co.za or 0827845102.

11. Meerendal
Friday 30 September: A food and wine pairing dinner will be held at 7pm on Friday 30 September 2011 at the Manor House Restaurant. Chef De Wet Wilch has put a five course dinner of South African dishes together, paired with different vintages of Meerendal Sauvignon Blanc wines. Liza Goodwin and Bennie Howard will host the evening. Bookings are essential.

Date: Friday 30 September 2011
Time: 7pm for 7.30pm
Cost: R350 per person all inclusive.
Phone: 021 975 1655 to book.

Saturday 1 October Meerendal’s Farmers Market will form the central part of the activities, while a number of local musicians entertain visitors outside the Barn & Lawn function venue. There will be kiddies’ entertainment too. Tastings will be held at different intervals, free of charge. 

Time: 9am to 3pm.
Cost: Free entrance; R20 per tasting glass. All tastings of sauvignon blanc are free of charge.
Phone: 021 975 1655

Sunday 2 October The Barn & Lawn will be transformed into a typical West Coast atmosphere, serving a fish braai with a difference. Expect ten courses of snoek, Cape salmon, prawns, mussels, harders, paella and more. Meerendal Sauvignon Blanc will be served on tap for free. Cash bar available. Bookings are essential.

Time: 12 noon until late.
Cost: R190 per person (children under 6 no charge; R100 for children 6 to 12 years)
Phone: 021 975 1655.

12. Nitida
On Friday night join Cassia restaurant in celebrating the new spring menu. Four courses will be paired with wine for R300 per person (includes welcome drink, with canapé and service charge.) Then while away the next two days at the dam. Picnic baskets are packed with enough for two, or enjoy sushi, legendary lamb burgers, boerie rolls, ice cream and slushies. Live music will be played by Ricky Nass. Kids can look forward to their own picnic baskets, a jumping castle, sports games and canoeing on the dam.

Date: 30 September and 1 to 2 October 2011
Cost: Friday dinner R300 per person.
Book for dinner with Cassia on 021 976 0640 or info@cassiarestaurant.co.za.

By Linda Scarborough

We're giving away two cases of wine from Durbanville wine valley, to be collected from the farms during the festival. To enter, click here.