This February sees the beautiful mountainous Magoebaskloof area hosting its fourth annual Berry Festival in the small town of Haenertsburg, from 3 February until 5 February. The festival celebrates the region’s blueberry and raspberry farms with berry picking, special Friday and Saturday evening dinners and entertainment, a village market offering many berry-centric products, and an extreme ready-steady-cook style dessert competition (focused on berries, of course). While you’re there, make sure you set aside some time to explore the lush forests and mountains that make Magoebaskloof a perfect berry-growing area.

Participating farms include Cheerio Gardens, Kuhestan Organic Farm and the Blueberry Heights Farm, while restaurants taking part in the festival are Pot n Plow, Picasso’s, The Red Plate, Tooley’s and The Iron Crown. And don’t miss the Magoebaskloof Hotel’s pub, The Phoenix and Fireman, for a drink at the long cedarwood table.

What: Magoebaskloof Berry Festival

When: 3 February - 5 February, times dependant on the day and activity

Where: Magoebaskloof, in and around Haenertsburg

Cost: depends on the activity

Book: no need to book for the market, but book for berry farm tours and meals; see contact details below

Contact: via the website contact form, www.berryfestival.co.za

On 4 February, Moreson is hosting its traditional Blessing of the Harvest to celebrate another successful harvest. Activities will include hand-picking grapes, pressing grapes the old-fashioned way with your feet, a leisurely lunch at Bread and Wine, and a go at designing the Blessing of the Harvest wine bottle label. And it doesn’t end there – in November, you’ll be able to collect your own bottle of Blessing of the Harvest wine, made from the grapes you picked and pressed.

What: Moreson Blessing of the Harvest

When: 4 February, 9am – 3pm

Where: Moreson Farm

Cost: R450 per person

Book: Bookings essential

Contact: +27218764004, breadandwine@moreson.co.za, www.moreson.co.za

A feast of Cabernet Sauvignons awaits you at Holden Manz Wine Estate in Franschhoek on Thursday, 9 February when you can dine with four boutique cellar winemakers and taste their Cabernet Sauvignons.

Karl Lambour and Schalk Opperman of Holden Manz along with the winemakers of Tokara, Rust en Vrede and La Bri will showcase their Cabernet Sauvignons during a four course food and wine pairing dinner. Chef Bjorn Dingemans from Holden Manz’s Franschhoek Kitchen has matched each course with a different Cabernet Sauvignon.

La Bri’s Cabernet Sauvignon is paired with prosciutto, fresh pear and parmesan, while a Cabernet Sauvignon and beetroot infused risotto is the partner for the Tokara wine. Rust en Vrede’s finest will be served with an aged rib-eye steak napped with a Cabernet Sauvignon jus. To end the evening, Chef Bjorn’s chocolate torte will be served with Holden Manz’s very own Cabernet Sauvignon. The full-bodied 2010 vintage, full of ripe red berry fruit flavours, perfect foil for this rich chocolate dessert.

What: Feast of Cabernet Sauvignon at Holden Manz

When: 9 February, from 7pm

Where: Holden Manz Wine Estate, Franschhoek

Cost: R300 per person

Book: Bookings essential via the contact details below

Contact: +27218762729, wayne@holdenmanz.com

Head to Hartenberg Wine Estate in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Saturday 11 February 2012 to enjoy some of the finest flagship Weisser/Rhine Rieslings paired with deli fare at the inaugural Riesling Rocks festival.



Carl Schultz, celebrated Hartenberg winemaker and one of South Africa’s finest Riesling producers, has invited cellars to showcase their Rieslings at this food and wine extravaganza. 



Besides Hartenberg’s own Riesling, which clinched Gold medals at both the Five Nations Challenge in Australia and the Veritas Wine Awards this year, other iconic cellars will showcase their gems, including the likes of Howard Booysen, Jordan, De Wetshof, Klein Constantia, Paul Cluver, Thelema and Groote Post.



Possibly the most versatile of all wines, Riesling can be enjoyed with practically any food. Dry style Rieslings meld beautifully with a wide range of dishes from smoked chicken, sushi and salmon to oysters, antipasti, hummus and olives. Off-dry Rieslings make excellent pairings with spicier foods such as Thai prawns, chorizo or even herring and rollmops. The sweeter Rieslings are perfect for cutting through ultra-rich foods such as pates and terrines, duck and roast pork, and are a perfect foil for curries. Rieslings also make fine dessert wines to pair with fruit tarts, cheeses, pecan nut pie and even tangy lemon tart.  


Some of the Cape’s best purveyors of fine deli food will be providing delicious treats to enjoy with the wines, whilst local musicians will set a festive tone. 


What: Riesling Rocks at Hartenberg

When: Saturday 11 February 2012 from 12 noon until 5pm.
Where: Hartenberg Estate, on the Bottelary Road off the R304 to Stellenbosch. 

Cost: R120 per person (includes wine glass)
Book: directly from Hartenberg Estate or online at www.webtickets.co.za.
Contact: 021 865 2541, email info@hartenbergestate.com or visit www.hartenbergestate.com.

Waterkloof Estate outside Somerset West is hosting an exclusive six course dinner with wine pairing to woo the senses on Tuesday, 14 February 2012. Perched high on the slopes of the Schapenberg, Waterkloof’s signature ‘glass box’ restaurant is set against the majestic backdrop of the estate’s amphitheatre of vineyards and the full expanse of False Bay in the distance.

Chef Gregory Czarnecki’s exquisite degustation menu comprises six contemporary dishes each served with a matching wine. The starter is a light goat’s cheese mousse with pickled baby beetroot and walnut, served with the estate’s Circumstance Chenin Blanc 2009. Next is rainbow trout gravadlax enriched with watercress mayonnaise and vodka dill crème fraîche, accompanied by a glass of Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc 2007; followed by monkfish served with crispy prawn, ginger beer-compressed apple and curry, matched with the Circumstance Viognier 2010. The next course is Karan beef served with shallot tarte tatin, root vegetables and the estate’s elegant Circle of Life Red 2009, followed by lamb loin and Waterkloof’s Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon 2009. End the evening on a decadent high with the chef’s texture of chocolate and passion fruit bites and paired with a flute of Steenberg Brut Chardonnay.

The Valentine’s dinner at Waterkloof costs R550 per person which includes all the wines on the evening or R450 per person excluding the wine pairings and each guest will be welcomed with a complimentary flute of Cap Classique on arrival.

What: Valentine’s with a View
Where: The restaurant at Waterkloof Estate, outside Somerset West on the M9 Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Road.
When: Tuesday 14 February 2012
Cost: R550 per person with wine pairings; R450 per person without wine.
Book: Bookings are essential. To reserve your table contact 021 858 1491 or send an email to restaurant@waterkloofwines.co.za. 

Spend the day on Constantia's False Bay Rugby Club and indulge in the estate's award-winning wines and gastronomic fare.

What: Crush on Constantia

When: 18 February, 10am until 10pm

Where: Constantia False Bay Rugby Club, Cape Town

Cost: R130 per person

Book: Buy tickets at the wine shop at Constantia Uitsig

Contact: +2721794-0542.

Get an inside glimpse at the lives of Robertson Valley's winemakers by helping them pick, sort and stomp grapes. Other activities include horse-cart wine tastings, vineyard tractor trips and brandy blending. Make sure you book your chosen activities before 22 February. Visit the website for more information.

What: Hands on Harvest Festival

When: 24 through 26 February, 9am till late (depending on the activity)

Where: various wine farms in the Robertson area

Cost: ranges from free to R500 per person, depending on the activity

Book: book directly with participating wineries

Contact: Elizma Spangenberg, +27236263167, manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

The third annual Constantia Fresh festival once again celebrates the distinctiveness of the ‘wild white’ grape Sauvignon Blanc and the red blends of Constantia from participating producers, namely Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Steenberg, Eagle’s Nest, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Glen.

At the Buitenverwachting Old Cellar on the afternoon of Friday 24 February, Jörg Pfützner of Fine Wine Events will host a fine wine tasting that focuses on Constantia's finest reds in the company of some excellent international wines from Château Leoville Barton, Dominus, and J. L. Chave, amongst others. Tickets to attend this tasting are on sale at R1500 per person.

The Greenhouse at Cellars-Hohenort Hotel will host the fine dining event on the evening of Friday 24 February 2012. Fine Wine Events will put forward some of the finest white, red and sweet wines Constantia and Bordeaux have to offer. Chef Peter Tempelhoff, recently awarded the status of Grand Chef at the Relais and Châteaux congress in Lisbon, will prepare a five-course degustation menu for 12 local and international wines featured at this dinner. Tickets to attend this dinner are on sale at R1500 per person.

The big walkabout tasting on Saturday 25 February will have wine enthusiasts wandering about the lawns of Buitenverwachting sampling South Africa's finest Sauvignon Blancs paired with canapés made by five of South Africa's most celebrated chefs attending the event: Bertus Basson (Overture Restaurant), Peter Tempelhoff (The Greenhouse), Edgar Osojnik (Buitenverwachting), Vanessa Marx (Dear Me) and Harald Bresselschmidt (Aubergine). Live music will take place early eveningto be followed by an elegantly constructed braai hosted by Buitenverwachting Restaurant and the High Constantia Gourmet Deli. Guests will have the chance to enjoy the excellent red wines of Constantia at thisbraai. Tickets to this tasting are on sale at R400 per person. For further information please visit www.constantiafresh.com.

What: Constantia Fresh Festival

Where: Buitenverwachting and The Greenhouse.   

When: Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February 2012

Contact: www.constantiafresh.com for more information. 

Book: Tickets available at www.webtickets.co.za and participating wine estates.

On 25 February, Nederburg invites you to become a part of the process for creating their award-winning wines by joining in the harvest. Unlike the usual day-time harvest, this year the harvest will take place at dusk, followed by a starlit picnic accompanied by instrumental music group Sterling EQ. The event kicks off with a sparkling wine cocktail, a gift from Nederburg, and some freshly baked mosbolletjies with Pinotage jam to fuel you as you help the experts pick grapes by hand. Then you’ll taste some grape must and tank samples, after which you can collect your picnic basket and bottle of wine, and settle down to enjoy the music.

What: Dusk Harvesting at Nederburg

When: 25 February. 6.30pm till late

Where: Nederburg Wine Estate

Cost: R200 per person, R65 per child under 12

Book: Bookings essential

Contact: +27218624887, nedwines@distell.co.za, www.nederburg.co.za

Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, will once again host its ever popular, educational Harvest Festival on Saturday, 25 February 2012 starting at 09:00. Created for the entire family, the day affords one and all the opportunity to learn and experience the world of wine first hand by celebrated Winemaker, Jaco Marais. 

The day starts at 09h00 with tea, coffee, fresh muffins and other pastries prepared by Executive Chef, Darren Roberts, followed by a tractor ride to the vineyard for grape picking the traditional way. This is followed by a tour of the wine cellar and a wine tasting with Jaco – a true behind the scenes look at the secrets of the cellar. 

Celebrate the the harvest of Spier Estate's prized grapes with an array of activities including wine tasting, barrel-spinning and giant-puzzle-building. The festival culiminates with an open-air concert starring local musicians.

What: Spier Harvest Festival

When: 25 February, 10am until 4pm

Where: Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch

Cost: R70 per person

Book: buy tickets at the door on the day

Contact: +27218091100, info@spier.co.za

Catch live performances by some of the country's best Afrikaans performers while tucking into your fill of succulent crayfish.

There's also plenty in store for the adrenalin junkies out there - bungee jumping, aerial displays, a half-marathon, beer tents and more.

What: Lamberts Bay Crayfish and Cultural Festival

When: 2 to 4 March, 9am till late, depending on the day

Where: Lamberts Bay, Western cape

Cost: R80 per adult, R50 per child under 16, free entry for children under 6

Book: buy tickets beforehand at Computicket or Shoprite Checkers

Contact: +27 (0)27 432-1000

On Sunday, 4 March 2012 Eikendal Estate pays homage to 31 years of quality winemaking with its popular Weintaufe Harvest Celebration. Eikendal is known for its Chardonnay and, after the 2012 Chardonnay harvest is baptised, visitors will get to taste the first wine of the 2012 harvest straight from the barrel.

Bring your picnic blanket and claim your spot at the water’s edge for Eikendal wine tastings, live music entertainment, craft stalls, lucky draws, vineyard tractor rides, fly fishing, barrel stomping, pony rides and loads of kiddies entertainment. Delicious food and wine will be on sale.

What: Eikendal Weintaufe Harvest Celebration

When: 10am - 5pm, 4 March 2012

Where: Eikendal Estate

Cost: R60 per person (includes a tasting glass and barrel tasting), no entry fee for children under 12

Book: No need to book, tickets will be available at the gates

Literary art meets wine legends when the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes teams up with the 2012 Stellenbosch University Woordfees (Festival of the Word) for a Word-and-Wine Celebration.

Activities on Friday, 9 March, include lunch at Morgenhof Estate with award-winning writer Annelie Botes, wine- and-dine date with business mogul Jannie Mouton at Uitkyk to talk about his recently published autobiography, dinner at Delheim with Riaan Cruywagen, and a ‘snoekbraai and adventure story-telling’ at Kanonkop with Johan and Christiaan Bakkes.

On Saturday, 10 March, Muratie Estate hauls out the barrels for a harvest festival and families and friends are invited to bring their picnic baskets for an afternoon of live music by the Kitchen Jammin Blues Band, grape stomping and estate wines on sale.

The final day, Sunday, concludes the festival with a Simonsberg Wine Route Market Day at Delvera. The market will offer wines from the Simonsberg area, country food, craft stalls, harvest activities and horse rides. For the young ones there will be a play corner, go-cart rides, a trampoline, jungle gym and a Kids’ Theater.

What: Stellenbosch Word-and-Wine Celebration

When: 9 March 2012 - 11 March 2012

Where: Various winefarms in the Simonsberg area

Cost: depends on activities chose; Sunday market entry free

Book: Friday and Saturday event bookings essential, no need to book for Sunday's market

Contact: +27218868275, www. wineroute.co.za

It’s hard to convey the happenings at the OmmiBerg ‘Round the Paarl Rock’ festival – this year taking place on Saturday 10 March. The participating wine estates – 12 all told – have uncorked their creativity to plan a day of unfiltered fun and flavour, and some rocking good music.
 
Stomp grapes in time to aKING, Ysterkoei or the Jesse Jordan band, swim in a bath of red wine, take a helicopter flight, or kick back with a relaxing grape-skin foot massage. Show off your knowledge, swing or palate in a wine quiz, golfing game or wine-blending competition. Treasure hunts, pony rides and slip-‘n-slides will entertain the children while the adults indulge in the fun. And when you get hungry, join a breakfast masterclass, try some tapas, enjoy a BYO braai or sluk some oysters with bubbly while gazing contentedly on a sunset after an extraordinary day.
 
Tickets include unfiltered wine and Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) tastings, and access to all live music. Other events range from gratis to POA.

What: Ommiberg Wine Festival

When: 10 March, 10am until 6pm\

Where: Various wine farms throughout the Paarl region in the Western Cape

Cost: R80 per ticket, plus more for special activities

Book: No need to book, buy a ticket at the first farm you visit or from Wine Desk at the V&A Waterfront (021 418 0108)

Contact: www.ommiberg.co.za ,Twitter (@OmmiBerg), and Facebook (Paarl Wine)

Film buffs sit through their fair share of celluloid showings with over 70 features, documentaries and short movies from over 35 countries.

A Festival-within-a-Festival, for 12 days the event offers a program of timely and fascinating films which evolve organically from the programming process.

What: Cape Winelands Film Festival

When: 14 through 26 March, time depending on the day

Where: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town, and other theatres throughout Cape Town

Cost: Depends on the film

Book: Book tickets from 1 March through Computicket, or directly with the ticket office (details below)

Contact: +27837924320, info@films-for-africa.co.za, www.films-for-africa.co.za

Bosman Family Vineyards promises a Celebration in Fairtrade at their Long Lunch during the annual Wellington Harvest Festival on 17 and 18 March 2012. This 8th generation family winery is partnering with Fairtrade Label South Africa (www.FairtradeSA.org.za) and significant South African Fairtrade producers during this year's Wellington Harvest Festival in order to give South Africans a glimpse into the world of Fairtrade. 

The Bosman family invites you to a feast of country food paired with their boutique-style wines in the captivating Bovlei Valley of Wellington. Savour the slow beat of ambient live music from various local entertainers including the Bosman Farming Choir, play the ancient game of boules, take a guided cellar tour, look at an antique tractor display, watch the kids playing in the supervised kiddies area, and enjoy delicious food prepared by Marc’s Restaurant and other local delicatessens.

Bosman Family Vineyards will be joining hands with Pebbles, an NGO actively involved in the communities of the wine growing regions within the South African Wine industry. A percentage of the Long Lunch proceeds will go towards supporting this Cape winelands charity.

What: Bosman Long Lunch 2012

When: 17 to 18 March, 10am-5pm

Where: Lelienfontein, Wellington

Cost: R80 per person

Booking: Not necessary, but there is a limit of 400 guests each day; you can buy tickets either at the gate on the day or at any Computicket outlet beforehand.

Contact:  Antonia Bosman, +27218733170, antonia@bosmanwines.com, www.bosmanwines.com