Diary dates: Helderberg and Voor Paardeberg festivals

By the looks of things, summer might finally have arrived in the Cape, and here are two fabulous wine festivals to put in your diary to make the most of the sun.

Coming up this weekend is The Foot of the Helderberg Festival – in association with Rola and the Round Table. Held from 10 – 12 October 2008, R50 gets you access to 20 farms along the R44 in Stellenbosch at the foot of the Helderberg Mountain. There is also a busy schedule of additional events including ox braais, golf days, mountain bike races, a fun walk and live music which you will need to book for. Check out the web site for more details and pre-booking, otherwise buy your entrance ticket at any of the farms involved.

Participating wine farms are:
Alto, Annandale, Avontuur, Bilton, Blaauwklippen, Dornier (top tip – try out their rose, it’s delicious!), Eikendal, Ernie Els, Grangehurst, Guardian Peak, Hidden Valley, Ken Forrester, Kleine Zalze, Longridge, Peter Falke Wines, Rust en Vrede, Somerbosch, Stellenzicht, Uva Mira, Webersburg.

So there is definitely something for everyone.

Get your diaries out for this next event happening later in November. It’s the second annual Voor Paardeberg festival and I would definitely recommend a trip out to this best kept secret in Paarl. The action happens at the David Frost visitors’ centre on Saturday, 15 November 2008.

You can taste around 46 wines from the following wineries: Ayama, Bernheim Wines, David Frost Estate, Horse Mountain Wines, Oude Denneboom, Scali and Vondeling.

Other activities include live music, a blind wine tasting competition, a putting competition, an organic goods market as well as activities for those too young to drink the wine.

Tickets cost R85 for the day and you can buy them online.