Welcome the arrival of Spring with family, friends and crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Join the picturesque Durbanville Wine Valley for the annual Season of Sauvignon, a white wine loving festival taking place on the first weekend (6^th & 7^th) of October 2012.

What better way to celebrate award winning cool climate terroir than in a valley of rolling vineyards, views of the ocean and Table Mountain, and a jovial group of winemakers that want to share their love of Sauvignon Blanc with festival-goers.

The valley is a 20 minute drive from the CBD, making the festival easy to get to or arrange a car pool with fellow enthusiasts. “The Season of Sauvignon wine festival – now in its 8^th year – is deeply rooted in the Durbanville Wine Valley’s terroir and indications are that 2012 will be a great vintage in our valley.” Says Michelle van Staden, festival organiser and marketing manager for the Durbanville Wine valley,

Programme Highlights:

Cassia at Nitida invites visitors to lap up their tranquil farm- next to the dam, in the sunny courtyard, or under their Bedouin tent.  Andre Siebert performs on Saturday, and Wayne Pauli on Sunday. Come sing, sway and sip the weekend away while your glass gets refilled.

Tables at Nitida tunes into the hum of live jazz. Picnic baskets available on order, and festival specials on the menu.

Join Altydgedacht for sentimental tours through their vineyards, serenading to live music, slow food and al fresco Sauvignon Blanc sipping under their trees.

Bon Amis at Bloemendal boasts ‘Savvy on Tap’ in a picnic atmosphere. Bring along your blankets and deckchairs and tap your feet to the live music. Get nosing in the Wine Theatre with a series of presentations: Blend It, Pair It, Taste It.

D’Aria put on a Cirque de Sauvignon with a fun carnival atmosphere, food stalls, live music and a cocktail bar to experiment with Sauvignon Blanc flavours.

De Grendel Restaurant takes its cue from the cellar with food flights including ‘Light in Flight’ a playful take on mille-feuille: flavour-layered prawn, tomato, chili, ginger, avocado ice cream and flaky samosa, paired with Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2012, and ‘Caesar in flight’, a blackened salmon dish, is a modern riff on Caesar salad, with the summery Rosé 2011. On the farm, experience hands-on family fun and food interaction with activities ranging from mozzarella making, sow and grow, and a chocolate world. An oyster bar and teppanyaki grill and other food offerings will be available for grown-up tastes.

Diemersdal’s rolling green lawns and friendly family feel offers food stalls the Chip-In Challenge, live music, and some surprises to keep the weekend interesting.

 

Durbanville Hills invites guests to savour their new Sauvignon Blancs, attend tutored tasting by the Cape Wine Academy, relax under their trees or enjoy lunch in the Eatery. For the super fans, South Africa vs. New Zealand rugby game will be aired in the barrel cellar with snacks. Fill your own bottles straight from the barrels.

Groot Phesantekraal’s big hearted owners take it easy with live music, Sauvignon Blanc, sushi, venison kebabs and gourmet burgers.

Klein Roosboom’s Sauvignon Blanc flows with live music, prawns, calamari, espetadas and other gourmet treats at Café Ruby. There will be loads for the little ones on offer, including a cupcake and slush puppy bar. A portion of the entrance fees will be donated to the Fire & Rescue Services.

Hillcrest puts a twang in their quarry with old–school American rock on Saturday and New Orleans style blues on Sunday. Enjoy voices such as Tombstone Pete and The Studebakers, while sinking your teeth into gourmet burgers and hot dogs. Their signature olives and seductive Sauvignon Blanc will keep you rocking all weekend.

Meerendal kicks of Saturday with a farmers market and live music. For the duration of the festival, tutored tastings by cellar master Liza Goodwin and Bennie Howard will take visitors through Durbanville Sauvignon Blancs and how they age. International wines will also be tasted. Sunday sees the West Coast braai buffet, with Sauvignon Blanc on tap to match the flavours.

‘Ward in a box’ will again be on offer, an excellent way of tasting a Sauvignon Blanc variety from each of the 11 farms in the valley. Each farm has this on offer so festival goers can partake in a comparative tasting in one spot and get to know the valley’s cool climate style of Sauvignon Blanc.

Experience the valley by air

For the jetsetters, the popular Durbanville Sauvignon Wine Ferry helicopter experience returns.  Explore the valley from the air as the tour takes passengers on a day trip experience via De Grendel, Durbanville Hills and Meerendal. This exclusive shuttle service flies from one estate to the next, for visitors to enjoy tastings and festival offerings. Tickets are R750 pp. and includes a tasting glass, wine tastings, a Simonsberg cheese hamper and helicopter shuttle.

Booking:

• Base 4 Durbanville Wine Hopper:  021 934 4405
• Farms will accept their own bookings for their weekend activities
• For the full festival programme visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za or call the festival office on 083 310 1228 during office hours.

• Follow @DurbanvilleWine  and #dvillesauvfest on Twitter or visit www.facebook.com/durbanvillewine