The annual Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival returns to Cape Town on Saturday 3 May 2014.  Wine estates of the Elgin Valley will be open for wine tastings throughout the day and will offer mouth-watering luncheons and top class entertainment.

The festival, sponsored by Nedbank and Orchard Suppliers, offers wine enthusiasts and leisure seekers the chance to enjoy the beauty of the Elgin Valley while discovering a vast variety of fine wines from the unique wine route, which lies just an hour outside of Cape Town. Festival goers can look forward to a day filled with fine wines, good food and plenty of entertainment for all ages.

The Elgin Cool Wine & Country Festival is divided into three sections- morning, lunch and afternoon -starting from 09h30 and coming to an end at17h00. Each estate offers not just the chance to experience the wines produced, but also the rich culture and heritage that is part and parcel of the Elgin Wine Route.

The morning session runs from 09h30 – 11h30and will see all the estates participating in the festival open for tasting. Visitors are welcome to move freely from one estate to the next.

The Lunch Session is from 11h30 – 14h30.  This session consists of each estate offering a unique lunch experience, highlighting their estate and wine selection. Visitors select the lunch destination and offering they like and book accordingly. Bookings are essential via the Elgin Valley Wine Guild Website www.elginwine.co.za . Space is limited per estate and prices will vary per estate offering.

Afternoon session 14h30 – 17h00: All participating estates are open for wine tastings. Visitors are welcome to move freely between estates.

Different kinds of entertainment will be on offer at each participating winery during the day to  appeal to all ages, ranging from live bands to amazing art collections, tractor rides and kiddies playgrounds. During the pre-booked lunch session, visitors can choose from a number of estates to enjoy their world-class dining experience, explore the estate grounds and meet the renowned wine maker or estate owner.

Nedbank Business Banking’s area manager for Inland, Helmien Havenga, says that this sponsorship reinforces the bank’s commitment to the South African agricultural sector and the wine industry in particular. “We are delighted to sponsor this exciting festival for the second year. As the proud sponsors of the Cape Winemaker’s Guild and the Nedbank Green Wine Awards, we feel that our support of this festival gives us a great opportunity to connect on a personal level with the community.”

Nedbank’s offering to the wine industry includes the services of a dedicated agriculture unit which combines specialist industry knowledge with years of specialist banking experience. This combination ensures that as a financial partner to the industry Nedbank is able to provide value-adding support to its clients.

Christiaan Jansen van Rensburg,  Managing Director of Orchard Suppliers says that the company is proud to be involved as co-sponsor of this unique festival. “It gives us the opportunity to contribute to the promotion of the sector we serve on a daily basis. We wish all parties a very enjoyable and memorable  festival.”

Elgin is the coolest wine growing region in South Africa, with a high altitude and climate conditions that allow grapes a longer hanging time on the vines. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, the lush green valleys of this region offer the ideal place to grow fresh produce such as pears, apples and grapes, which adds even more appeal to this already distinctive wine region. The Elgin Valley is also known for its wide range of adventure sports, which include 4×4 wine tours to mountain biking, quad biking, kayaking and many other activities.

For wine lovers and those in need of a rewarding day out, the Elgin Cool Wine and Country Festival offers the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and indulge in a memorable day of wine, entertainment and spectacular natural beauty. Day passes can be purchased at any participating wine farm on the day of the festival for just R50 per pass; however lunch sessions must be pre-booked in advance. Please note that the festival promotes designated drives and the responsible use of alcohol.

Visit www.elginwine.co.za for further information on lunch session bookings, wine estates and varietals produced across the Elgin Wine Route.  Tickets will go on sale 28 March 2014.