The Franschhoek Cellar is a familiar landmark as you enter Franschhoek but how many of us have actually visited it?  DGB (Douglas Green Bellingham) produce, wholesale and distribute wines and spirits including familiar names like Boschendal, Bellingham, & Douglas Green, acquired this winery several years ago and MD Tim Hutchinson was keen for them to redevelop this iconic building as a tasting, function and sales venue to compliment the winery. They have much improved the outside facilities as well. On Monday night we drove through to Franschhoek for the launch of The Venue. We have to say that one think we don’t like is functions that start at 5.30 in the winelands, as we then spend nearly 2 hours stuck in going home traffic, which is what happened on Monday. It makes for a very long eveningTwo new very impressive cut steel logo boards with steel candle braziers flank the front door. This is now a very impressive venueIt was a gathering of the great and good of Franschhoek Beautifully planted garden areas flank the ‘Platform’ covered area which is suitable for functions and the central walkway. There are plans to enclose in the Platform area to make it weather proof and more comfortable in the winter monthsThe view down towards the gazebo, lovely for wedding ceremonies in the gardenGuests included Chef Chris Erasmus of Foliage, his restaurant Manager Lee-Ann Fouché and Hein Koegelenberg, CEO La Motte Estate and Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards A good band with a Latin flavour played throughout the eveningOn offer on arrival was the Franschhoek Cellar MCC Brut rose, caramel popcorn and rather messy Jaffles stuffed with bobotie, something we haven’t had for a couple of decadesAfter about an hour we moved inside. The colourful Brampton Wine Studio inside the front door also had music.The tasting area filled with busy serversUp a short flight of steps into the Main tasting room which is divided into four areas. Here we stood around for quite a while and enjoyed some of the Franschhoek chenin or sauvignon blanc on offer. There was also a rosé and Brampton red wine. You can do chocolate or cheese and wine pairings; they serve cakes and you can buy wineThis is The Venue all set up for the function. If you book it they supply tables, linen, cutlery, crockery & chairs. It has its own entrance and loosFilling glasses for the guests in the tasting roomThis was the best canapé of the evening. Small toasts topped with brie and pickles & artichokesWinnie Bowman CWM, Jenny Prinsloo, Head of Franschhoek Tourism and Allister Rogan, director of Graham Beck EnterprisesJacques Roux, Marketing Director of DGB, was the MC for the eveningThe cocktail party in full swing while we wait to sit down for the speechesThe snacks for supper. It was “retro” party food and I am being kind. Small hamburgers and rather dry chicken on toothpicksBaby meatballs and tomatoesSpring rollsCheese on sticks, all that was missing was the melon to stick them intoJacques Roux begins the speeches by telling us of the line up of speakersCarla, Malherbe Marketing Manager for Franschhoek Cellars, told us in detail about what they have plannedThe party snacks were laid out on tables for guests to help themselves. In the background is the line up of staff who work at the Franschhoek Cellar as they were introduced to usThe Executive Mayor of the Stellenbosch Municipality, his Honour Conrad Sidego, was there to give a blessing to the Cellar. His speech was inspiring and interesting. He said that the heart of the wealth in our wines is in this community. And he wants to turn this valley (which stretches from Wellington through Paarl and Stellenbosch to Franschhoek) into the Innovation Capital of South Africa in wine, cuisine and tourism. He said: “Although SA faces huge challenges, this valley can do it. We have had 21 years of the New South Africa, it was a promissory note. When will we deliver? “ he asked. The wine industry must do its part. He hopes that the directors of DGB are a blessed bunch and that they will deliver to the winning nation and continue to show sensitivity to the environment in which they operate. CEO of DGB Tim Hutchinson thanked the Mayor and told us about how DGB was progressing with Franschhoek Cellars, and its other properties. He introduced and thanked the architect of this project Ernst Zieman, Operations boss at Boschendal. He told us of the charities they support: the Andrew Murray Orphanage in Wellington, and the Fair to All Project which has a truck fitted out with 32 computers and a library that circulates to needy schools in the winelands. They plan to have 3 to 4 more soon but need help from the wealthy to fund them. John Gnodde, an Executive Director of BraitAnd finally chocolates and coffee in the Bernhard Premium lounge on the way out, where we were presented with a generous gift bag containing coffee, a bottle of Franschhoek Cellars red wine and a chopping board. Lynne chatting to Boschendal Cellarmaster, JC BekkerThe Bernard Premium lounge. We arrived home at 11.30 pmRETURN TO MENU© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2015