There isn’t a Stellenbosch Wine Festival this year (booo), but the people behind it haven’t been idling. While a revamped version is in the works for 2013, this winter (it’s the southern hemisphere remember) they’ve come up with the Grape Day Out.
The festival has traditionally been a bit of a contradiction. On the one hand it aims to showcase the produce of the fabulously rich and increasingly well-to-do Stellenbosch set. Yet on the other, it’s a raucous party for the Stellenbosch University’s students.
Back in 2010 when the World Cup was in town (nearby Cape Town was one of the host cities), the organisers tried to take the event a little up market. Rather than hosting a massive wine-fuelled drinkathon in one location, they set up a handful of mini-bus driven tours of, and tastings at, Stellenbosch’s vineyards.
Though an interesting idea, not enough of the regular crowd and international football fans turned up to make the new format a success.
With the Grape Day Out the organisers are clearly trying to win their old crowd back. Sure, it’s still a wine showcase of sorts, but the hope is clearly to attract students and young professionals with a hipster vibe oriented around a live band, fashion competition and DJ set.
Of course there’ll be free wine tastings. Between 11am and 3pm, visitors can sip and spit (they won’t be spitting) offerings from top wineries such as Beyerskloof, Lanzerac, Morgenhof, Neil Ellis Wines and Villiera Wines.
The R160 tickets (on the door) are great value, working out at a little under £13.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
