Cape Town - The celebrated cellars of the Constantia region don’t often join hands when it comes to festivals, making the annual Constantia Fresh a singular summer highlight. The 2014 weekend programme follows a similar pattern to those of previous years, starting with a gourmet wine-tasting of the region’s finest and comparing them with vintages from Burgundy, Barolo, Rioja and Bordeaux, alongside the products of newer Old World cellars in France, Italy and Spain. The relevance of contemporary versus traditional will be up for debate.
The event, hosted by sommelier Jorg Pfützner, is at Klein Constantia and starts at 5.30pm for 6pm on February 21.
A limited number of guests can choose to go on to an alfresco four-course dinner, starting at 8pm in the grounds of Klein Constantia.
Renowned chef Bertus Basson will create gourmet fare over open fires using top local ingredients, and the feast will be paired with a dozen of the best white, red and dessert wines produced in the Constantia valley.
A medley of the region’s Cap Classiques will start proceedings.
Saturday, February 22 sees both Constantia and other prominent Cape producers gather on the lawns of Buitenverwachting to present more than 200 fine wines, with emphasis on freshness, from 3pm.
This makes the festival hub, where expos and art, live music and acts and an antique market will operate alongside fine fare from an array of top chefs, among them Peter Tempelhoff, Bertus Basson, Edgar Osojnik and Brad Ball.
Among the cellars taking part are Kleine Zalze, Delaire Graff, Mullineux Vineyards and Chamonix.
The themed tasting on Friday evening costs R990.
The alfresco dinner at Klein Constantia on Friday night costs R990 a head.
Seats are limited for both events.
l To book for either, contact enjoy@ fineevents.co.za. Tickets to Constantia Fresh at Buitenverwachting, which include wine tasting and canapés, cost R400 and can be bought from wine farms taking part and from www.webtickets. co.za. See www.constantiafresh. com for more information. - Weekend Argus