Cape Town - Add the final touch to your black and white outfits with a panama and a parasol, then head for Franschhoek’s Huguenot Monument at the month’s end.
This is the venue for the Magic of Bubbles Cap Classique and Champagne festival, an annual highlight on the Cape wine calendar.
It takes place on November 29 and 30, when valley winemakers will be pouring the best of their bubblies, alongside some of France’s top Champagnes.
Among those taking part are Pierre Jourdan, Morena, Moreson, La Motte, Boschendal, Leopard’s Leap and Anthonij Rupert. From further afield, Krone, Graham Beck, Pongracz, Simonsig, Steenberg and Villiera will join the lineup. Valley restaurants which will showcase their tempting menus include Bread & Wine, The SalmonBar, Haute Cabrière, L’Ermitage, Grande Provence and Mont Rochelle.
Prizes will be awarded to best-dressed couples on both days. The festival takes place from noon to 5pm and tickets, which are R200, include glass and tasting coupons. Children under 18 enter free.
* Those using MasterCard to pay will get discounts. Book through www.webtickets.co.za. For more information and updates visit www.franschhoekmcc.co.za
Crisp and fresh
The wines at Allée Bleue keep getting better. This Franschhoek farm, which is not listed as taking part in the Cap Classique festival, offers a pleasing duo of bubblies, a brut MCC (R130)and a Brut Rosé, fresh, crisp and fruity (R110). The latter is pinotage-based, and it’s this cultivar that’s becoming a star turn at this cellar. Recently their 2012 pinotage made it into the Top Ten awards, all the more pleasing as it’s the first vintage made from home-grown grapes by winemaker Van Zyl du Toit. Allee Bleue’s entry- level range also stars an enjoyable value-for-money pinotage.
Winelands cellars steal show
With hiking and biking in the Winelands a hugely popular pastime, the Klink Awards added a new category – Tracks and Trails – to this year’s list of subjects that the public considered when choosing their favourite destinations.
The results of the 2014 awards were announced recently with Van Loveren Family Vineyards winning with their popular Fish Eagle hiking trail.
Visitors taking this scenic route with its breathtaking views can follow with varied tastings and pairings in the winery’s striking tasting centre.
The Klink Awards, founded by Monika Elias, have, in three short years, evolved into a major contest with Cape cellars touting online for votes. Nearly 80 finalist contenders were eligible, with voters allowed only one vote per category.
Laborie in Paarl was the overall supernova winner with most votes, and its Harvest restaurant also took top honours in the middle restaurant category. Other successful wineries included Towerbosch restaurant at Knorhoek for casual dining, Dunstone Guava cottage for best accommodation, Franschhoek’s Bastille festival for best wine route event and Blaauwklippen Family market for best child-friendly venue.
Weekend Argus