#BastilleDay in Durban- a wine and good food affair

Published Jul 13, 2017

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Friday is Bastille Day, a common name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day. As part of celebrating this day, Durban’s Granada Square which is situated in the heart of Umhlanga will be host to this weekend’s Bastille Day Wine Festival set to be one of the province's fun-filled food-and-wine extravaganzas of the year.

Having started on Thursday and ending Saturday afternoon people can enjoy live entertainment that will bring joie de vivre to the festival of France while the restaurants will be having amazing in the house specials this evening to mark the occasion. Festival organizer, Duncan Heathfield said Bastille Day is known for being a celebration of fine wine, fine food and cheese.

“The link between the French and South Africa is noted at the Huguenot Monument and Museum in Franschhoek. The monument was erected in honour of the contribution of the French in the region at the end of the 17th century. Many of them were experienced farmers who had an influence in developing the renowned wine culture of the Cape”, he said.

This festival which aims at gathering close to a thousand people over the period of the festival will be seeing an array of more than thirty of South African’s most prestigious and converted wine estates showcasing their award winning wineries with great traditional foods which will be presented by the restaurants at Granada Square, that of, Angelo’s, Little Havanna, Pintxada, Ferrucci and Europa.

Heathfield’s wine and food pairing tips that people can try at the festival are:

Red Wine

Cabernet Sauvignon- best paired with rich meat such as beef or duck as well as hearty stews.

Merlot- best served with lamb, soft beef such as lion, tuna, salmon, or mushrooms.

Pinot Noir- best paired with turkey, duck, salmon, tuna, spicy pork dishes, cheese, lamb or venison.

White Wine

Chardonnay- best served with prawn, white-fleshed fish, pork as well as creamy pasta dishes.

Riesling- can be paired with almost anything but best suits lighter meat such as shellfish, chicken, pork and even dishes with an Asian influence.

Sauvignon Blanc- this crisp white wine is flexible with food. It is best served with cheeses, oysters, vegetable dishes as well as light meals.

Sparkling wine

- best served with dishes with creamy sauces, caviar, shellfish, and cheese, deep fried and deep fried foods.

Dry rose

- best paired with light salads, light pasta and rice dishes, seafood as well as goat’s cheese and sushi amongst others.

He said he hopes that this festival will provide and unite Durban in the rich cultures and flavours of France and not to mention, savouring some South Africa’s most formidable wine estates.

Tickets for the festival cost R125 per ticket for each day, including a festival glass and festival tokens to use for wine or food .For more information and updates follow Bastille Day Wine Festival at Granada Square on Facebook.

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