Let the bluebird of happiness lead you over the rainbow when the annual Spring Weekend comes to the pretty little village of Bot River from 1-3 September and a kaleidoscope of exciting wine, food and genuine, country-style fun explodes.
Melissa Nelsen of Genevieve MCC says: “The wineries of Bot River are truly a welcoming community and the Spring Weekend is one of our favourite occasions to showcase our farms and the riches to be found on them.”
“This is what makes Bot River a real rainbow village, a place we’re proud to call our home. And this is what our Over the Rainbow Spring Weekend is all about. It’s a celebration of the diversity of our village in all its magnificent colour and swag.”
The tone for the jam-packed weekend programme will be set at the Best of Bot Wines exclusive dinner on Friday, 1 September.
The event stars Forage restaurant executive chef Gregory Henderson, renowned for roaming local pastures in search of ingredients for his indigenous dining experiences; Higgo Jacobs, head of the SA Association of Sommeliers, and fellow sommelier Ewan Mackenzie. Together they will present an expert food and wine pairing showcase. Tickets are R850pp, must be purchased through Quicket.
Pic Marsel Roothman Then, on Saturday and Sunday, Bot River’s participating wineries will turn on the charm, each representing a colour of the rainbow. They include newcomer to the Bot River wine family, Arcangeli Family Vineyards; Barton Vineyards; Villion Wines; Luddite Wines; Genevieve MCC; Beaumont Family Wines; Gabrielskloof Wine Estate; Rivendell Estate & Vineyards and Paardenkloof Estate.
It’s orange for the vines at Barton Wines, which dishes up a smorgasbord of fun from burgers to paintball, wine blending to tractor rides. Enter the wine blending competition and stand a chance to win a two-night stay in one of the Barton Villas.
Wildekrans goes pretty in pink for the whole weekend, serving up its MCC Brut Rosé as you enter its gates. Enjoy a light meal at the wine tasting room or something more formal at Forage; bring the kids for tractor rides and the jungle gym too.
Silver is the colour for Luddite – a colour fitting of sterling wines and sublime experience awaiting visitors to the farm during the festival. In addition to latest vintage releases on offer, including the alluring Saboteur White 2017, there will be the extraordinary food truck run by Jason from the eponymous Cape Town bakery.
For Rivendell Estate & Vineyards, there’s the shimmer of gold, the promise of a royal experience. Settle in for a long lunch and wall-to-ceiling views of the vineyards and mountains, to enjoy its special wine and canapé tasting plate in the spirit of spring.
Tickets for the 2017 Bot River Over the Rainbow Spring Weekend cost R100 per person and can be purchased, along with tickets to individual events, at www.quicket.co.za unless specified.