Everything is coming up apricots at the Kingsriver Estate in the McGregor valley. The Apricot Festival will be held from November 28 to December 6, and fans of the fruit can enjoy apricot wine, jams and chutney.
Visiting Dutch chef Robin Gorte will also whip up an array of apricot-inspired meals and European delicacies.
According to Ruud de Clercq, winemaker and owner of Kingsriver Estate, the farm's orchards boast three different varieties of apricots. Guests are welcome to participate in the harvest by picking their own apricots and learning how to make jam during the chef's jam-making demonstration.
"Pull on your wellies and get down and dirty in our rambling apricot orchards," says De Clercq.
And while the jam is bubbling away on the stove, guests can indulge in a three-course apricot- inspired meal, finished off with De Clercq's rich, deep-amber dessert wine, which is bursting with warm apricot flavour and perfectly paired with a rich, creamy mature camembert, or a savoury goat's cheese and thyme tart.
The meal will include line fish with apricots, salad and muscadel; chicken breast with apricot risotto and green asparagus; lamb with saffraam, apricots, almonds and couscous; a selection of cheeses with apricot chutney; and apricots in brandewyn with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream.
De Clercq, who developed a passion for winemaking while living in France, produced his own virgin vintage of apricot wine after discovering the recipe in a book belonging to his deceased uncle, Joop Dhert.
The book, titled Wijn Maken Thuis (Winemaking at Home), covers all aspects of DIY winemaking and offers recipes for cherry wine, apple wine, rice wine, banana and apricot wine.
In the five years since De Clercq bought the 380-hectare property, he has steadily turned his vision of a "place of experience" into reality - a place of food, wine, music and relaxation.
Tickets are R150 and include the three-course meal.
Accommodation is available on the estate at the Kingsriver Guest House.
- For more information and bookings, call 023 625 1040, or see www.kingsriver-estate.com