Much to look forward to in Elgin on weekend of 2 & 3 May – but take nothing for granted
SOMETHING(S) to bear in mind if planning a trip to the Cool Wine & Country Festival in Elgin between 9am and 5pm on 2 & 3 May that involves a weekend pass costing R100 pp:
Not every Elgin wine will be on show – non-participants include Richard Kershaw, Spioenkop and Sutherland (of Thelema), plus a number of other producers who truck grapes from Elgin to wineries in Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and elsewhere.
At some of the cellar doors, the weekend pass will only entitle you to taste a few wines, after which you’ll have to pay extra.
And some of the vintners will be presenting special wine tastings that will be charged for over-and-above the weekend pass, and most of the meals on offer also carry an additional charge.
The top wine recommendations are as follows – excluding those Elgin wines that won’t be on show:
CHARDONNAY
Almenkerk
Elgin Vintners
Iona
Oak Valley
Paul Cluver
Winter’s Drift
GEWURZTRAMINER
Paul Cluver
RIESLING
Paul Cluver
SAUVIGNON BLANC
Iona
Paul Cluver
Shannon Sanctuary Peak
VIOGNIER
Elgin Vintners
WHITE BLENDS
Elgin Vintners The Century Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Highlands Road Sine Cerra
Oak Valley Mountain Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
MERLOT
Elgin Vintners
Shannon Mount Bullet
PINOT NOIR
Iona
Oak Valley
Paul Cluver
Shannon Rockview Pinot Noir
Winter’s Drift
SHIRAZ
Almenkerk
SPARKLING WINE
Charles Fox Brut MCC
DESSERT WINE
Paul Cluver Noble Late Harvest
For the full festival programme, the names of all the participants, a map and the contact details when it comes to making reservations, click here.
Below are the festival highlights as regards the menus, the entertainment and the best wine experiences on offer at the various wine farms:
Almenkerk
FOOD: pop-up cafe serving French bistro-type lunch as well as tea and cake between 11:00 and 15:30
WINE EXPERIENCE: include vertical tasting of six Sauvignon Blanc vintages conducted by the cellarmaster at 10am followed by a blending exercise – booking essential
Tel 021 848 9844 info@almenkerk.co.za
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Chardonnay, Syrah
Arumdale
FOOD: cheese & biscuits
Belfield
FOOD: variety of cold meats and more served from Food Trucks
LIVE MUSIC: duo and pianist
Charles Fox
FOOD: cheese platters
WINE EXPERIENCE: cellar tours
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Brut Cap Classique Sparkling
Corder
FOOD: cheese platters
EXHIBITIONS: by artist Mandy McKay and sculptor Louis Chanu
Elgin Ridge
WNE EXPERIENCE: tasting of biodynamic wines, followed by canapes – booking essential
Tel 079 433 9400 marion@elginridge.com
Elgin Vintners
FOOD: pizzas, burritos, slushpuppies, candyfloss, popcorn, coffee
LIVE MUSIC: Gian Groen on 2 May, Classic Revival on 3 May
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Chardonnay, Merlot, The Century Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Viognier
Hannay & Catherine Marshall
FOOD: gourmet burgers with wine-infused truffles (handcrafted beer served on 3 May)
WINE EXPERIENCE: tutored tasting of three Hannay Sauvignon Blanc vintages (2011 – 2013) and two Catherine Marshall Pinot Noir vintages (2012 & 2013) led by respective winemakers – booking essential
Tel 021 848 9177 info@valleygreen.co.za
Highlands Road
FOOD: pizza, picnic boxes
LIVE MUSIC: jazz and blues on 3 May
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Sine Cerra (white blend)
Iona
WINE EXPERIENCE: vertical tasting of Sauvignon Blanc, followed by light lunch – booking essential
Tel 028 284 9678 karen@iona.co.za
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir
Lothian
FOOD: sushi, picnics along the river
LIVE MUSIC: Under the Tree (indie)
Oak Valley
LIVE MUSIC, 2 MAY: Dan Valley Band (country, blues, rock) between 11:00 and 14:00, Heather Waters Band (folk-rock) between 14:00 and 17:00
LIVE MUSIC, 3 MAY: Zenn Viljoen (indi-rock) between 12:30 and 16:30
FOOD: breakfast between 09:00 and 11:00, lunch between 12:00 and 16:00
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Chardonnay, Mountain Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Pinot Noir
Oneiric
FOOD & LIVE MUSIC: slow-cooked lamb, calamari, pita pockets & garlic breads, malva pudding; bands Watershed Unplugged and Intimate – booking essential
Tel 071 481 9560 shan@oneiric.co.za
Paul Cluver
FOOD: a la carte menu at Fresh restaurant – booking essential
Tel 071 563 6020 niki@freshatpaulcluver.co.za
LIVE MUSIC: lazy, jazzy sax
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Noble Late Harvest
Paul Wallace
FOOD: braaied beef fillet rolls
WINE EXPERIENCE: chocolate & wine pairing – booking essential (Tel 021 848 9744 wallovale@mweb.co.za)
Shannon
FOOD: pop-up restaurant serving three-course meal by Craig Cormack – booking essential
Tel 083 231 7008 james@shannonwines.com
WINE EXPERIENCE: tutored tastings of Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir vintages 2006 to 2014 and Mount Bullet Merlot vintages 2007 to 2013 on 2 May and 3 May respectively – booking essential
Tel 083 231 7008 james@shannonwines.com
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Mount Bullet Merlot, Sanctuary Peak Sauvignon Blanc, Rockview Pinot Noir
South Hill
FOOD: brunch picnics on 2 & 3 May, sundowners with tapas & oysters on 2 May – booking essential
Tel 021 844 0033 events@southhill.co.za
LIVE MUSIC: Rivertones (reggae) on 2 May, Schalk Joubert Jazz Trio on 3 May
Winter’s Drift
FOOD: chicken curry, gourmet boerewors or frankfurters, platters of Parma ham, cheese pickles and bread – booking essential
Tel 021 859 3354 tastingroom@wintersdrift.com
TOP WINE RECOMMENDATIONS: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir