SOME HAVE never heard of Clarens. Whereas art lovers and folk who enjoy South African road trips might well have chanced upon it, a little village in the Free State where they're organising a festival, the first of its kind but which will have adventurous wine lovers thinking of the Stoep Tastings in those Eastern Cape dorpies Graaff Reinet and Nieu Bathesda, or the Vino Camino in Prince Albert. Remote. The sort of event you have/want to stay over for.
Cape2Clarens “attendees can explore… moving between various restaurants… opportunities to sample a range of wines, with optional small plates and gourmet dishes…” The wine producers who will be represented include: André van Rensburg, Kriel, Waterleliefontein, Amperbo, Black Oystercatcher, Piekenierskloof, Thelema, Paul Wallace, Rustenberg, Spier, Montpellier, Jakkalsvlei, Ken Forrester, Steenberg, Stellenbosch Hills, Tokara, Van Zijl, De Krans, Eikendal, Ernie Els, Glen Carlou, Graham Beck, Imbuko, KWV and Laborie.
See below for some of the top SA wine events scheduled to happen in September and October '25 – just click on the links. For all of the top SA wine events coming up, click here.
Blomme & Bubbles Festival in Paternoster on September 5, 6 & 7
Ivory Manor Wine Festival in Pretoria on September 6
Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Celebration in Cape Town on September 18
Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival in Johannesburg on October 4 & 5
Cape Winemakers Guild Auction in Somerset West on October 3 & 4
Cape2Clarens Wine Tasting Festival in Clarens on October 17 & 18
Sip & Savour @ the River Festival in Robertson on October 25
WineX in Johannesburg on October 30 & 31