Get an inside glimpse at the lives of Robertson Valley's winemakers by helping them pick, sort and stomp grapes. Other activities include horse-cart wine tastings, vineyard tractor trips and brandy blending. Make sure you book your chosen activities before 22 February. Visit the website for more information.

What: Hands on Harvest Festival

When: 24 through 26 February, 9am till late (depending on the activity)

Where: various wine farms in the Robertson area

Cost: ranges from free to R500 per person, depending on the activity

Book: book directly with participating wineries

Contact: Elizma Spangenberg, +27236263167, manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

The third annual Constantia Fresh festival once again celebrates the distinctiveness of the ‘wild white’ grape Sauvignon Blanc and the red blends of Constantia from participating producers, namely Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Steenberg, Eagle’s Nest, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Glen.

At the Buitenverwachting Old Cellar on the afternoon of Friday 24 February, Jörg Pfützner of Fine Wine Events will host a fine wine tasting that focuses on Constantia's finest reds in the company of some excellent international wines from Château Leoville Barton, Dominus, and J. L. Chave, amongst others. Tickets to attend this tasting are on sale at R1500 per person.

The Greenhouse at Cellars-Hohenort Hotel will host the fine dining event on the evening of Friday 24 February 2012. Fine Wine Events will put forward some of the finest white, red and sweet wines Constantia and Bordeaux have to offer. Chef Peter Tempelhoff, recently awarded the status of Grand Chef at the Relais and Châteaux congress in Lisbon, will prepare a five-course degustation menu for 12 local and international wines featured at this dinner. Tickets to attend this dinner are on sale at R1500 per person.

The big walkabout tasting on Saturday 25 February will have wine enthusiasts wandering about the lawns of Buitenverwachting sampling South Africa's finest Sauvignon Blancs paired with canapés made by five of South Africa's most celebrated chefs attending the event: Bertus Basson (Overture Restaurant), Peter Tempelhoff (The Greenhouse), Edgar Osojnik (Buitenverwachting), Vanessa Marx (Dear Me) and Harald Bresselschmidt (Aubergine). Live music will take place early eveningto be followed by an elegantly constructed braai hosted by Buitenverwachting Restaurant and the High Constantia Gourmet Deli. Guests will have the chance to enjoy the excellent red wines of Constantia at thisbraai. Tickets to this tasting are on sale at R400 per person. For further information please visit www.constantiafresh.com.

What: Constantia Fresh Festival

Where: Buitenverwachting and The Greenhouse.   

When: Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February 2012

Contact: www.constantiafresh.com for more information. 

Book: Tickets available at www.webtickets.co.za and participating wine estates.

On 25 February, Nederburg invites you to become a part of the process for creating their award-winning wines by joining in the harvest. Unlike the usual day-time harvest, this year the harvest will take place at dusk, followed by a starlit picnic accompanied by instrumental music group Sterling EQ. The event kicks off with a sparkling wine cocktail, a gift from Nederburg, and some freshly baked mosbolletjies with Pinotage jam to fuel you as you help the experts pick grapes by hand. Then you’ll taste some grape must and tank samples, after which you can collect your picnic basket and bottle of wine, and settle down to enjoy the music.

What: Dusk Harvesting at Nederburg

When: 25 February. 6.30pm till late

Where: Nederburg Wine Estate

Cost: R200 per person, R65 per child under 12

Book: Bookings essential

Contact: +27218624887, nedwines@distell.co.za, www.nederburg.co.za

Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, will once again host its ever popular, educational Harvest Festival on Saturday, 25 February 2012 starting at 09:00. Created for the entire family, the day affords one and all the opportunity to learn and experience the world of wine first hand by celebrated Winemaker, Jaco Marais. 

The day starts at 09h00 with tea, coffee, fresh muffins and other pastries prepared by Executive Chef, Darren Roberts, followed by a tractor ride to the vineyard for grape picking the traditional way. This is followed by a tour of the wine cellar and a wine tasting with Jaco – a true behind the scenes look at the secrets of the cellar. 

Celebrate the the harvest of Spier Estate's prized grapes with an array of activities including wine tasting, barrel-spinning and giant-puzzle-building. The festival culiminates with an open-air concert starring local musicians.

What: Spier Harvest Festival

When: 25 February, 10am until 4pm

Where: Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch

Cost: R70 per person

Book: buy tickets at the door on the day

Contact: +27218091100, info@spier.co.za

Catch live performances by some of the country's best Afrikaans performers while tucking into your fill of succulent crayfish.

There's also plenty in store for the adrenalin junkies out there - bungee jumping, aerial displays, a half-marathon, beer tents and more.

What: Lamberts Bay Crayfish and Cultural Festival

When: 2 to 4 March, 9am till late, depending on the day

Where: Lamberts Bay, Western cape

Cost: R80 per adult, R50 per child under 16, free entry for children under 6

Book: buy tickets beforehand at Computicket or Shoprite Checkers

Contact: +27 (0)27 432-1000

This designer goods market is the perfect platform for a gorgeous selection of goods handmade with care and passion. Designers, crafters and artisans with great products may be viewed in this boutique environment on the first Saturday of the month.
What: Treasury Market at Stellenbosch Slowmarket 
Where: Stellenbosch Slowmarket 
When: First Saturday of every month
Info: Visit the website and Facebook page, email Cecile Blake on cecile@treasurymarket.co.za or call 073 3550 439.

On Sunday, 4 March 2012 Eikendal Estate pays homage to 31 years of quality winemaking with its popular Weintaufe Harvest Celebration. Eikendal is known for its Chardonnay and, after the 2012 Chardonnay harvest is baptised, visitors will get to taste the first wine of the 2012 harvest straight from the barrel.

Bring your picnic blanket and claim your spot at the water’s edge for Eikendal wine tastings, live music entertainment, craft stalls, lucky draws, vineyard tractor rides, fly fishing, barrel stomping, pony rides and loads of kiddies entertainment. Delicious food and wine will be on sale.

What: Eikendal Weintaufe Harvest Celebration

When: 10am - 5pm, 4 March 2012

Where: Eikendal Estate

Cost: R60 per person (includes a tasting glass and barrel tasting), no entry fee for children under 12

Book: No need to book, tickets will be available at the gates

Literary art meets wine legends when the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes teams up with the 2012 Stellenbosch University Woordfees (Festival of the Word) for a Word-and-Wine Celebration.

Activities on Friday, 9 March, include lunch at Morgenhof Estate with award-winning writer Annelie Botes, wine- and-dine date with business mogul Jannie Mouton at Uitkyk to talk about his recently published autobiography, dinner at Delheim with Riaan Cruywagen, and a ‘snoekbraai and adventure story-telling’ at Kanonkop with Johan and Christiaan Bakkes.

On Saturday, 10 March, Muratie Estate hauls out the barrels for a harvest festival and families and friends are invited to bring their picnic baskets for an afternoon of live music by the Kitchen Jammin Blues Band, grape stomping and estate wines on sale.

The final day, Sunday, concludes the festival with a Simonsberg Wine Route Market Day at Delvera. The market will offer wines from the Simonsberg area, country food, craft stalls, harvest activities and horse rides. For the young ones there will be a play corner, go-cart rides, a trampoline, jungle gym and a Kids’ Theater.

What: Stellenbosch Word-and-Wine Celebration

When: 9 March 2012 - 11 March 2012

Where: Various winefarms in the Simonsberg area

Cost: depends on activities chose; Sunday market entry free

Book: Friday and Saturday event bookings essential, no need to book for Sunday's market

Contact: +27218868275, www. wineroute.co.za

It’s hard to convey the happenings at the OmmiBerg ‘Round the Paarl Rock’ festival – this year taking place on Saturday 10 March. The participating wine estates – 12 all told – have uncorked their creativity to plan a day of unfiltered fun and flavour, and some rocking good music.
 
Stomp grapes in time to aKING, Ysterkoei or the Jesse Jordan band, swim in a bath of red wine, take a helicopter flight, or kick back with a relaxing grape-skin foot massage. Show off your knowledge, swing or palate in a wine quiz, golfing game or wine-blending competition. Treasure hunts, pony rides and slip-‘n-slides will entertain the children while the adults indulge in the fun. And when you get hungry, join a breakfast masterclass, try some tapas, enjoy a BYO braai or sluk some oysters with bubbly while gazing contentedly on a sunset after an extraordinary day.
 
Tickets include unfiltered wine and Zwiebelkuchen (onion tart) tastings, and access to all live music. Other events range from gratis to POA.

What: Ommiberg Wine Festival

When: 10 March, 10am until 6pm\

Where: Various wine farms throughout the Paarl region in the Western Cape

Cost: R80 per ticket, plus more for special activities

Book: No need to book, buy a ticket at the first farm you visit or from Wine Desk at the V&A Waterfront (021 418 0108)

Contact: www.ommiberg.co.za ,Twitter (@OmmiBerg), and Facebook (Paarl Wine)

Simonsberg Wine Route goes all out on Market Day

 
More than twenty Stellenbosch wine cellars will descend onto Delvera agri-village, when the Greater Simonsberg sub-route of the Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes holds its Market Day on Sunday, 11 March 2012.
 
Enjoy the finest wines from the Simonsberg area, country food, craft stalls with proudly local produce, harvest activities and horse rides. There will be a play corner and go-cart rides, a trampoline, jungle gym and a Kids Theater (12h00 at R40 per child) for the young ones.  
 
Live performances by the vibrant Stellenbosch jazz band, Manouche, will add to the atmosphere. The Vine Hopper will provide a shuttle service to and from Stellenbosch on the day.
 
Date: 11 March 2012
Time: From 10am
Price: free entry; kid's theatre R40 per child
Phone: (021) 886 8275
Visit: www.wineroute.co.za.

Film buffs sit through their fair share of celluloid showings with over 70 features, documentaries and short movies from over 35 countries.

A Festival-within-a-Festival, for 12 days the event offers a program of timely and fascinating films which evolve organically from the programming process.

What: Cape Winelands Film Festival

When: 14 through 26 March, time depending on the day

Where: Artscape Theatre, Cape Town, and other theatres throughout Cape Town

Cost: Depends on the film

Book: Book tickets from 1 March through Computicket, or directly with the ticket office (details below)

Contact: +27837924320, info@films-for-africa.co.za, www.films-for-africa.co.za

Bosman Family Vineyards promises a Celebration in Fairtrade at their Long Lunch during the annual Wellington Harvest Festival on 17 and 18 March 2012. This 8th generation family winery is partnering with Fairtrade Label South Africa (www.FairtradeSA.org.za) and significant South African Fairtrade producers during this year's Wellington Harvest Festival in order to give South Africans a glimpse into the world of Fairtrade. 

The Bosman family invites you to a feast of country food paired with their boutique-style wines in the captivating Bovlei Valley of Wellington. Savour the slow beat of ambient live music from various local entertainers including the Bosman Farming Choir, play the ancient game of boules, take a guided cellar tour, look at an antique tractor display, watch the kids playing in the supervised kiddies area, and enjoy delicious food prepared by Marc’s Restaurant and other local delicatessens.

Bosman Family Vineyards will be joining hands with Pebbles, an NGO actively involved in the communities of the wine growing regions within the South African Wine industry. A percentage of the Long Lunch proceeds will go towards supporting this Cape winelands charity.

What: Bosman Long Lunch 2012

When: 17 to 18 March, 10am-5pm

Where: Lelienfontein, Wellington

Cost: R80 per person

Booking: Not necessary, but there is a limit of 400 guests each day; you can buy tickets either at the gate on the day or at any Computicket outlet beforehand.

Contact:  Antonia Bosman, +27218733170, antonia@bosmanwines.com, www.bosmanwines.com

Mischa Wine Estate
This Wellington valley farm only opens its doors to the public once a year. This highly anticipated event takes the form of the annual Mischa Wine Festival to be held from 19 to 21 March this year. Think Moroccan tents, giant cushions for lounging upon and breathtaking views. Kids can look forward to a kids’-only area, complete with tasty food. Taste the award-winning estate wines, including vertical tastings, and indulge in some of the delicious local food on offer, while live music creates a relaxing atmosphere. 

If the heat of the valley is a little too much for you, plunge into the freshwater pool to cool off. Plenty of prizes will be up for grabs throughout the day. Raffle tickets will also be on sale, and there will be a golf-ball hitting competition to raise funds for PETS (Pet Empowerment in Townships). End the day with one of Mischa’s ice-cold wine cocktails while watching the sun set over Table Mountain in the distance.

What: Mischa Wine Festival

When: 17 March 10am until 7pm, and 18 March 10 am until 2pm

Where: Mischa Wine Estate, Wellington, Western Cape

Cost: Free entry

Book: Bookings are essential through the estate (details below)

Contact: +218641020, info@mischaestate.com, www.mischaestate.com

Mother Nature smiled on Wellington, Saturday 20 March when a gentle summer's day greeted the tractor, harvester and vintage car procession as they slowly cruised down Main Street and up Church, stopping people in their tracks and leaving kids slack-jawed with fascination.

Soon a steady trickle poured through Wellington, eager to enjoy all the delights on offer. An estimated 3300 plus visitors came, saw and was conquered over the 3 day period. Highlights included lazy lunches at Bosman, tasting potjiekos at Doolhof, indulging in the valley of canapes at Diemersfontein, not to forget Wingerd Rock 4, wild boar on spit and the two fresh and local markets at Welgegund and Kleinevalleij.

The 2012 festival will take place from 17-18 March. For more information, click here.

What: Wellington Harvest Festival

When: 17 and 18 March

Where: Wine farms throughout the Wellington area

Cost: R60 per person

Book: No need to book

Contact: +272187344601, info@wellington.co.za, www.wellington.co.za

Not Irish? Don’t let that stop you from sharing in a day filled with all things green, leprechauns and four-leaf clovers. Find something green to wear and join Durbanville Hills Wines on Saturday, 17 March, in celebrating St Patrick’s Day.

Get into the spirit of the day with Irish folk and contemporary music, while enjoying a tasting of Durbanville Hills’ award-winning wines. The Eatery will be serving fresh fish and chips as well as local tapas under the olive trees. Those best dressed in green stand a chance of winning amazing prizes. There will also be fantastic special offers on wines available.

What: St Patrick’s Day with Durbanville Hills

When: 17 March, 10am-2.30pm

Where: Durbanville Hills Wine Farm

Cost: No entry fee, R45 for fish and chips lunch, R25 per tapas bowl

Booking: No need to book

Contact: info@durbanvillehills.co.za, 021 558 1300, www.durbanvillehills.co.za

From 21– 25 March 2012, Trends and Tastes, KZN’s food, décor, design and lifestyle exhibition will transform Durban Exhibition Centre. For foodies, there will be an organic food market, stalls representing some of Durban’s top restaurants, and a line-up of top professionals and international guests sharing their wisdom. Other attractions include a special kitchen and bathroom section, and a whole host of other lifestyle and décor exhibits.

Harvesting the bounty of the vineyards is one of the most important moments in the making of good wine.  The Durbanville Wine Valley celebrates ‘Feast of the Grape’, its annual Harvest Festival on Wednesday, 21 March, signaling the end of the grape season and the beginning of autumn.

Delight your senses with our complete package of wine, great food, fine music and other vendange activities.

For more information, click here.

What: Feast of the Grapes

When: 21 March

Where: Durbanville wine route, Cape Town

Cost: depends on the activity

Book: Book through the Durbanville Wine Valley head office (details below)

Contact: +27833101228, info@durbanvillewine.co.za

The winners of the Eat In DStv Food Network Produce Awards will be announced on Saturday 24 March 2012 at the Stellenbosch Slowmarket.

These awards aim to acknowledge and celebrate outstanding, independent South African producers for putting South Africa on the international food map with their integrity, care for the environment, passion and innovation. Of course, an outlet is a vital connection between the producers and public, which is why the awards also recognise the stores, shops and market for their vital role in the process.

Nominees in the following categories were judged by a professional team in January:

Best new product
Outstanding supplier - three regions: North, East, South
Small producer: bakery
Small producer: dairy
Small producer: earth
Small producer: grocery
Small producer: paddock
Small producer: seafood
Best organic producer
Outstanding food market - three regions: North, East, South
South African food heritage
Best local food blog (new award)

Selected nominees and award winners will be selling their produce, as well as the usual stall holders at the market.

Where: The Stellenbosch Slowmarket, Oude Libertas Estate, Oude Libertas Road, Stellenbosch
When: Saturday 24 March 2012 between 9am and 2pm (awards at 10am)
Cost: Entrance is free to the public. 
Info: For more information or to book a stand, please contact lauren.artus@newmediapub.co.za.