This weekend the Durbanville Wine Valley celebrates the arrival of Spring, and its fresh and crisp Sauvignon Blancs, produced on eleven wine estates on the Durbanville Wine Route, with the ‘Season of Sauvignon’ Festival. Each wine estate is offering tastings of its wines, as well as food, and many are offering live music, other entertainment, and activities too.
The Durbanville wine region, with a valley of rolling vineyards, benefits from a cool climate terroir, and has been celebrating its Sauvignon Blanc festival for eight years. The ‘Season of Sauvignon’ Festival has been designed to encourage wine lovers to visit as many of the Durbanville wine estates as possible, although all the Durbanville wines will be available to taste at each of the wine estates on the Route via the ‘Ward in a box’.
Each Durbanville wine estate has organised its own entertainment and food offering for the ‘Season of Sauvignon’ Festival, has different opening hours this weekend, and has different entrance/tasting fees:
* Altydgedacht: Vineyard tours with viticulturist and owner John Parker, live music, slow food. R20 tasting fee. Open 10h00 – 16h00 Saturday and Sunday. Tel (021) 975-7815
* Bloemendal: This wine estate has the second oldest Bush Vine in South Africa. They will be offering picnics. Their new Cap Classique will be launched this weekend. Savvy On-Tap Lounge. Presentations in the Wine Theatre. Open 11h00 – 21h00 on Saturday and 11h00 – 17h00 on Sunday. R40 tasting fee. Tel (021) 976-2682
* D’Aria: A ‘Cirque de Sauvignon‘ will offer a carnival atmosphere with ‘jokes and giggles‘, there will be a Cocktail Bar, food stalls, and one can dance to live music. 11h00 – 20h00 Saturday, 11h00 – 18h00 Sunday. R 20 entrance fee. Tel (021) 801-6772.
* De Grendel: Meet the farm animals, learn how to make mozzarella, sow and grow, learn to bake bread, food pairing with Sauvignon Blanc, Chocolate World, and Family Olympics. 10h00 – ‘sundown’ Saturday and Sunday. No tasting charge. Tel (021) 558-6280.
* Diemersdal: Live music, entertainment, food stalls, tasting of Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Rosé 2012. 11h00 – 18h00 Saturday and Sunday. R60 tasting fee. Tel (021) 976-3361
* Durbanville Hills: Oyster and sushi bar, foot-long boerewors rolls, cheese platters, picnics, free tutored tastings by Cape Wine Academy. Rugby match between Springboks and All Blacks screened in Barrel Cellar from 17h00. 10h00 – 20h00 Saturday, 10h00 – 17h00 Sunday. No tasting charge. Tel (021) 558-1300
* Groot Phesantekraal: Live music, Wine tasting. 11h00 – 16h00 Saturday and Sunday. R50 tasting charge. Tel (021) 976-2114
* Hillcrest: American Rock music on Saturday, and New Orleans Blues on Sunday. Food stalls, gourmet burgers, hot dogs, olives, cheese platters. 11h00 -17h00 Saturday and Sunday. R40 tasting charge. Tel (021) 976-1110.
* Klein Roosboom: Catering by Café Rugby, pancakes, cheese platters, live music. 11h00 – 17h00 Saturday, 11h00 – 16h00 Sunday. Tasting charge R50. Tel 082 784 5102.
* Meerendal: Farmer’s Market, live entertainment, and free tutored tastings by Cellar Master Liza Goodwin and Marketing Manager Bennie Howard, all on Saturday. West Coast Braai Buffet with crayfish,
mussels and snoek on Sunday, 9h00 – 17h00 Saturday and Sunday. No entrance fee. Tel (021) 975-1655.
* Nitida: Live music at Cassia restaurant 11h00 – 16h00 Saturday and Sunday. Live jazz and picnic baskets at Tables at Nitida restaurant 9h00 – 17h00 Saturday and Sunday. No tasting fee. Tel (021) 975-9357/976-0640.
DISCLOSURE: We received a bottle of Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc 2012 with our media pack.
POSTSCRIPT 6/10: My visit to the Durbanville Wine Route started 
at Meerendal, lying outside Durbanville, in the countryside. They had a Farmer’s Market in a hall on the farm, with homemade chicken pies and melktert, biltong and droë wors, cheeses, charcuterie, breads, olives, and vegetables.
The Deli had a selection of good looking tarts and sweet treats.
At Diemersdal I met the Louw family, the owners of the farm, even the 7th generation Louw who is about one year old. The farm was first registered in 1698, and the first Louw forbear took over the farm in 1855. Current owner Tienie Louw came to chat, and struck us as a humble wine producer yet proudly shared the success of his 
wines at the China International Wine Awards, at which the MM Louw, Private Collection Pinotage and Matthys won Double Gold, and the latter wine winning the Wine of the Show, out of 3500 – 4000 wines judged. They are also eagerly awaiting the results of the 
China Decanter Awards on 24 October. Tienie shared that the success in the Eastern market is having a family business, reflecting the passion for its business, and being a ‘friend of a friend’. Tienie’s son Thys told us that his father would only give him eight rows to grow his own grapes and make wine from them initially, and it turned out to be an award-winning Sauvignon Blanc, which he branded Eight Rows. He is now in charge of the whole farm! Diemersdal also lies outside Durbanville, and despite more than 1000
visitors tasting the food of Ocean Basket, Piroschka, Bacini’s, and more to the music of a live band, we were truly out in the countryside. A new Restaurant is about to open, with Chef Nic van Wyk at the helm, previously of Terroir, and we tasted a most unusual Brandade, a Portuguese salted dried fishcake made from smoked snoek and hake, with poached milk and mash, olive oil, cumin, lemon zest and parsley, 
with a crispy coating. Errieda du Toit, PR Consultant to the Durbanville Wine Route, a gracious hostess today, shared that Durbanville has developed a signature dish served by many restaurants in the area, consisting of a sosatie with a cooked curry sauce, served with pearl barley in a risotto style, and pumpkin pickle. Errieda showed me the sweet tiny jam storage building, Tienie’s grandmother having been a keen jam maker.
‘Season of Sauvignon’ Festival, 6 – 7 October. Tel 083 310 1228. www.durbanvillewine.co.za Twitter: @DurbanvilleWine
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: WhaleCottage
Tags: 'Season of Sauvignon' Festival, Altydgedacht, Bennie Howard, Bloemendal, Bush Vine, Cafe Rugby, Cap Classique, Cape Wine Academy, Cassia, Chris von Ulmenstein, Cirque de Sauvignon, cocktail bar, D'Aria, De Grendel, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Durbanville Wine Valley, Family Olympics, Farmers' Market, Groot Phesantekraal, Hillcrest, John Parker, Klein Roosboom, Liza Goodwin, Meerendal, Nitida, rugby, sauvignon blancs, Sauvignon Rose, Savvy On-Tap Lounge, Tables at Nitida, terroir, West Coast Braai Buffet, Whale Cottage Portfolio, wine estates, Wine Theatre
One of the exciting things about winter is that a number of restaurants are offering excellent value Gourmet evenings, with top wine makers presenting their wines, paired with special dishes prepared by the chefs of the restaurants. It is a shame that some of the dates clash.
The Pavilion at The Marine Hotel, Hermanus
6 May: Bouchard Finlayson Winery
3 June: Paul Cluver Wines
1 July: Klein Constantia Wine Estate
5 August: Creation Wines
2 September: Hamilton Russell Vineyards & Southern Right
The 5-course dinners, paired with wines, cost R 320 per person. Tel (028) 313-1000
The Grand Café Camps Bay
11 May: Peter Falke Wines
15 June: Stellekaya
13 July: Haute Cabriere
The 3-course food and wine pairing dinner costs R300. Tel (021) 438-4253 NOTE THAT THE RESTAURANT IS CLOSED UNTIL END JULY, CONTRADICTING THE NOTICE ABOUT THE PAIRINGS THEY SENT
The Grand on the Beach
18 May: Antonij Rupert Wines
22 June: Ernst Gouws & Co
20 July: Peter Falke
The 3-course food and wine pairing dinner costs R300. Tel (021) 425-0551
Bosman’s, Grande Roche Hotel, Paarl
27 May: AA Badenhorst Family Wines with winemaker Adi Badenhorst
10 June: The House of Krone with winemaker Matthew Krone
22 July: Glen Carlou with winemaker Arco Laarman
26 August: Backsberg with winemaker Guillaume Nell
3 September: Nederburg Auction Pre-dinner with cellarmaster Razvan Macici
28 October: Raats Family Wines with winemaker Bruwer Raats
The 5-course meal with wine, coffee, canapés and petit fours costs R690. Tel (021) 863-5100
The Garden Room, Mount Nelson Hotel
29 April: Vergelegen with winemaker Andre van Rensburg
27 May: Bouchard Finlayson with winemaker and owner Peter Finlayson
24 June: Neil Ellis Wines with owner Neil Ellis
29 July: Groote Post with winemaker Lukas Wentzel
26 August: Rust en Vrede with winemaker Coenie Snyman
30 September: Deetlefs with winemaker Willie Stofberg
28 October: Boschendal with winemaker Lizelle Gerber
15 November: Moreson with winemaker Clayton Reabow
9 December: Boekenhoutskloof with winemaker Marc Kent.
The 7-course dinner costs R 395 per person with matching wines. Tel (021) 483-1000
Chenin Wine Bar and Restaurant
26 May: Ernie Els Wines
Cost is R 100. Tel (021) 425-2200
Buitenverwachting
28 April: Buitenverwachting winemaker Brad Paton
Cost of the 5-course meal is R460. Tel (021) 794-3522
Nobu at One&Only Cape Town
29 April: Stark-Condé Wines
Cost of the 7-course meal is R R480. Tel (021) 431-5111
What’s On, Watson Street
7 May: Fleur du Cap winemaker Christoff de Wet
Cost of the 6-course dinner and wines is R300 per person or R500 per couple. Tel (021) 422-5652
Marika’s, Gardens
9 May: Mischa and Eventide
6 June: Barton Wines winemaker JP Geyer
4 July: Nabygelegen with winemaker James McKenzie
Cost of 5-course dinner and wines is R 200. Tel (021) 465-2727
1800°C Grill Room, Cape Royale Luxury Hotel
7 May: Hartenberg Estate
2 June: Morgenhof
7 July: Warwick wine estate
4 August: La Motte Wine Estate
Cost of 4-course dinner with welcome drink and wines R335. Tel (021) 430-0506
Casa Nostra, Sea Point
28 May: Fairview
2 July: Klein Constantia
Cost of 4-course meal R230. Tel (021) 433-0187
Bergkelder, Stellenbosch
30 June: Fleur du Cap Unfiltered
Cost of 5-course meal, Wine and Flavoured Salt tasting by Craig Cormack of Sofia’s is R400. Tel (021) 809-8025
French Toast
22 June: L’Avenir Vineyards
6 July: Constantia Glen
3 August : Diemersdal
7 September: Creation Wines
5 October: Rustenberg Wines
Cost of 3-course Tapas and wine pairing R 220 per person. Tel (021) 422-3839.
24 August: Overgaauw vintage port pairing (with David van Velden) with food, R80. Tel (021) 422-3839
Café BonBon, Franschhoek
8 June: Jacoline Haasbroek from My Wyn
22 June: Haut Espoir
4-course dinner and wine pairing R195 per person. Tel (021) 876-3936
La Mouette, Sea Point
8 June: Arco Laarman from Glen Carlou
4-course French theme dinner R240 per person. Tel (021) 433-0856
Swiss & Austrian Social Club, Sea Point
11 June: Waverley Hills Organic Wines
5-course dinner paired with five wines R250. Tel (021) 434-8405
Fork
19 July: Joubert-Tradauw
9-course emal paired with wines R225. Tel (021) 424-6334
15 on Orange
21 July: Warwick wines
6-course meal paired with wines R295. Tel (021) 469-8000
Knife Restaurant
27 July: Glenwood Wines
4-course meal paired with wines R220. Tel (021) 551-5000
Warwick Wine Estate
22 and 29 July: 4-course dinner paired with Warwick wines, celebrating Stellenbosch Wine Festival. R390. Tel (021) 884-4410
The Class Room, Hermanus
12 August: Rust en Vrede
3-course dinner paired with wines R195. Tel (028) 316-3582
Harvey’s at Winchester Mansions
3 August: Avontuur Wine Estate
5-course dinner paired with 7 Avontuur wines R345. Tel (021) 434-2351
5 October: Luddite
5-course dinner paired with 6 Luddite wines at R345 per person Tel (021) 434-2351
Sinn’s, Wembley Square
25 August: Durbanville Hills with winemaker Wilhelm Coetzee
4-course dinner paired with 4 wines R225. Tel (021) 465-0967
Pure Restaurant, Hout Bay Manor
24 September: Groote Post wine estate
5-course dinner paired with wines R 260. Tel (021) 791-9393
96 Winery Road
28 September: Van Ryn’s
4-course dinner paired with Van Ryn’s brandy R320. Tel (021) 842-2020
Cassia Restaurant, Nitida wine estate, Durbanville
30 September: Nitida wines
4-course dinner paired with Nitida wines R 300. Tel (021) 976-0640
Bayside Café, Camps Bay
30 September: Beyerskloof Wines
5-course dinner paired with Beyerskloof Wines R 175 per person. Tel (021) 438-2650
Clos Malverne, Stellenbosch
28 October: Clos Malverne wines
5-course dinner paired with Clos Malverne wines R 445. Tel (021) 865-2022
La Residence, Franschhoek
18 November: Waterford Wines with winemaker Francois Haasbroek
6-course Dinner paired with Waterford wines R 800. Tel (021) 876-4100
The Vineyard Hotel
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Friday 13 May
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Schalk Burger & Sons
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Friday 27 May
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Warwick & Vilafonté
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Friday 10 June
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West Coast Wines with Tierhoek
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Friday 24 June
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Stellakaya with Ntsiki Biyela
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Friday 1 July
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La Motte
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Friday 15 July
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Solms Delta Wine Estate
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Friday 5 August
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Dombeya Wines with Rianie Strydom
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Friday 19 August
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Catherine Marshall Wines
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Friday 2 September
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Meerlust Wine Estate
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Friday 16 September
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Favourites from Wine Concepts
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Friday 7 October
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Hermanuspietersfontein
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Friday 21 October
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Wines from the Swartland (Kloovenburg, Babylon’s Peak)
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Friday 28 October
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Constantia Valley Wines
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The dinner costs R 250 per person. Tel (021) 657-4500.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
Tags: 15 on Orange, 1800C Grill Room, 96 Winery Road, A.A. Badenhorst, Adi Badenhorst, Andre van Rensburg, Antonij Rupert wines, Arco Laarman, Avontuur, Babylon's Peak, Backsberg, Barton Wines, Bayside Cafe, Bergkelder, Beyerskloof, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Bosmans, Bouchard Finlayson, Brad Paton, Bruwer Raats, Buitenverwachting, Cafe BonBon, Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, Casa Nostra, Cassia, Catherine Marshall, Chenin Wine Bar and Restaurant, Chris von Ulmenstein, Christoff de Wet, Clayton Reabow, Clos Malverne, Coenie Snyman, Constantia Glen, Constantia valley, Craig Cormack, Creation, Creation wines, David van Velden, Deetlefs, Diemersdal, Dombeya, Durbanville Hills, Ernie Els, Ernst Gouws & Co, Eventide, Fairview, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered, Fork, French Toast, Glen Carlou, Glenwood, Gourmet evenings, Gourmet Food and Wine, Grande Roche, Groote Post, Guillame Nell, Hamilton-Russell, Harvey's, Haut Espoir, Haute cabriere, Hout Bay Manor, Jacoline Haasbroek, James McKenzie, Joubert-Tradauw, Klein Constantia, Kloovenburg, Knife Restaurant, L'Avenir, La Motte, La Mouette, Lizelle Gerber, Luddite, Lukas Wentzel, Marc Kent, Marika's, Matthew Krone, Meerlust, Mischa, Moreson, Morgenhof, Mount Nelson Hotel, My Wyn, Nabygelegen, Nederburg, Neil Ellis, Nitida wines, Nobu, Ntsiki Biyela, Overgaauw, Paul Cluver, Peter Falke Wines, Peter Finlayson, Pure Restaurant, Raats Family Wines, Razvan Macici, restaurants, Rianie Strydom, Rust en Vrede, Rustenberg, Schalk Burger, Sinns, Sofia's, Solms Delta, Southern Right, Stark-Conde Wines, Stellekaya, Stellenbosch Wine Festival, Swartland, Swiss & Austrian Social Club, The Class Room, The Grand Cafe Camps Bay, The Grand on the Beach, The House of Krone, The Marine Hotel, The Pavilion, Tierhoek, Van Ryn's, Vergelegen, Vilafonte, Vineyard Hotel, Warwick, Warwick wine estate, Waverley Hills Organic Wines, Wembley Square, Whale Cottage Portfolio, What's On, Wilhelm Coetzee, Willie Stofberg, Winchester Mansions, Wine Concepts, winter 2011
I have not been to Nitida wine estate in Durbanville in a long time, nor to its Cassia restaurant. As the FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc awards were held at the wine estate, it was a good opportunity to revisit, and to experience the new function venue, which comfortably seated 120 guests for lunch yesterday.
