Savour, sip and discuss all things wine

ROSA KAROO-LOEWE

ONLY THE BEST: The Taste of the Cape returns with its annual Wine and Food Fair at the Beacon Bay Country Club on October 25-26. Wine stalls from 14 bespoke estates will set up for tastings, with ticket holders able to try 20 wines with their entry. Picture: SUPPLIED

The Taste of the Cape has, once again, carefully selected some of the Western Cape’s top wines for the upcoming Wine and Food Fair.

The two-day fair will take place at the Beacon Bay Country Club on October 25 and 26, with attendees able to enjoy bespoke wines from 14 estates, along with a variety of local food stalls to choose from. Only 200 tickets would be available per evening, organiser Karen Carter said.

“Each wine has a story. The show is unique in that we offer our customers the opportunity to discover new wines for themselves and how they have evolved,” Carter said.

“It is about discussion and savouring of each wine and listening to the stories from the winemakers themselves.”

Attendees can enjoy 20 tastings from the boutique wine estates and get to talk all things wine with representatives from establishments such as Annandale Wine Estate from Stellenbosch, Bartho Eksteen Wine Estate outside Hermanus, Iona Wine Estate in the Elgin Valley — known for its cool climate and sandstone soils, Lord’s Wines in McGregor, Montpellier Wine Estate in Tulbagh, and Journey’s End Vineyards in Somerset West.

Winemakers will take guests through different pairings, discuss the cultivar (the grape) or terroir (soil), the different notes, and the production process of each wine varietal.

There will also be a craft gin bar with all the trimmings run by the country club.

“We have limited our boutique wine estates as we have found that a smaller wine show is more intimate,” Carter said. “We have a wonderful line-up of delicious food and wine pairings at local restaurants on Thursday night before the fair.

“We will also be working out a discounted special for people buying a ticket for both nights, as currently we have separate tickets for Friday and Saturday at R230 per person.”

Launched in 2019, the Wine and Food Fair was an immediate hit. After a two-year hiatus during the Covid-19 pandemic, the return event welcomed 800 guests in 2022.  The Christmas Wine Fair, held in November 2023, was “extremely successful”, and the upcoming weekend would “follow the same recipe”, Carter said.

Beacon Bay Country Club general manager, Kate Scott said she had received great feedback after the festive event, which had nearly 500 attendees in total.

“It’s always a lovely event that brings different people to the club who haven’t been before, and there is always a lovely vibe. In the past we have had a big stretch tent and lounge area — we will also have a DJ to pump out some tunes at the end of the night.”

Whether you’re a wine novice or educated sommelier, anyone is welcome, she said.

Tickets are limited and can be bought directly from the Beacon Bay Country Club or online at www.tasteofthecape.co.za.

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