The One&Only Cape Town resort’s award-winning sommelier Luvo Ntezo has worked with chef Reuben Riffel and some of the top winemakers in South Africa to present a series of dinners where fine ingredients are turned into culinary delights and paired with top wines. The Wednesday evenings are small and intimate (only 30 places are available at each one), giving guests plenty of opportunity to chat with Luvo and the winemaker as they enjoy the food and wine at Reuben’s. 



The combination of hotel, sommelier and chef has attracted some of the best winemakers in the country to join them over the coming months. The programme kicks off on Wednesday 28 March with Groote Post Estate in Darling. The estate is owned by the Pentz family and specialises in cool-climate white wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and a particularly fine example of Riesling, a variety renowned for its food-friendly properties.

On 25 April diners will be joined by Arco Laarman, winemaker from Glen Carlou, who will be showing off the versatility of their signature grape, Chardonnay. 



30 May sees the turn of the entertaining Pieter ‘Bubbles’ Ferreira of Graham Beck Wines. Pieter is a renowned foodie and will be showing some of his favourite food-friendly wines including his range of award-winning Cap Classiques.

Boekenhoutskloof Wines is the definitive Platter Guide’s Winery of the Year and owner/cellarmaster Marc Kent will be explaining his philosophy and illustrating it with his five star wines on the night of 27 June.

25 July sees representatives from La Motte estate in Franschhoek joining the team with their organic Pierneef collection, offering a refreshing and modern twist on the food and wine pairing.

The 29 August dinner will showcase the wines of Steenberg, when cellar master and GM John Loubser will take guests through all the thrills and triumphs of growing Sauvignon Blanc in one of the coolest regions in the country.



Ken Forrester will host on 26 September, bringing with him his legendary wit, charm and range of benchmark Chenins. Red wine-lovers can also look forward to some stellar Grenache and Rhône blends as Ken was one of the pioneers for this variety in SA.  

2012 will be the first vintage for Kanu’s new winemaker Adam Mason, who will be hosting the dinner on 31 October. His previous experience includes making South Africa’s iconic Vin de Constance at Klein Constantia.

The programme will be brought to a triumphant finale by Nitida Wines on 28 November where owner/winemaker Bernhard Veller will be getting into the festive spirit with a glass of his unusual sparkling Shiraz before showing his excellent range of Bordeaux varietals and blends.



What: Reuben’s at One&Only Cape Town wine and dine events
When:
28 March 2012 - Groote Post Wines

25 April 2012 - Glen Carlou Estate

30 May 2012 - Graham Beck Wines

27 June 2012 - Boekenhoutskloof Wines

25 July 2012 - La Motte Estate

29 August 2012 - Steenberg estate

26 September 2012 - Ken Forrester Wines

31 October 2012 - Kanu Wines

28 November 2012 - Nitida Estate  

Where: Reuben’s at One & Only Cape Town  
Cost: R325 per person per dinner
Book: Places at each dinner are limited. To reserve your table, call +27 (0)21 431 4511 or write to restaurant.reservations@oneandonlycapetown.com.


Calitzdorp, the Port capital of South Africa, is the place to be over the weekend of 18 to 20 May as visitors from across the country make their way to the annual Absa Calitzdorp Port and Wine Festival.
 The festival, which has been awarded a three-year sponsorship by Absa, celebrates the wonderful diversity of wines, local produce, fauna, flora and natural beauty in the area. Renowned Port producers Axe Hill, Boplaas, Calitzdorp Cellar, De Krans, Du’SwaRoo, Peter Bayly, TTT and Withoek will be hosting.

Highlights include:

• Barrel samples of the unique Calitzdorp blend (from Portuguese cultivars), to be launched at the festival.
• A cooking demonstration with Emile Joubert and Lise Beyers using Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional and Port wines from Calitzdorp.
• Ostrich on a spit braai.
• A cheese and wine celebration hosted by Cape Wine Academy Master Junel Vermeulen and a local cheese expert.
• A special journey into the past with “Stoep Stories”, hosted by locals and a well-known guest.  
• The ever-popular Port Dance hosted by the Calitzdorp High School. (Tickets sell out fast!)
• A Mediterranean themed menu at participating restaurants.
• A fun-filled informal wine-blending workshop where you can blend your own bottle to take home with you.
• A Port cocktail demonstration by chef Marc Lorenz.
• “Unravelling the mysteries of Port” presented by Carel Nel, Boets Nel and Fanie Geyser at Boplaas Cellar in conjunction with a guest geologist who will unravel the terroir of the region.
• The popular “Chocolate and Port / Wine Decadence” hosted by Belgium-trained Chocolatier Marita Lamprecht and Cape Wine Academy Master Junel Vermeulen.
• A biodiversity expo; boules and jukskei competitions; cultural and arts meander; organ recital daily in the Dutch Reformed Church; children’s entertainment; tractor rides to the various cellars; upmarket food and lifestyle stalls; coffee shops and restaurants; and so much more. 


The Mediterranean-style Long Table Brunch on Sunday 20 May 2012, held under the trellised vines at the Station Ticket office, creates an indulgent end to the festival. 


What: Absa Calitzdorp Port and Wine Festival
When: 18 to 20 May 2012
Where: Calitzdorp Railway Station, Klein Karoo
Book: Online through Computicket or at the Computicket box office at the Calitzdorp Station festival grounds.
Contact: For more details on the festival, as well as tourism and accommodation information, visit www.portwinefestival.co.za, or contact Calitzdorp Tourism on 044 2133 775, tourism@calitzdorp.org.za or www.calitzdorp.org.za.

Caltizdorp's arid landscape makes for perfectly sweet, port-friendly grapes. Come try this small town's famous tipple and tuck into some good food while you're at it. Look here for more information.

What: Calitzdorp Port Wine Festival

When: 18 and 19 May, times depending on the day and activities

Where: Calitzdorp, Western Cape,

Cost: Depends on the activities

Book: Bookings essential through Computicket and Shoprite Checkers money market counters

Contact: +27442133326, +27442133301, +27442133364

Enjoy a unique food and wine pairing presentation with signature dishes from Spain, Italy, France and Argentina that have been matched with appropriate wines.
What: Food and Wine Appreciation
Where: Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront
When: 18 May 2012, 12 noon – 2pm
Cost: R350 per person
Contact: Call 083 344 6729, email Lori@beyondthedress.co.za or visit www.beyondthedress.co.za

From 24 - 27 May 2012 the Good Food & Wine Show will transform Cape Town’s CTICC into a foodie Mecca.

Big name chefs like Buddy Valastro, star of the smash TLC hit reality television show, The Cake Boss; winner of MasterChef America, Whitney Miller; BBC lifestyle celebrity chef, Valentine Warner , Michelin star, Italian heart throb Giorgio Locatelli; Food Network’s Spice Price of India, Reza Mohammad and celebrity chef , Ariana Bundy who has cooked for Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman; Brad Pitt and Madonna; will be there, hosting a wide variety of interactive workshops, tastings and book signings.

There will also be a range of exclusive wine, beer, brandy and whisky tastings, hands on cooking classes, cocktail workshops; coffee and Latte Art experience and the Lindt Chocolate Theatre. For the children, CBeebies Mr Maker will be running hands on cooking classes. For the full event programme and booking details, visit http://www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za

Date: 24 -27 May
Time: From 10am, daily
Venue: CTICC
Tickets: Computicket
Price: General entry: R95 for adults, R50 for children between ages 5 and 12. Does not include entry tickets to the Chefs in Action Theatre, the Hands on Workshops or the Lindt Chocolate Theatre.

Grab a snifter and taste your way through oodles of amber-hued tipples crafted by master brandy makers like Kaapzicht, KWV, Klipdrift and Richelieu.

What: Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival

When: 25 May until 27 May, 5pm til 9pm

Where: Sandton Convention Centre

Cost: R195, including a tasting glass and tasting vouchers

Book: book at Computicket, or buy tickets at the door

Contact: +27218828954, info@brandyfestival.co.za, www.brandyfestival.co.za

Nederburg, wine sponsor of MasterChef SA, is hosting MasterChef judge Pete Goffe-Wood at its interactive Taste Theatre at the Gugulethu Wine Festival.



Nederburg’s Taste Theatre will explore the impact of various food flavours on wine. Visitors to the event that runs over Friday 25 May and Saturday 26 May will have the chance to sample various foods with a selection of wines to discover how they affect the taste of the wines. Pete Goffe-Wood will co-present with Nederburg on the first day of the show. 



The Taste Theatre presentation will highlight the impact the five basic flavours – sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami (a Japanese term to describe a flavour that is intensely savoury) – can have when it comes to matching dishes with wine. 


Popular red, white and dessert wines from the Nederburg range will be lined up in the Taste Theatre for visitors to try with foods such as beef, tuna, cheddar cheese and chocolate. 


The Taste Theatre is open to festival-goers on a first-come first-served basis. The presentation will be staged at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm on both days. Nederburg will also be showcasing wines from its multi-tier selection at an exhibition stand on the show.  

What: Gugulethu Wine Festival

Where: On the roof of the Gugulethu Square Mall
When: From 4pm to 9pm on Friday 25 May 2012 and from 3pm to 9pm on Saturday 26 May 2012.
Cost: tickets cost R80 per person. 

Contact: www.gugulethuwinefestival.co.za 


The Tops Gugulethu Wine Festival is the brainchild of Mzoli’s owner Mzoli Ngcawuzele and Lungile Mbalo, and will showcase a wide variety of wine exhibitors, as well as food and entertainment. 

What: Tops Gugulethu Wine Festival

When: 25 May 4p till 9pm, and 26 May 3pm till 9pm

Where: Gugulethu Square Mall, Cape Town

Cost: R80 per person

Book: www.webtickets.co.za

Contact: busi@capewineacademy.co.za

24 000 fresh oysters are up for the shucking at Randburg's Brightwater Commons, along with gourmet treats and fine wines.

What: The Oyster, Wines & Food Festival

When: 26 May to 27 May, 11am until 5pm

Where: The Brightwater Commons, Randburg

Cost: Free entry

Book: No need to book

Contact: +27117895052

Enjoy an hour long performance of this entertaining all-male a cappella band (yes, the question mark is part of their name), followed by a delicious three-course dinner at Harveys at Winchester Mansions.


What: The Yale Spizzwinks(?) at Winchester Mansions

When: Tuesday, 29 May 2012 at 6.30pm for 7pm

Cost: Dinner and show for R350 per person. (10% of the ticket price will go to Streetsmart, a charity supported by Winchester Mansions.)

Book: For reservations or more information call 021 434 2351 or email banqueting@winchester.co.za. To see the delicious menu go to www.winchester.co.za.

From Friday 1 June until Sunday 3 June 2012 you are invited to experience excellent wine, glorious food and picturesque surroundings at the Winter Winemaker Weekend.

Celebrate winter with a travelling dinner, a small intimate affair hosted by the quartet of Slanghoek Mountain Resort, Slanghoek Cellar, Jason’s Hill and Opstal Wines. You will be introduced to the wines, their winemakers and the hospitality for which they have become famous.



Included in the weekend package is:

• Accommodation at Slanghoek Mountain Resort, which is nestled in the magnificent Slanghoek Valley on the slopes of the Badsberg Conservancy. This includes dinner on Friday evening, as well as breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning.
• For a fun-filled Saturday morning a visit to Slanghoek Cellar. A Blend & Bottle session has been arranged, affording visitors the opportunity to make their own wine using a combination of three varieties. Wines are bottled under guests’ own personalised label.
• The travelling dinner will commence with sundowners, canapés and a wine tasting at Slanghoek Cellar hosted by cellar master Pieter Carstens.  
• The main course will be hosted by Stanley Louw, resident sixth-generation owner and vintner of Opstal Estate, which has a wine history dating back to 1847.
• Finally, join Ivy du Toit of Jason’s Hill Private Cellar, where the tradition of vine growing and wine making is kept alive by the fifth generation, for dessert and coffee.

What: Winter Winemaker Weekend 

Where: Slanghoek Wine Valley
When: Friday 1 June until Sunday 3 June 2012
Cost: R1250 per person, which includes B&B, dinner on both Friday and Saturday evening, and the Blend & Bottle session at Slanghoek Cellar.
Book: To book this memorable experience contact Jenny at Slanghoek Mountain Resort on info@slanghoekresort.co.za or 023 344 3138. A detailed itinerary will be provided upon confirmation. Booking is essential as space is limited to five couples. The closing date for bookings is 21 May 2012.


On the 2nd  and 3rd June 2012, Durbanville wine valley will play host to the annual Soup, Sip and bread winter festival.
 
Now in its 4th  year, the Soup, Sip and Bread event will once again see visitors flocking from far and wide to the wine route a mere 20 minutes from the city centre.  The soups are homemade, the breads freshly baked and artisanal, and there’s a wide range of wines to taste.
 
Participating wine farms include Groot Phesantekraal Farm (Phizante Kraal Wines), Klein Roosboom, Nitida, Meerendal, Hillcrest, Durbanville Hills, Diemersdal, De Grendel, D’Aria, Bloemendal and Altydgedacht.  For the full program, visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za

Date: 2 and 3 June 2012
Place: Durbanville Wine Valley

Taking place from 8 - 10 June at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, the Wine show offers colourful stands, mouth-watering food and the opportunity to taste wine from SA’s finest wineries. Exhibitors include Blaauwklippen, Diemersfontein, Gabriëlskloof, Raka, Simonsig Estate, The Winery of Good Hope and Topaz Wine Company and wines from the 2011 International Wine and Spirits Competition will also be available for tasting.
 
In 2009, The Wine Laid Bare competition was launched to raise funds for breast cancer charities and was met with exceptional support from the public. Now in its fourth year, the latest Wine Laid Bare calendar will be available to purchase for R100 at The Wine Show with all proceeds going to charity.  

Dates: Friday 8 June, 5pm-9pm, Saturday 9 June, 12 midday – 9pm, Sunday 10 June, 12midday – 4pm
Tickets: from Computicket for R90 per person. Weekend passes cost R150 per person and special group rates of R80 per person apply for bookings of ten or more people.
Website: www.wineshow.co.za
Phone: 021 888 8803.

The talented team from the Spice Route Restaurant will cook up a storm at The Goatshed restaurant.
What: The Spice Route comes to The Goatshed
When: 7pm, Friday 15 June 2012 Where: The Goatshed at Fairview
Cost: Dinner is a lavish 4-course affair for R235 per person, which includes wine and tea/coffee.

Book: Call The Goatshed on 021 863 3609 or visit www.thegoatshed.co.za

Pizza, pasta and passion.
What: Viva Italia food and wine evening
When: 7pm, Friday 29 June 2012
Where: The Goatshed restaurant at Fairview
Cost: Dinner is a lavish 4-course affair for R235 per person, which includes wine and tea/coffee.

Book: Call The Goatshed on 021 863 3609 or visit www.thegoatshed.co.za.

Enjoy the fruits of the Cape’s winter citrus season at Stellenbosch Slowmarket on 7 July. Seasonal lemons, oranges, limes and clementines will be celebrated in the form of homemade lemon cheesecakes, lime tarts, lime chocolates, chocolate orange brownies, lemon marmalades, lemon-infused olives, Italian lemoncello, lemon teas, lemon curd, homemade lemonade and citrus salads. Also fill up on fresh trout or black mussels with lemon vino, West Coast oysters drizzled in lemon reduction, or sweet and sour orange sauce sirloin rolls. If none of this takes your fancy then simply grab a bag of fresh lemons or oranges on your way out.
What: Orange and Lemon Festival
When: 7 July 2012
Where: Stellenbosch Slowmarket  
Info: visit facebook.com/slowmarket or contact Karin Vermeulen on admin@slowmarket.co.za, or call 021 886 8514 or 072 416 4890.

A firm feature of Fairview’s winter food and wine evenings.
What: Shiraz and Shanks
When: 7pm, 13 July 2012

Where: The Goatshed at Fairview 

Cost: Dinner is a lavish 4-course affair for R235 per person, which includes wine and tea/coffee.

Book: Call The Goatshed on 021 863 3609 or visit www.thegoatshed.co.za

Winter time means hunting season. 

What: Karoo Classics at The Goatshed at Fairview

When: Friday 27 July 2012

Where: The Goatshed at Fairview

Cost: Dinner is a lavish 4-course affair for R235 per person, which includes wine and tea/coffee

Book: Call The Goatshed on 021 863 3609 or visit www.thegoatshed.co.za

The Goatshed Restaurant at Fairview Wine Farm and the neighbouring Spice Route Restaurant in Paarl are adding some warmth to the chilly season this August, with their Shiraz & Shanks night on Friday 10 August 2012. (You can choose to dine at either restaurant.) Dinner is a lavish 4-course affair for R235 per person, which includes wine and tea/coffee.
What: Shiraz and Shanks food and wine evening
When: Friday 10 August 2012
Where: The Goatshed at Fairview Wine Farm and the neighbouring Spice Route Restaurant in Paarl
Cost: The four-course affair costs R235 per person (includes wine and coffee).
Book: Call The Goatshed on 021 863 3609 or visit www.thegoatshed.co.za or call Spice Route Restaurant on 021 863 5222 or visit www.spiceroute.co.za. 

The Good Food & Wine Show is back in Durban, 23-26 August at the DEC and this year it’s even bigger. Meet your favourite television celebrity chefs; bring the kids to see CBeebies presenter Sid and take your taste buds on a round the world tour, at the Foods From Around the World Theatre. Indulge in decadence at the Lindt Chocolate Theatre; improve your cooking skills at the Get Fresh with BBC Lifestyle hands on cooking workshops or relax in the City Bites arena, savouring the tastes of Durban’s finest restaurants. This Show’s a must for lovers of the good life.

For the full event programme, visit www.goodfoodandwineshow.co.za.
Tickets: Computicket or at the door.