Cape Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo at Bien Donne

Signs are up between Paarl and Franschhoek on the R45! Two entrances to the show! Tickets available at the gates and come early to ensure you have a superb day in the heart of the Cape Winelands. Go to www.outdoorexpo.co.za for more details.

Don't forget the SPCA/Royal Canin 2 x 4 Doggie Walk on the farm on Sunday 3rd October at 11 am! Book your space at the SPCA stand in the morning to enjoy this 1.5km walk with your favourite pet!

This is the place to be this weekend - and the weather is looking good. Coffee and Cake in the Go Travel Tent, lots of food stalls and your favourite Sauls Burgers - Schwarma Express and Sushi from Blowfish Restaurant. Lamb on the spit at the Montegue stand, Brutal Fruit Slush Puppies, Marcels Frozen Yogurt, Lemon Curd Lady, Wine tastings and more. Special Creative Kids corner for the 3 - 7 year olds - craft kits (R30 to R60 per pack), face painting, adventure course, ball pond, jumping slide, and more fun, Tag Rugby and Educo Adventure village for older kids, paintball, drop tower, bungy bounce, water walker, pony rides, donkey rides, claypigeon shooting, dog displays, helicopter flips, Cape Side Cars and much more.

Get Away this weekend to Bien Donne, plan you weekend breaks to outdoor and adventure destinations around the Western Cape - Breedevalley, Tulbagh, Ceres, West Coast, Swartland, and futher to Garden Route, Klein Karoo, Nothern Cape, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mocambique - all here under the Go Travel area.

And make sure to buy all your accessories from Outdoor Warehouse, Makro, LA Sport, and 4x4 Megaworld, and see some of the latest Motorhomes from Schroeder and Fiaama. Alucab, Canvas and Tent, Bushtec, Bushwakker bring you your trailers and camping gear. And 4x4's Hyundai, GWM and Orbit Motor Jeep!

Live Entertainment with Willem on Saturday and Sunday 12 noon to 2 pm under the SAB Bedouin - where you can also catch your favourite sport on the DSTV Bubble Ball!

Some tickets left for the fabulous Peter Sarstedt - live in concert on Saturday night - booking essential - call Cindy on 021 874 2439

Franschhoek Classic Music Festival

A weekend of classic jewels for Franschhoek

One can hardly imagine a more relaxing and inspiring way to spend a weekend than one filled with music in the Cape winelands in the late Spring. The Franschhoek Classic Music Festival taking place from 29 to 31 October will bring together excellent musicians and a variety of classics and world music to Franschhoek for a joyous weekend of recitals and chamber music initiated by well-known pianist Christopher Duigan.

The artists participating in this year’s festival are the celebrated US pianist Bryan Wallick, the well-known Stellenbosch-based cello and piano duo Peter Martens and Luis Magalhães, German guitar virtuoso Ulrich Busch, London-based saxophonist and clarinettist Joanne Rozario, soprano Lente Louw, Bulgarian-born accordionist Stanislav Angelov, baritone Federico Freschi and of course Duigan himself.



The events take place in beautiful surroundings, and in some cases include meals in historic and exclusive settings. The programme comprises the following:

Friday 29 October 19:30 (NG Church, tickets R90): A recital by Stellenbosch-based cello and piano duo Peter Martens and Luis Magalhães to launch their new CD of the complete sonatas for cello and piano by Beethoven. They perform the Sonatas for Cello and Piano in A major Op 69, in C major Op 102 no 1 and the rarely performed Sonata for Horn (or Cello) Op 17.

Saturday 30 October 11:00 (NG Church, tickets R90): US pianist Bryan Wallick, the 1997 gold medalist at the Vladimir Horowitz International Piano Competition in Kiev, gives a piano recital on the new grand piano in the NG Church. The programme includes music by Schumann, Debussy and Liszt , among others Liszt’s transcriptions of Schubert songs (Gretchen, Ave Maria, Erlkönig) and the bravura Horowitz/Liszt Rákóczi March.

Saturday 30 October 13:00 & 17:00 (Screening Room at Le Quartier Français, tickets R130): Ulrich Busch, the German guitar virtuoso and winner of the Radio France Competition 1990 in Paris, gives a recital of popular guitar music from around the world. It includes folk music from Ireland and Japan, and guitar classics from Brazil, Spain and Argentina. Guests will enjoy wine and snacks on arrival at the intimate luxury venue and enjoy a special preview of the Franschhoek Artists exhibition in the IS Art Gallery.

Saturday 30 October 19:30 for 20:00 (Café Bon Bon at La Petite Dauphine, tickets R350): London-based Joanne Rozario (saxophone) joins Christopher Duigan at the gala dinner concert. Playing selections from their recent CD ‘Close Your Eyes and Listen’, the programme of modern and traditional classics, crossover improvisations and up-beat ‘world music’-inspired music is blended with a four-course dinner. Included is the world première live performance of the 'Six Drinking Songs' by Richard Guinness, including the 'Bar-Stool Tango' (as heard on Fine Music Radio, Cape Town).

Sunday 31 October 11:00 (NG Church, tickets R90): The sublime combination of soprano, clarinet and piano provides a rare treat on a Sunday morning. The exciting young Cape Town soprano Lente Louw, Joanne Rozario (clarinet) and Christopher Duigan (piano) collaborate in a much-anticipated performance of Schubert’s ‘Shepherd on the Rock’. This concert also features the music of Robert Schumann as part of the worldwide celebrations of the 200th anniversary of his birth. Lente Louw performs some of her favourite Schumann songs including ‘Frauenliebe und –leben', while Rozario plays selection of Schumann’s Romances and Duigan plays the intimate Arabesque.

Sunday 31 October 12:30 for 13:00 (Bread & Wine, tickets R270): Bulgarian-born accordionist Stanislav Angelov, now based in Cape Town and leader of the famed Cape Town Tango Ensemble, joins forces with pianist Christopher Duigan for a delightful programme exploring many popular styles for these two instruments: café music from France and Italy, jazz improvisations and tango rhythms from the tango halls of Argentina. Enjoy a relaxed three-course meal while listening to music exuding appeal, charm and passion.

Sunday 31 October 15:30 (Café Bon Bon at La Petite Dauphine, tickets R100): The very popular baritone Federico Freschi performs in the Festival Finale concert after lunch under the oak trees (weather permitting) or in the 200 year-old barn against the backdrop of the Franschhoek valley mountains. This concert also features festival musicians Joanne Rozario (saxophone), Stanislav Angelov (accordion) and Christopher Duigan (piano) for an informal and free-wheeling music get-together. Book a table for lunch from 12 noon, or join the audience in time for the concert.
Christopher Duigan, who is based in KwaZulu-Natal, studied at the University of Natal and at UCT. He continued with postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester with Brazilian virtuoso Arnaldo Cohen. Duigan has performed extensively with all the leading South African orchestras, including the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic, Cape Philharmonic and Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestras and has a repertoire of more than 25 concerti. As solo artist he has achieved a popular following through his innovative presentation and programming featuring a broad and eclectic taste in music.
He is one of an exclusive circle of past and current Steinway Artists (including names such as Arthur Rubenstein, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Vladimir Horowitz, Alicia de Larrocha, Alfred Brendel, Evgeny Kissin and Lang Lang). He is committed to promoting classical music locally and further afield.

Booking enquiries: NG Church Concerts - Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism (Tel: 021 876 2861), Café Bon-Bon (Tel: 021 876 3936), IS Art (Tel: 021-876 8443) or Bread and Wine (Tel: 021 876 4004/3692). Tickets for the NG Church Concerts are also available at the door.

Visit www.franschhoekclassic.co.za for detailed information about the festival and www.franschhoek.org for accommodation information.

What Antjie Missed

Dear Brett,

I thought the Literary Festival was great. There was such a wide variety of topics and presentations, and a real buzz at and after each.

The one sadness for me was an outburst from the floor that expressed disgust at the speakers of the seminar, whites in general, and dismissed Franschhoek as full of rich people who are doing nothing. The anguish of the speaker was real and understood.

But she was looking far too narrowly at what is going on, and missed the widespread actions of countless ‘little efforts’ which are probably our major hope.

Franco is seen by many outside the town as the best effort they know to coordinate attempts to meet needs within the disadvantaged groups of our valley. There are dozens of other efforts going on in the town that seek no publicity and just get on with the job. Of course we have solved all the problems yet. There are too many. But we are working at it, and we are making a difference.

We are not alone in doing this; it is true all over the nation. Everywhere one goes, if one looks at the grassroots and not at the top, there are amazing things going on, and communities are changing.

It seems a peculiar blindness that fails to recognise the reality that most living things grow from the bottom up, and not from the top down.

We should look again and feel encouraged.

Helen Mekie

Harvest fun at Grande Provence

24 March 2010-Harvest Day in the Cape Winelands grew even more popular this year at the 5-star Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek where the Estate not only provided a fun filled family day out but also educated guests about the delicate art of wine making and made understanding wine more accessible to would be enthusiasts. This year was the first year that guests were invited into the private cellar to learn more, and in further detail about the barrelling process and to give guests a sneak preview of the Estate's private collection of Grande Provence wines.

Award winning Winemaker Jaco Marais took guests through all the wine making processes from the actual grape picking to fermentation and bottling. Guests were then invited to the extensive gardens to relax and enjoy a chilled glass of wine before stomping the grapes, the old fashion way. Live music was provided by Rikus Burger and the reward for the guest’s efforts for stomping the barrel loads of grapes was a lavish braai feast prepared by newly appointed international Executive Chef, Darren Roberts, under the shade of the magnificent old oak trees. After lunch guests had fun and games with the traditional French game of Boules.

1st Franschhoek Vendange Festival

Franschhoek Vendange Festival - 13 March 2010.

This boutique event offers wine aficionados and budding vintners a chance to experience the magic of harvest for a day – without having to quit their day jobs!

Imagine a day in the vineyards of your favourite Wine farm, learning the art of wine making directly from the wine maker and their team, ending with a Town-wide Party with live music and a feast table prepared by Franschhoeks top chefs, this is not to be missed…

Franschhoek welcomes our very first Franschhoek Vendange Festival 2010!

Guests will enjoy a day of Grape Picking, Bunch Sorting, Grape vs. Wine Tasting, Vineyard Tractor Trips, Must tasting & lots more at the farm of their choice and then off to Franschhoek Town Centre to end off an experience like no other. Come and enjoy the Festive Vendange (Harvest) Dinner with grape stomping, a feast table prepared by our famous local chefs, live Music, dancing and lots of wine… what a way to experience another Great Franschhoek Adventure.

Groups are small and intimate to ensure that you have the very best hands-on experience, all harvests need to be pre-booked by February 2010, you will book via your favourite wine farm where you will begin your day, the party will then move to the town centre where you will end off with a dinner.

This is a perfect opportunity for a family break away weekend.

The following farms will be participating:

L’Ormarins	021 874 900	pr@lormarins.co.za
Glenwood	021 876 2044	dp@glenwoodvineyards.co.za
Cabriere Estate	021 876 8500	marketing@cabriere.co.za
Grahambeck Wines	021 874 1258	monnique@grahambeckwines.co.za
Vrede & Lust	021 874 1611	anneke.buys@vnl.co.za
Rickety Bridge	021 876 2129	Jackie@ricketybridge.com
Mont Rochelle	021 876 2770	sales@montrochelle.co.za
Boekenhoutskloof	021 876 3320	boeken@mweb.co.za
Grande Provence	021 876 8600	raltonadams@grandeprovence.co.za

Dinner party:

Otherwise join us for the Dinner Party starting at 16h00. R550 per person (all food, wine, beverages, entertainment, grape stomping etc. inclusive).

Book: Carmen 021 8762861 office@franschhoek.org.za

Franschhoek - The King of POP

The ‘Magic of Bubbles’ Cap Classique and Champagne Festival, sponsored by Investec Private Bank and held in Franschhoek on the weekend of the 4th to the 6th of December, was another feather in the cap of South Africa’s premier food and wine destination. According to Jenny Prinsloo, CEO of the Franschhoek Wine Valley and Tourist Association, “Feedback consistently confirms that this is the best festival of its kind in South Africa.”

Thousands of people enjoyed Champagne and South African Cap Classiques on offer from 37 different estates or importers, with a strong local representation from the Western Cape, especially the Franschhoek valley and even the newly formed W.O. Plettenberg Bay region. International Champagnes included offerings from Guy Charbaut, Laurent Perrier and Henri Giraud, amongst others. The hot summer’s weekend was picture-perfect, with clear skies and the occasional breath of wind to cool things down. The crowds were entertained by a number of musicians and bands throughout the weekend and the dancefloor was alive, thanks to the sound of music, the popping of corks and the enjoyment of bubbles. Set in the grounds of the Huguenot Monument, the festival effortlessly ties an iconic South African celebration to the quintessential French symbol of luxury. The FWVTA made particular mention of the stylishly-decorated marquees; Marti Foster’s subtle touch added a measure of glamour to the ‘White with a Touch of Black’ theme that was widely appreciated. The words inscribed on the monument’s colonnade, Post Tenebras Lux (after darkness (comes) light), seemed entirely appropriate as the festival coincided with the country’s emergence from recession and a renewed sense of optimism in most quarters.

The optimism was echoed in the opening speeches by Jenny Prinsloo, Anne Ferreira, outgoing Chair of the Franschhoek Vignerons and Wouter de Vos, head of Investec Private Bank Winelands. The Wine Valley and Tourist Association and the Vignerons were both acknowledged for the tremendous role they play in making the valley a successful tourism and lifestyle destination. New to this year’s festival was the introduction of a Friday evening cocktail event. Supported mainly by locals, the evening was successful enough to suggest that it will become a regular part of the festival and it will surely become the highlight in years to come. Given the heat at this time of the year, the opportunity to sip bubbly under the stars is sure to remain a treat.

The quality of the Cap Classiques on offer was notable. Many of the visitors to the festival were quick to point out that the South African offering is every bit as good as its French originator, and one or two avowed Champagne drinkers were observed heading to the tables of the Cap Classique producers with their cheque books at the ready. An astonished French journalist was heard to say “I’m not sure how to deal with my experience back home. If I tell them how very good this South African wine is, they either won’t believe me or I’ll be called a traitor.” As he slipped his purchase discretely into his carry bag he looked up and pleaded, “I’ll need another glass for courage.”

Franschhoek Uncorked

The 2671 official attendees at this year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival can regard themselves some of the luckiest people in the world. Not only did they get a chance to drink many of Franschhoek’s finest wines for just R60, but they were blessed with the most glorious weather for the day on Saturday and much of Sunday afternoon. Add to that the free shuttle service, food and entertainment, activities for the kids and an opportunity to benefit from some special festival discounts and the experience will go down as one of Franschhoek’s best ever. The world won’t end if you don’t get a World Cup ticket but it may as well if you don’t get a 2010 Uncorked Glass!

Read more in The Month

Best Uncorked Festival Ever

This year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival in October will go down as one of Franschhoek’s most successful and well-supported festivals ever. A glorious sunny Saturday morning greeted the first of the more than two and a half thousand visitors to the 24 wineries and set the scene for much of what was to follow over the weekend. Not even the wet and chilly Cape weather on Sunday, which threatened to put a damper on things, could detract from the sense of warmth and camaraderie that seemed to flood the valley. The balmy weather, which enveloped Franschhoek and the surrounds on Sunday afternoon, made for the ideal end to a fabulous festival. It couldn’t have been scripted more perfectly.

Read more in The Month

Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival, 24 & 25 Oct 09

Franschhoek’s famous Open Gardens Festival will take place from the 24th to the 25th October 2009. Ten spectacular gardens will be on show and visitors will pay only R100 for a Weekend Pass. This year will be quite different from anything seen to date as the town centre will host a Fresh Goods Market; music for all to enjoy; plant sales and the presence of a number of gardening experts including the legendary Keith Kirsten. The Lions Club of Franschhoek will man a ‘garden’ of their own with tea, bubbly, wine and food on offer. There will be Tussy Mussy workshops on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 at R20 per person.

The Open Gardens include:
La Rive a "Stunning English country garden filled with swathes of soft pinks, blues and whites."
Andy Higgins’ La Providence which is a "large landscaped garden with massed rose beds and beautiful water features."
Aliki Starke’smedium sized "town garden, strikingly laid out with mixed flower beds, boxed areas and secret corners."
Carl and Sonia Atkinson’slarge garden "shaded by huge old oaks; lovely herbaceous borders, interesting pond and unusual plantings."
Die Eike, home of Rene and Piet van der Westhuyzen. This is a "new farm garden with wide expanses of lawn, rose garden, special features and beautiful mixed borders."
Hennie de Necker’sformal town garden "full of colour and interesting plantings; it is hard to believe the garden is only one year old."
Fay Bentley’ssmall garden, regarded as "a jewel; an example of mixed plantings complimenting each other."
Sabine Bosman’s Klein Champagne. The park-like garden is large and includes "shaded river frontage, meandering paths and a lily covered lake."
Kleinhof belonging to Jacques Botha. This is a "very different garden. Expect old trees, arbours and thousands of bulb plantings but no lawn."
The Cottage Garden. "Atamed old garden surrounding an historic cottage, quaint and pretty with old almond and pomegranate trees.

Talks in the Franschhoek High school hall include: Keith Kirsten (10:30 Saturday and Sunday; R60); Marie Fazard of Ludwig’s Roses (14:30 Saturday; R30) and Bridget Kitley, who will speak about herbs (14:30 Sunday; R30).

Buy your tickets online at www.webtickets.co.za or in Franschhoek on the day.

March On!

Until a week ago the tag line of Franschhoek's Bastille Festival: "a celebration of freedom", was in danger of being seriously undermined because of the calling off of the proposed Freedom Walk/Run. The event failed to attract a sponsor and the FWVTA was compelled to move ahead with their plans without it. The Month happened to learn of the cancellation of the Freedom Walk at a meeting with Cnlr Gordon Pfeifer. A concerned call to Charlotte van Zyl (of the Delta Trust) soon put things right. Thanks to Solms Delta Wine Estate for their generous sponsorship of this year's event. How fitting that their minstrels will lead the procession into town this year. Vive le True Community Spirit, vive.