Breedekloof outdoor and Wine Festival: it's fun, naturally

Thursday, 6 October, 2011
Doug Carew
Splash your mountain bike through a clear mountain stream, or watch the sun set behind the mountains as you sip wine and listen to your favourite local artist performing under an African sky during the annual Breedekloof Outdoor & Wine festival which runs from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 October.
Festival activities are hosted by wineries in the Breedekloof Wine Region, which includes the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and Breede River areas. While it is a wine festival, the magnificent natural playground also hosts plenty of family-friendly activities including a mountain bike race and a tagged fishing contest.

Most of the wineries host live entertainment. Some highlights include The Muses at Under the Tanks hosted by Seven Oaks and Waboomsrivier wineries. Karen Ferreira, Viljoen Retief & Jovan + Thelma will be performing live in the Olof Bergh Festival Tent at Badsberg, while Opstal Estate will host performances by blues/rock guitarist and singer Jo Martin. Another draw card is Boshimela’s annual Dance Under the Stars. There are also art, photographic, jewellery, clothing, craft and orchid exhibitions.

Energetic types can enter the popular Slanghoek Cellar Mountain to Mountain MTB Classic to be held on Saturday October 8 - over 13km, a 33km or 60km routes. Visit www.onlines.co.za or enter at the cellar on the morning of the race.

The ever popular tagged fishing contest at Merwida Winery offers a R10 000 cash prize if you catch a tagged fish, or enjoy Fynbos hikes and guided river-side bird-spotting walks. Opstal will host an exhibition by Quenet’s Hunting & Fishing of their bow hunting, paintball and air gun equipment.

When all the action leads to hungry tummies visitors can sample the local restaurants such as Boshimela, Bergsig Bistro, Opstal Restaurant, Tin House, Fairhills Tea Garden and the Bistro@Jason’s, or they can enjoy the festival catering at all participating wineries which serve food during the festival – stalls offer everything from roosterkoek to sushi, fillet ciabattas to freshly shucked oysters, farm cheeses and locally grown olives, delicious pancakes and good old fashioned hotdogs.

The Breedekloof is a family destination and the wineries cater for children with pony rides, farm animal petting, sand art, magic, jumping castles and tractor rides.

The festival is the ideal time to explore the beautiful Breedekloof region. It is just 60 minutes from Cape Town, but to truly experience what it has to offer visitors should make a weekend of it. Select your accommodation from wooden mountain cabins and stone houses overlooking rivers, to B&Bs, guest houses, camping and caravanning sites.

So strap your mountain bikes to your car, pack your running, hiking and dancing shoes – and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Visit www.breedekloof.com or email info@breedekloof.com or call +27.233491791 for more information.