Two magical months of harvesting in the Robertson Wine Valley

Wednesday, 28 January, 2015
Robertson Wine Valley
With the 2014 harvest event being such a huge success, the Robertson Wine Valley will once again welcome the public with open arms for a magical two months of harvesting from 7 February until 29 March 2014 with its Hands-on-Harvest Festival.

When the sun rides high in the heavens, it is time to bring in the harvest, a time when, in days of old, the whole community came together. Family, neighbours and friends gathered to work from sunrise to sundown to bring in the crop. Our sense of community may have changed, but it is still a time for people, who are passionate about the potential within a humble bunch of grapes, to come together.

Traditionally this festival was held annually during only one weekend but due to popular demand friends and family of the valley were invited to join at leisure during 2014 instead of the customary one weekend.

Children still play in the vineyards while brothers or best friends compete to collect a better share and catch the eye of a pretty girl. There are refreshments aplenty and food for the soul as well. Sore muscles will be as pleasant a reminder of a day's work well done as the heft of the grape is of the summer. Yet nothing is as special as the emptying of overflowing baskets into barrels and the rolling up of pants – there are grapes to be stomped on and fun to be had – this is our “Hands-on-Harvest” festival.

Feast your eyes on the intricate art of wine making, stomp grapes to your hearts’ content or take a leisurely trip through the vineyards by tractor or on horseback, followed by a scrumptious picnic.

As some of our wineries are not traditionally open to the public, our focus is on hosting a series of intimate events, ensuring that visitors are treated to a unique “hands-on” experience.

Come for the day, come for the weekend, come for the week or stay the entire two months of harvest and experience all that this beautiful valley has to offer during its Hands-on-Harvest Festival.