Navigating the Hands on Harvest in Robertson, South Africa
Every year, during the first weekend of March, the Robertson Wine Valley hosts the Hands on Harvest Festival. Each winery welcomes guests to partake in wine harvest festivities which is definitely not limited to harvests alone. Expect lots of wine and food too!
Planning
Be sure to plan your itinerary in advance. The Robertson wine valley publishes a
Getting around:
There are actually quite a few options if you do not wish to travel yourself. Try the newly launched Wine Valley Safari Hop on Hop off
Day 1: Friday - Check in
Check in on
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Entrance to Galloway Luxury accommodation. -
Magnificent pool area. -
Modern bedroom. -
For R1500 a night for two people sharing in a modern setting with mountain views - I would say that it is really great value for money. Oh and did I mention that breakfast is included?
Contact Johan & Jana Roodt to book.
Tel: +27 82 443 7000 | email: info@gallowayguesthouse.co.za
Day 1: Friday Dinner
Begin your Hands on Harvest experience with a winemakers dinner as per the programme at one of the locations recommended. I experienced a 5-course fine dining dinner experience for R650pp at Succulent Restaurant as presented by Chef Werner Snoek.
Each dish was paired with Kranskop wines as presented by the winemaker, Dewald Marais.
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Meeting the owners of Kranskop Wines. -
My favourite dish! Quail on a bed of mielie purée. -
Loved this Chardonnay!
Tel: +27236264134 | Email: succulent.restaurant@yahoo.com
Day 2: Saturday Harvest
This is where all the fun starts! Get your hands dirty by picking grapes, stomping grapes and making juice all before a hearty lunch.
I experienced the harvest at Excelsior wine which was R300 per person and included a welcome coffee and mosbolletjies, cellar tour, grape picking, grape stomping, bottling your own grape juice, a wine pressing demonstration, wine tasting, wine blending of which you get to keep a bottle with your own label, a ride through the vineyards as well as a buffet lunch.
The festivities should end at around
Day 2: Saturday Grappa Tasting
I visited Tanagra wines to explore their Distillery and taste some Grappa as made by Robert from Germany, the owner who makes it himself for more than 9 years.
Grappa tasting is R40 per person.
Day 2: Saturday Sunset Safari
Then later in the evening, I enjoyed a sunset experience at Kranskop wines. We drove through the vineyards 300m above sea level on the hop on hop off bus and were taken through the cellar by winemaker N
Whilst the sun was setting, we sat on the balcony overlooking the wine valley and enjoyed tasting some great wines from Chenin Blanc, a Petit Syrah and Tannat which went down well with roostekoek, cheese and other preserves.
It really is a more intimate, learning experience with the owners and winemakers themselves. It's also a great opportunity to meet new people and make some friends - even some goats!
E-mail: newald@kranskopwines.co.za
Cell: +27 82 773 5043
Day 3: Sunday - Market Magic
On the Sunday of the Hands on Harvest, everyone congregates at Viljoensdrift for some harvest festivities from
The Hands on Harvest market is kid friendly, includes wine tasting and you can shop for gourmet food, craft and other items like Olive oil.
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Kiddies play area. -
Wine Tasting. -
Loved this olive oil!
Closing off
End your Harvest experience by visiting one more winery on the way home. I enjoyed an ice cold MCC experience at Graham Beck wines which also included some fantastic platters for R180.
Overall, this festival is much more sophisticated than that of other festivals like Wacky Wine for instance. Expect an older crowd and meet the winemakers themselves. You really do learn a lot about the South African wine industry.
This experience would have costed about R5000 in total pp.
The next Hands on Harvest will be during the first weekend of March 2020. Be sure to keep up to date by visiting the Robertson Wine Valley website.
Up next? Wacky Wine 7-9 June 2019.