BREEDEKLOOF OUTDOOR AND WINE 2009

Click here for photos of activities during the outdoor festival at the various cellars

South African music legends Koos Kombuis and Nataniel, a skaapkop dinner, helicopter flips, a night run through the vineyards, mountain biking, a tagged-fishing contest and a crocodile spitbraai awaited the ±9 000 visitors who attended the Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine 2009 festival which took place from
Friday October 9 to Sunday October 11.



This 6th annual celebration of wine, food, adventure and live music was hosted by the wineries in the Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and Breede River areas, just one-hour drive from Cape Town.
 

Music

Nataniel Under the Tanks, hosted by Seven Oaks and Waboomsrivier wineries, kicked off the festival on a high note, while Lizz Meiring provided a bubbly atmosphere at a Vonkel Vrou breakfast at Botha Wine Cellar.

Koos Kombuis and Zinkplaat performed at Opstal Estate, where a full-house of hundreds of visitors watched the sun set over the Slanghoek Mountains at this spectacular natural setting.

Music lovers were also attracted by the open-air dances beneath the oak trees at The Dam Fine Café @ Boshimela with performances by Skallabrak, as well as Newton & Jimmy Jones. Seven Oaks and Waboomsrivier hosted the Three Tenors Under the Tanks, Chris Swanepoel performed at Slanghoek Wine Cellar, Andries Vermeulen at Goudini Wines and Skoenveters at Badsberg Wine Cellar.

Outdoor Adventure

Gevonden joined the festival for the first time in 2009 and hosted a series of adventurous outdoor activities including a Multisport Magazine Trail Run presented by AALS, which saw 27 competitors tackle mountain tracks, race through the vineyards and splash through mountain streams.

396 Mountain bike enthusiasts took part in the "Mountain to Mountain" Slanghoek Mental Health Mountain Bike Classic hosted by Slanghoek Winery, while the popular Night Run through the vineyard at Deetlefs Estate attracted around 400 runners..

The tagged fishing contest at Merwida Wine Cellar drew 156 anglers and their families.  The helicopter flips at Lorraine Cellar, the Barrel races at uniWines, and the Raisin spitting contest at Badsberg also proved very popular.  

Food

As always, the festival catered to every tastebud!  The crocodile spit-braai at Avondrood Private Vineyards attracted adventurous diners as did the skaapkop dinner at Jason's Hill, which also hosted the Pure Boland Farm Market. De Vette Mossel at Deetlefs Estate was also very popular, with their seafood buffet.

Oysters and Cap Classique were enjoyed at Daschbosch and at the Du Preez Estate Tabasco Hot Spot.

Kids

The Breedekloof is a family-friendly destination and the wineries had full programmes of activities catering for children including face painting, pony rides, jumping castles and water slides.

One of the highlights for the younger generation was "Lollos" and the interactive sheepdog demonstration at Botha Wine Cellar, while the model aeroplane demonstration at Badsberg Wine Cellar appealed to kids of all ages.

The festival celebrates all Breedekloof communities and the community programme hosted at Goudini High's sports grounds was a huge success and added flair to the festival and this year saw the crowning of Ashwill Marima and Jonesia McDonald as our own Mr & Miss Breedekloof respectively. The events included a street procession featuring the Super Stars Cape Carnival band marching through Rawsonville's main road.

The ever increasing visitor numbers and entries for the various activities indicate that the Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine festival is truly one of the best wine-tourism events in the Cape. To ensure you do not miss out next year, diarise the dates from Friday October  8 to Sunday October 10.

For more information call Breedekloof Wine and Tourism on (023) 349 1791.