CALENDAR OF EVENTS ALONG
ROUTE 62

JANUARY 2012

Where:Kenilworth Race Course, Cape Town

When: Saturday 28 January

The stage is set for a record day in every respect when the gates open at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town on Saturday morning, January 28th, for one of South Africa’s biggest summer racing, fashion and entertainment occasions, and Africa’s hottest horseracing event the R2-million, Grade 1 J&B Met.

With an expected crowd of at least 50 000, the demand for space is always exceptional. Facilities include a 5 000 capacity marquee village and 184 picnic sites.

Head on over to the J&B Met to see and be seen and perhaps, place a bet or two!

FEBRUARY 2012

Where: Dirtopia Trail Centre, Delvera Farm, R44 between Stellenbosch & Klapmuts

When: 14 February 2012

Cost: R50 per person incl permit, glass of bubbly at the top, optional shuttle to halfway mark and map. R20 for kids under 10

Contact: Booking essential at 021 884 4752 or info@dirtopia.co.za

Website: www.dirtopia.co.za

Celebrate this special night in a very romantic way with your loved one!

Order a delicious picnic and be active & adventurous by hiking to the top of Klapmutskop to view the sunset with a glass of bubbly!

Arrival at Trail Centre by 18h00, no later than 18h30 – the earlier the better, so that you have more time enjoying your picnic. Sunset @ 19h40

Bring along: Torch, warm clothing, hiking shoes.

Snacks (even picnics) & drinks available at Trail Centre, but welcome to bring your own.

You can even stand a chance to win a pair of Hi-Tec hiking shoes in the lucky draw!

This hiking is not only open to couples – family & friends welcome too...

ROUTE 62 HOG RALLY

Where: Start: Montagu, Route 62, Western Cape

When: 16 - 19 February 2012

Cost: R50 per person incl permit, glass of bubbly at the top, optional shuttle to halfway mark and map. R20 for kids under 10

Email: cpthog@gmail.com

Website: www.route62rally.co.za

The Route 62 Rally returns to Montagu in the heart of Route 62 and will be held at the exclusive Avalon Hot Springs with its natural warm water pools and entertainment facilities.

This world famous route offers both local and international visitors an opportunity to enjoy one of the most spectacular rides in South Africa whether you make this a one or multiple day ride. Be sure to stop over along the way to experience the fantastic hospitality of the various towns and stops that make up Route 62.

Route 62 covers well surfaced roads that carry very little traffic making the route perfect for biking through dramatic scenic mountain passes and along stretches of landscape that take your breath away. Equally beautiful, the route includes numerous rivers, vineyards and fruit orchards as it winds gently through the Breede River Valley and Klein Karoo.

The rally aims to excite and entertain and focuses on delivering a WOW factor to all participants. We welcome input from previous Route 62 participants to help our planning to ensure we keep raising the bar.

HANDS ON HARVEST FESTIVAL 2012

Where: Robertson, Western Cape

When: 24 - 26 February 2011

Website: www.handsonharvest.com

We invite all wine enthusiasts and promising vintners to head to the Robertson Wine Valley and come experience the magic of harvest for a day!

The fourth Hands-on Harvest Festival is a boutique event offering small group activities to ensure the very best hands-on experience. Visitors can enjoy taking part in the wine making process, try your hand at grape picking, bunch sorting, stomping your own grapes!

There will be a harvest market, vineyard tractor trips, wine tasting, brandy blending experiences, wine tasting by horse cart and much more will be on offer.

All activities need to be pre-booked before 22 February 2012.

CANAL WALK BRIDAL FAIR

Where: Century City, Cape Town

When: 24 - 26 February 2011

Contact: Cheryl Wade Events on +27 (0)21 914-2852

The Canal Walk Bridal Fair will offer a fabulous prize valued at nearly R160 000 sponsored by the spectacular “In the Vine” venue and the stunningly creative “La Maison”. The prize will include a variety of superb requirements for a “Dream Wedding Reception”.

One lucky bride to be at the show can stand a chance to win this spectacular prize by entering at the In the Vine and La Maison display in the central promotions court between 24 and 26 February. Additional entry forms will be available at information desks and extra entry boxes will be placed at selected entrances.

Excited brides-to-be can use a little assistance when it comes to planning their dream wedding and with over 150 professional suppliers on hand to help with expert advice, the spectacular Canal Walk Bridal Fair is the ultimate one-stop wedding show for every happy engaged couple!

WELLINGTON LIONS LEAGUE CYCLE RACE

Where: Boland Rugby Stadium Wellington, Laerskool Hugenote

When: 25 February 2012

Contact: +27 (0)83 721-2380

Need some preparation for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour? Or are you just looking for a great cycle race?

The Wellington Lions League Cycle Ride (previously known as the Wilde Cycle Day), offers a 94km or 54km road race as well as a 50km and 20km mountain bike challenge. And not to worry, your kiddies will be kept busy on the 6km kiddies track. Bring the whole family to enjoy a day of sport, wine tasting, kiddies jumping castle and various food stalls.

MARCH 2012

Where: Kleinmond, Western Cape

When: 2 - 3 March 2012

Contact: Hangklip-Kleinmond Tourism Bureau on 028 271 5657

Come and celebrate summer, sun and sea in Kleinmond when some of SA’s most popular Rock, Blues and Jazz artists will offer two days of world-class entertainment next to the magnificent Kleinmond Lagoon.

The festival also offers a variety of family and fun activities: a beer tent, wine fair, the best local cuisine, stalls and kiddies club and much more!

Camping is available, as well as other accommodation in Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond. 2011 Music Highlights: Albert Frost, Anton Goosen, Boulevard blues band, Blues Broers, Dan Patlansky, Dave Ferguson, Diamondback, Gerald Clarke, In the Deepend, Natasha Meister, Robin Auld, The Lyzyrd Kyngs (Piet Botha & Akkedis), Tribal Echo, Valiant Swart + 2 Wild Cards.

Tickets available at Computicket.

STOMP AND PRESS FESTIVAL

Where: Manley Wine Lodge, Tulbach, Western Cape

When: 3 March 2012

Contact: +27 (0) 23 230 0582

Email: reception@manleywinelodge.co.za

Website: www.manleywinelodge.co.za

Try something new & exciting this year by trying the stomping challenge on 3 March 2012. Grapes are crushed by foot within a certain time period. The person who manages to extract the most juice will win a prize. Kids will find plenty of amusement on the jumping castle and with water sports. Avid golfers have the opportunity to score a few holes-in-one and win prizes.

Gates open at 09:30 and the Antique Auction starts at 10:00.

Entrance: adults R20 (includes a free wine glass and wine tasting), free entrance for kids.

OMMIBERG ROUND THE ROCK

Where: Paarl, Western Cape

When: 10 March 2012

Contact: Annelize on +27 (0)21 863 4886

Come and enjoy a refreshing glass of Nederburg bubbly on arrival and taste two red and two white wines from the 2011 vintage, straight from the cellar, with finger snacks to complement the young wines. Pick and taste bunches of grapes from our vineyards, get to know and recognise the wide variety of grape cultivars used in our wines, at our visitors’ centre.

Children can enjoy pony rides, slip-n-slides, tractor and trailer rides; while cooking demonstrations, art exhibitions and glass blowing entertain the moms.

Traditional harvest activities, such as cellar tours, grape stomping and grape tastings will keep dads occupied; while the young at heart zip around the Paarl Rock in a Cessna or Helicopter; or chill to the tunes of Zinkplaat, Pieter Smith and other live bands.

Tickets can be purchased at your first port of call on the day.

SWALLOWS RALLY

Where: Nekkies Holiday Resort in Worcester

When: 23 - 25 March 2012

Email: admin@swallowsflightmcc.co.za

Website: www.swallowsflightmcc.co.za

You are cordially invited to attend our 16th Swallows Rally to be staged at the Rally site in Worcester. The Swallows 16th Rally is a social gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts for a weekend of fun. The Rally will officially open on Friday the 23rd of March till Sunday the 25th of March 2011. Entry fees will be R200 per person.

Each entrant must complete the entry form (available on our website) to qualify for the lucky draw. Deadline for entries is 3rd March 2012. Please enter as early as possible to enable us to arrange catering. We regret that NO CARS or QUADS will be allowed in the campsite. Limited parking is available at R50 for the whole weekend. Under 18’s are not allowed to attend the rally. All prizes are sponsored by SWALLOWS and supplied by Motorcycle world.

MAY 2012

Where: Calitzdorp, Route 62, Western Cape

When: 18 & 19 May 2012

Website: www.portwinefestival.co.za

Following the tremendous success of the 2011 Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival, the 2012 festival will again be centred at the historic Calitzdorp Railway Station, well-complimented by a full and fabulous programme of events at the various wine cellars and village venues.

Renowned Port producers, Axe Hill, Boplaas, Calitzdorp Cellar, De Krans, Du’SwaRoo, Peter Bayly, TTT and Withoek, proudly partnered for the first time this year by the ABSA group, will host the ABSA Calitzdorp Port & Wine Festival.

Festival visitors will be treated to a magnificent medley of Ports and Port cultivar wines - great value-for-money Ruby and Tawny Ports and multiple award-winning Vintage Reserve Ports will be on sale. Also available are Pink Port, White Port, The Chocolate Port, Tinta Chocolat, Tinta Mocha, The Original Espresso, Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional, III, Cape White and Khamsin, to name but a few.

JUNE 2012

Where: Robertson, Western Cape

When: 7 - 10 June 2012

Contact: +27 (0) 23 626 3167

Email: manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

Website: www.wackywineweekend.com

This year marks the ninth anniversary of the Robertson Wine Valley’s biggest annual wine festival, with the ever-popular Wacky Wine Weekend taking place from 7 - 10 June 2012. With 50 wineries showcasing their wines, visitors can expect even more festivity and celebration! With so many key attractions, both old favourites and novel delights, this well-loved event is a ‘must-do’ on the annual social calendar. So, join the Robertson Wine Valley clan for a Wild Wacky Weekend!

Fun activities include: ‘meet-the-winemaker’ tastings, brandy tours and tastings, vineyard tractor trips, river cruises, sunset game drives, cheese- and olive tastings, a farmers’ market, a simulated rodeo bull, the half-marathon and mountain bike challenge.

Some of the newer attractions include: Robertson Winter Market, original theatre act and a community tent with local performing artists.

The Valley will also be presenting a gastronomic extravaganza, with visitors spoilt for choice: oysters, perlemoen, sushi, riverside picnics, Italian cuisine and ‘potjiekos’ are just a few of the gourmet delights on offer. And while the adults are revelling in all the above, there will, as always, be a wide range of children’s activities including: fishing, farmyard tours, feeding farm animals, pony rides, paint-ball, side cars and face-painting. Don't miss out!

AUGUST 2012

Where: Robertson, Western Cape

When: 10 - 12 August 2012

The Robertson Slow is one of the most anticipated and intimate festivals of the year and the Robertson Wine Valley is looking to attract visitors yearning to experience the charm of country life in intimate settings characterised by each farm’s unique personal touch. While enjoying time-honoured activities, visitors will have the opportunity to interact with winemakers and wine farmers in an informal ambience, getting to know them and their respective families.

Activities to look forward to:

• Indulge in traditional cuisine, using local ingredients from the Valley
• Experience wine-tastings and dinners in the homes of the local wine-making families, savouring family recipes
• Admire the beauty of biodiversity with fynbos drives
• Learn how to make your own limoncello
• Master the art of blending your own wine
• Discover the fine art of beekeeping and making honey
• Try your hand at making pasta or gnocchi
• Treat yourself to an organic meal on an organic wine farm
• Enjoy a story-telling evening by pioneers of the Robertson Wine Valley
• Browse and shop at the Robertson Valley Regional Food Market leisure on Sunday 12 August

To avoid disappointment, events must be booked before Wednesday 8 August.

OCTOBER 2012

Where: Goudmyn Farm, between Robertson & Bonnievale, Western Cape

When: 19 - 21 October 2012

Contact: +27 (0) 023 626 3167

Email: manager@robertsonwinevalley.com

Website: www.wineonriver.com

Enjoy laid-back country hospitality at its best as you taste more than 300 wines from over 40 wineries, while soaking up the rhythm of live jazz, ballads and blues. While wine-tasting is the order of the day, there will be delicious gastronomic delights from which to choose whilst browsing amongst the country food stalls, shopping your way through the Robertson Farmers’ Market, and much more. Tutored chardonnay tastings will be on offer in the Chardonnay Tent, and other popular attractions will include river cruises as well as arts and crafts from the Valley.

There will be a wide variety of children’s activities. This festival promises to be great family fun! And, children under 18 enter free of charge, making it more convenient and cost-effective for the whole family to enjoy all that the Valley has to offer! After free admission, children’s activities will be charged for on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ system.

This open-air spring festival is not to be missed. So bring your friends and family along for a feast of fine wine, delectable treats and great music!

NOVEMBER 2012

Where: Goudmyn Farm, between Robertson & Bonnievale, Western Cape

When: 4 - 6 November 2012

Contact: FESTIVAL INFORMATION – Huipie – 082 921 4463

Email: info@bonnievale.co.za

Website: www.bonnievalebonanza.co.za

Come and enjoy a wonderful Bonnievale Bonanza, a fantastic town festival for young and old!!! Each year we set the first weekend of November aside for cyclists, walkers, runners and fellow guests to come and enjoy the beauty and joy of festivities in the country side. We also have a Quad and Bike Open day. Something to look forward to for both participants and spectators. Book now and make sure that you do not miss out on all the fun!

SOMETHING NEW!! On Sunday the 6th of November there will be a foodmarket at Bonnievale Cellar for young and old. Live music, wine, preserves, food on the go , a kids corner, cheese and olives will be a few of the delights to enjoy.

ARTISTS FOR THE WEEKEND: Emo Adams, Snotkop, Jovan en Thelma, Shaun Tait, Wicus van der Merwe, Dillion Lerm, Chante and The Young Ones.