Cape Town - You can’t think of Cape Town without thinking about two very important things: wine and tourism.
The annual Klink Awards, now in their fourth year, celebrate both elements and, best of all, you the consumer get to choose the winners.
Drinking and loving wine is one thing but these awards are not about that. They are about the whole package provided by wine farms, and the best experiences you can have in the winelands.
“The Klink Awards are the only one of their kind in South Africa, and give a user-generated twist on the more traditional competitions the wine industry participates in,” said founder Monika Elias.
“Instead of awarding just the wine, we showcase the holistic experience that the winelands offers – from first-rate accommodation, creative food and wine pairing, adventure activities and now even craft beer. Through a strict vetting process, we curate the 77 nominees; the public are then given carte blanche to vote for their favourite 17, as well as one overall Supanova winner.”
The categories reflect the diversity of our wine regions – some of which, like Franschhoek, Bot River, Paarl, Robertson and Stellenbosch, are nominated in the Happy Times: Most Memorable Wine Route category – and include the best places to have a family day, to spend a night, have a gourmet meal or a deli lunch, get pampered, or bash around the vineyards on a bicycle, horse, or on foot.
Some wine farms have diversified into beer and On The Hop, a round-up of the most innovative craft breweries or labels available on a wine estate or route, has been added this year.
The Beyond Expectations category is for great food and excellent wine. Its nominees include Bistro 13 in Stellenbosch, Longridge, the fairly newly opened Open Door at Constantia Uitsig, and the well established Vrede en Lust.
If you prefer casual dining you should try the Black Oystercatcher restaurant, Green Vine at Silvermist (where you can also go ziplining, and for which it is nominated in the Wild Card: Most Unusual Attraction on a Wine Farm category), fabulous wagyu burgers at Hartenberg, traditional South African cooking at Knorhoek’s Towerbosch Earth Kitchen, or Rivendell.
Wine festivals are in the running too. The upcoming Durbanville Season Of Sauvignon which takes place on October 24 and 25 is a nominee, along with the Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival, which is in December.
The Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend, Stellenbosch Street Soirees, and Christmas in July in Tulbagh are all competing to be your crowd pleaser.
There are fabulous gourmet restaurants in a category of their own – La Colombe at Silvermist, Pierneef at La Motte, and the restaurants at De Grendel, Waterkloof and Grande Provence.
I would find it very difficult to cast my vote there as they are all excellent. Awards will be given for the farm you decide is greenest, in the Tread Gently category. Nominees are Backsberg, Graham Beck, Villiera and Waterkloof where, besides the fine dining, you can go on its monthly Circle of Life biodynamic walk and learn about its green philosophy.
This is only a small example of what is happening in the winelands, so I’d suggest you use the next six weeks wisely.
There is a strong social media element to the Klink Awards; hashtags can win you prizes when you post pictures of nominees you’ve visited, and the wine farms encourage you to visit and vote for them via their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
It’s a chance to get involved and have your say. You may cast one vote per category until November 13.
The winners will be announced at a gala evening, presented in collaboration with key sponsor Wesgro, on November 19.
l For more information, visit www.klinkawards.co.za or follow @KlinkAwards, #klinkawards or www.facebook.com/klinkawards
Weekend Argus