Already in it’s 10th year, the Ommiberg Festival promises to be a day of fun for the whole family - wine specials, young wine tasting, picnics, music, gourmet treats and loads of entertainment for the little ones.
Ommiberg gives wine lovers an opportunity to visit nine participating farms and experience the art of winemaking and a chance to taste the young, unfiltered wines from the 2017 harvest.
This year, two of the nine farms are making an extraordinary effort after they suffered major devastation and while they will not be producing new wine this year, guests can still expect the very best that Calais Wine Estate and Druk My Niet has to offer.
These farms suffered tremendous devastation when their vineyards were destroyed during the recent Paarl fires.
In January the thatched roof of the 1692 manor house at the Calais Wine Estate was burnt.
Daan van Leeuwen from the Drakenstein Fire Watch was one of the volunteer firefighters who fought hard to save the farm from total devastation against the strong Cape winds.
“If is was not for the arson we would have it under control,” he said. “This is a valuable farm in the area.”
But farm manager Konstintin Fedotov says while they will not be producing any wine this year, they will make every effort to rebuild the farm.
“After the fire people asked us what we are going to do now,” says Fedotov.
“I said we have to stand up, get our things together and keep on working. We are going to rebuild the house.”
Druk My Niet winemaker Alexandra Mcfarlane said the farm owners escaped the fire with just the clothes on their back and
their animals.
Druk my Niet also won’t produce new wines this year, but visitors can still expect their older wines including the T3 Tempranillo.
At Mellasat Vineyard wine lovers will enjoy their famous white pinotage.
Mellasat was the first to produce white pinotage in 2007 with just one barrel.
Mellasat is expected to produce 8000 bottles of white pinotage this year for the local and international markets.
If you are feeling nostalgic, pay a visit to the Toeka Stoor at Domaine Brahms.Visitors will get a taste of their sweet fermented wine which they can enjoy with a slice of onion tart.
Nederberg wine will offer an exclusive tasting of the winemakers Chenin Blanc 2016 which is not usually offered in South Africa
and at the newly renovated Perdeberg visitors will get a taste of
their premium wine and sparkling wines.
Other participating farms: the Rheboksloof Wine Estate, Windmeul Kelder, and Boland Celler.
* Ticket prices range from R120-R150 which includes a tour to the nine venues, a tasting glass and young wine tasting.