News

Catch up on all the latest news from the Plett Winelands and the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival...

VIDEO: Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2016...VIDEO: Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2016...

The 3rd Annual Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival had nearly 1600 in attendance! Watch the video here... more

 

Expresso Show features Plett's Kay and Monty Vineyards...Expresso Show features Plett's Kay and Monty Vineyards...

SABC 3's Expresso Show recently featured Plett's Kay and Monty Vineyards in The Crags, a wine farm in the Plett Winelands..... more

Tasting room now open at Lodestone Wines...Tasting room now open at Lodestone Wines...

Good news from Lodestone Wines is that its temporary tasting facility is now officially open and ready to welcome visitors to taste its range of wines and its acclaimed olive oil... more

Plett Tourism and Bramon sponsor CemAir function...Plett Tourism and Bramon sponsor CemAir function...

Plett Tourism and Bramon Wine Estate made a “special guest appearance” at the CemAir function in Johannesburg on the 29th of October sponsoring award-winning Bramon MCC and a selection of still wines... more

Tasting room now open at Lodestone Wines...A Fine Pairing: South African Estates and Wine...

With a deck mounted precariously on the edge of a ravine and acres of vineyard to the back, the Bramon homestead is not short on drama. “When we first visited the property it was all wattle,” says Peter Thorpe... more

Discovering Plett’s Emerging Wine Industry...Discovering Plett’s Emerging Wine Industry...

If you’d told someone 15 years ago that a man and his wife had just planted a vineyard along the Garden Route, they probably would have laughed out loud. But today, Plettenberg Bay, is also home to 20 wine-producing vineyards.... more

VIDEO from Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival...VIDEO from Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2016...

The 2nd Annual Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival was a phenomenal success. It’s great to see such a new and unique event do so well in such a short space of time! Watch the video here... more

Kate Liquorish on the Wine and Bubbly...Photos from Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly weekend...

Take a look through the official photographs from the festival below to see if you or anyone you know was snapped enjoying the sunny weather, delicious wines, tasty food, funky music and all round amazing atmosphere... more

Wine & bubbly festival draws crowds...Vlogger Scrumpy Jackson’s video of Wine Festival...

Instagrammer and vlogger Mark “Scrumpy” Jackson shares his experience of the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival which took place in Plettenberg Bay on the 9th and 10th of October 2015... more

Kate Liquorish on the Wine and Bubbly...Kate Liquorish on the Wine and Bubbly...

This weekend celebrated the second year of the Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival and what a pleasure it was. With Sasfin on board as the exclusive sponsor, a ‘blue and white’ theme was the call for the weekend... more

Wine & bubbly festival draws crowds...Wine & bubbly festival draws crowds...

Day two of the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival drew a huge crowd despite the blustery conditions on the Saturday morning. After day one had concluded in perfect weather conditions, word got out... more

Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival kicks off...Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival kicks off...

Amidst perfect weather conditions the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2015 is now underway on Central Beach in Plett..... more

Prepping Plett for Wine and Bubbly Festival...Prepping Plett for Wine and Bubbly Festival...

Plett is abuzz with excitement ahead of the 2nd annual Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival which kicks off tomorrow, Friday 9th Oct, on Central Beach in Plett.... more

Weekly Sips #5 | Wine pairing 101... Weekly Sips #5 | Wine pairing 101...

Very simple - food and wine should each bring out the best flavours of the other. During the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival there will be options of great food which will be paired with local Plett wines... more

Weekly Sips #4Weekly Sips #4 | Start celebrating in style...

Don’t miss out on the fun and exciting events at the local wine estates leading up to the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival weekend! Start your weekend early, from Wednesday the 7th of October in... more

Weekly Sip | From the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival Weekly Sips #3 | It’s all about wine, food & fun!

Editor of Wine Extra Magazine, Maryna Strachan, will be joining the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival as the official Master of Ceremonies. With her pedigree in the wine business, long legs and witty sense of humour... more

Weekly Sips #2Weekly Sips #2 | Plett tasting rooms to sip and swirl the day away…...

The Plett Winelands, which stretches 57 km from Harkerville to the Crags, is SA’s smallest wine region, claiming just 58 of the 100 000 hectares planted countrywide... more

Weekly Sip | From the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival Weekly Sips #1 | From the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival

Beach or mountains. Wine or bubbly? Book your tickets now for Plett’s second festival dedicated to wine, bubbles and the finer things in life. Enjoy local wines and sample the amazing bubbles from international house-brand Piper-Heidsieck..... more

Tickets now on sale for Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2015Tickets now on sale for Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2015

Tickets are now on sale online for the 2015 Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival which takes place on Fri 09 and Sat 10 Oct. Earlybird special prices are now available from only R180 per ticket, so get yours while still available... more

Hard Pressed: Sparkling payoff for Plett wine pioneer Hard Pressed: Sparkling payoff for Plett wine pioneer

I joined Villiera in the 1980s as a carpenter after my studies at Elsenburg Agricultural College, Stellenbosch. But they needed someone to work in the cellar. I worked there during harvest and then went back to carpentry out of harvest.... more

Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival 2015Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival 2015

Sasfin has been confirmed as the sponsor of the 2015 Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival, which will take place on the 9th and 10th of October 2015. Take a look at photos from the 2014 festival here and watch the video of the 2014 Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival... more

Enjoy the wine styles of Redford Lane - Cemair inflight magazine Enjoy the wine styles of Redford Lane - Cemair inflight magazine

Ribbons of fence wind through the 11 hectare property of Redford Lane Wines, located in the Crags – a mere 15 minutes from the warm Indian Ocean, the cool Tsitsikamma forests & the town centre of Plettenberg Bay... more

Plett wine farms feature in the new Plett Summer Video Plett wine farms feature in the new Plett Summer Video

A tribute to some of the Summer fun one can have in Plettenberg Bay, this video includes footage from some of the wine events held duing the Plett December 2014 – January 2015 Summer season... more

Plett Winelands features in SA Golf & Leisure magazine Plett Winelands features in SA Golf & Leisure magazine

With wildlife and a view to make anyone green with envy, it is no wonder that visitors plan their entire vacation schedule around a single round of golf at some of the finest fairways set in breathtaking locations...more

Harvest Time in the Plett WinelandsHarvest Time in the Plett Winelands

It's harvest time in the Plett Winelands & our estates have been working hard over the last couple of weeks to bring in the fruit that will make our award-winning Plett Wine & Bubbly! SABC News was...more

Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival VideoSasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival Video

The Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival took place on the 4th and 5th of October 2014. Take a look at photos from the festival here and watch the video of the festival below ...more

Introducing the Plett WinelandsIntroducing the Plett Winelands

It’s been a busy 2014! Plett Tourism has introduced the Plett Winelands, taken Plett’s award-winning vineyards to the Joburg and PE wine shows, launched the first Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival and put together the... more

Plett shows off wine excellence – Article in Weekend PostPlett shows off wine excellence – Article in Weekend Post

Angela Daniels | Weekend Post | SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2014 Picturesque Garden Route town exhibited best of wine, bubbly and food As a boy growing up in the Transkei, Plettenberg Bay mayor ...more

Diners Club awards Zinzi, Tsala and Hunter’s GOLD for their wine listsDiners Club awards Zinzi, Tsala and Hunter’s GOLD for their wine lists

Tuesday 14th October 2014 - Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein  Zinzi Restaurant, Tsala Treetop Lodge and Hunter’s Country House were awarded GOLD for their respective wine lists for the season at ...more

Best dressed couple at the Wine & Bubbly FestivalBest dressed couple at the Wine & Bubbly Festival

Lerato Melato and Jermaine Charles won 'Best dressed couple at the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival. This amazing couple Lerato Melato and Jermaine Charles enjoyed their ...more

Diners Club awards Zinzi, Tsala and Hunter’s GOLD for their wine listsPlett welcomes visitors at Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival

The inaugural Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival launched this Saturday at The Plettenberg Hotel, a beautiful reception for more than 70 distinguished guests who were fortunate to experience hospitality Plett style – sunny blue skies, crisp clean air and ...more

Best dressed couple at the Wine & Bubbly FestivalPhotos from the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival

Hundreds of photos have been published from the recent Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival. Take a look to see if you were snapped at the event ...more

Instagrammers promote #plettwineweekend Instagrammers promote #plettwineweekend

The Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival took place over the weekend of 4-5 Oct 2014 and Instagrammers at the festival were asked to tag photos with #plettwineweekend. Here's the result...

 

Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival Video

The Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival took place on the 4th and 5th of October 2014.

Take a look at photos from the festival here and watch the video of the festival below:

 


Introducing the Plett Winelands

It’s been a busy 2014! Plett Tourism has introduced the Plett Winelands, taken Plett’s award-winning vineyards to the Joburg and PE wine shows, launched the first Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival and put together the Plett Winelands Hiking Trails – to be launched in 2015!

Plett Tourism chairman Peter Wallington says the Plett Winelands is the first project being developed by Plett Tourism to provide holidaymakers with more reasons to visit Plett out of season. Working hand in hand with the Plettenberg Bay Winegrowers Association, the aim is to create a premium wine and lifestyle experience that reinforces Plett’s positioning as South Africa’s preferred quality leisure experience.

The inaugural Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival was held in near perfect conditions.  The VIP launch took place The Plettenberg. Speakers included Plett Tourism chairman Peter Wallington, Bitou Municipality mayor Memory Booysen and Plettenberg Bay Winegrowers Association spokesman Jon Tonkin and winemaker Anton Smal, then The Plettenberg’s Executive Chef Peter Tempelhoff delighted guests with a food pairing of five local Méthode Cap Classique wines and a selection of his mouth watering delicacies.

Mayor Booysen then officially launched the inaugural event with a ‘wine sabrage’, with instruction and a demonstration by winemaker Smal. Using a sword, the end of the Bramon MCC and Plettenvale MCC bottles were knocked off in one clean piece, cork, glass and all.

The event moved down to the Beacon Island Resort, where wine (from nine Plett estates), food and great music (from Sujo& Storm, local favourite Tigger and Watershed ) entertained hundreds of visitors on the 4 and 5thOctober. Then, it the festival moved to various wine farms and their breakaway events, which included a cycling wine route race, a cheese making course, a country fayre and a contemporary music and arts day.

Read more - "Another Dimension"

 


Plett Winelands features in British Airways in-flight Magazine

"Martin Strack van Schyndel lumbers up the steps clutching a bottle of rosé the colour of dawn. He’s after his wife’s opinion. Gloria is the driving force and unofficial cellar master of Plettenvale Wines in Plettenberg Bay. ‘Do you like where the label sits?’ He holds up a bottle of the 2013 vintage. She looks at the pansy shell-shaped sticker and after some deliberation gives him the nod. He proceeds down the stairs and spends the next hour manually applying labels to a couple of cases that are urgently needed by a local retailer and restaurateur.

Like most of the wines on South Africa’s hottest new wine route, which stretches from Harkerville to The Crags, Plettenvale only sells from the cellar door and at a clutch of restaurants and stores in town. It’s family owned, family run and driven by passion. They grow cold-climate grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and make a supremely divine pink bubbly and pink flat. In a good year they produce 10,000 bottles – total. In a year when the baboons have marauded the vineyards, that number halves."

Click on the image to read the full article.

 


Plett Winelands features in SA Golf & Leisure Magazine

Plett Winelands features in SA Golf & Leisure Magazine The 5th online edition of SA Golf & Leisure Magazine went live on the 27th November and Plett Winelands features:

"With wildlife and a view to make anyone green with envy, it is no wonder that visitors plan their entire vacation schedule around a single round of golf at some of the finest fairways set in breathtaking locations around the Garden Route. The differences in scenery, geography and style ensure that you can play for days without being bored.

Neighbouring the golf estates you will find 16 wine farms and estates to tickle your taste buds whilst dining or visiting various wine growers' tasting rooms, during your stay. The Plett Winelands are producing award winning wines and Methode Cap Classique sparkling wines. This is one of South Africa's newest wine of origin regions and they are producing a variety of cultivars, including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Road, along with the expanding Methode Cap Classique varieties."

For the full article, take a look at the online magazine and flip through to page 100.

 

 


Day 1 of Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival a huge success 

CompetitionDay 1 of the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival was a huge success with hundreds of locals, tourists and wine enthusiasts making their way to the Beacon Island Resort to sample the region’s local wines.

With the weather playing along, wines and bubblies from 9 wine farms were on offer, including Andersons, Bramon, Lodestone, Luka, Newstead, Packwood, Plettenvale, Rare Earth and Redford Lane.

“The Plett Winelands and the Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly will in time help address seasonality in Plett,” said Plett Tourism chairman Peter Wallington at the launch of the first festival on Saturday. Click here to read his full introductory speech.

The festival continues today (Sunday 5th Oct) from 12 pm so if you haven’t yet had a taste of what the Plett Winelands have to offer, pop down and join the festivities – it promises to be another great day of sunshine, fun and fabulous wine in Plett!

View a few photos from the event here and Instagrammers' pics here


 

 


 

SASFIN – proud new sponsor of the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2014SASFIN – proud new sponsor of the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2014

Sasfin has come on board as the main sponsor of the the Plett Winelands Classic on 3 and 4 October at the Plett Country Club and headline sponsor  of the festival event at Beacon Island Resort on 4 and 5 October.

Plett Tourism is excited to welcome SasfinBank as the official main sponsor of the 2014 Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival. For 2014, SasfinBank will be sponsoring the PlettWinelands Classic on 3 and 4 October at the Plett Country Club and will be the headlining sponsor of the festival event at the Beacon Island Resort on 4 and 5 October.

Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival - Poster by Caitlin Truman BakerWith less than two weeks remaining, excitement is mounting for Plett’s first festival of this kind, a celebration of the PlettWinelands.

Several Plett wines have recently received commendable awards for their wines. Plett Tourism is proud to announce the following accolades:

Bramon Wine Estate have just won a Silver Michelangelo for their Sauvignon Blanc and are waiting for a response for their Platter Chardonnay MCC, Rosé, Barrel Red Italian varietal and their Selection Italian varietal. Previous awards include:

Luka Wines won a Silver Michelangelo for the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc and a VitisVinifera Double Gold for the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc.

Newstead Lund Family Vineyards have just won Grand D’or (Double Gold medal) at the Michelangelo Awards for their 2012 Méthode Cap Classique Brut. Previous award includes: 2013 Vitis Vinifera Gold for their Sauvignon Blanc 2012.

Packwood Country Estate have just won Silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition this year for their 2012 Gent Bubbly Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend and a Bronze for the Pinot Noir. At Vitis Vinifera they received a Double Gold for the Gent Bubbly Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend and a trophy for the Pinot Noir. Previous awards include: Silver Michelangelo for the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc and a Bronze in the 2013 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC).

Sip some of these amazing award winning wines and others with the whales and ocean at your feet, the mellow tunes of Watershed and good times to create your own memorablePlett feeling.

SIP more than 30 local wines and bubbles,SAVOUR the delicacies of artisanal foods and eateries,
SEA the Big Blue and ENJOY the festivities along the Plett Winelands. Visit www.plettwinelands.com

 


 

CompetitionCompetition: Capture Golden Hour, with Bubbles!

CAPTURE GOLDEN HOUR, WITH BUBBLES… and stand a chance to Win a Weekend at The Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival on 4-5 October 2014!

#plettwineweekend

“Golden Hour” is that magical time for photographers, as the sun slips towards the horizon and produces those incredible photos. Celebrate Plett’s first Wine & Bubbly Festival with a glass of wine or bubbly (extra points if it’s from a Plett Winelands vineyard) and snap away. You could stand a chance win 2 VIP tickets to the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival on the 4th of October 2014 at the Beacon Island Resort and 2 nights at the fabulously luxurious Christiana Lodge (3 and 4 October 2014).

We’ll be featuring our favourites each week leading up to the festival.

HOW TO ENTER:
  1. Take your photos
  2. Upload your photo on our Facebook page OR use the #plettwineweekend hashtag on Twitter or Instagram to be automatically entered. 
  3. Keep an eye on our Plett Tourism social platforms (Twitter, Instagram & Facebook) as we feature our favourites.
  4. Enter as many times as you like! Competition Enter on Facebook Enter on Twitter Enter on Instagram
PRIZES:
  1. 2 x VIP Tickets to the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival on 4th October 2014 
  2. 2 Nights at Christiana Lodge (3rd & 4th October 2014)

Don't miss out!  Enter now on FacebookTwitter or Instagram with the #plettwineweekend hashtag.

Don't want to wait for the competition to close? Get your tickets to the Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival.

Regret, no U18 will be able to attend the festival

 

CONTEST TERMS & CONDITIONS:
  1. By using the hashtag #plettwineweekend or entering via the Facebook page, entrants give Plett Tourism the permission to feature their image online and in print, with credit to the photographer. Images entered must be the entrants own work.
  2. The winner must be available to redeem the prize and travel to Plettenberg Bay for the festival. If unable to do so, Plett Tourism reserves the right to reissue the prize to an alternative entrant. 
  3. Air travel and other transport is not included in the prize. 
  4. The promoter of this contest is the Plett Tourism Association (Plett Tourism), a voluntary association, inter alia, tasked with promoting tourism in Plettenberg Bay.
  5. Anyone throughout the world may enter this contest, but the winner(s) must make themselves available in Plettenberg Bay to claim the prize(s).
  6. There is no entry fee and entrants are not required to purchase any product to be eligible to enter this contest
  7. The route to entry for the contest is http://bit.ly/PlettGoldenHour
  8. Closing Date for all entries will be Friday 26th September 2014 in that all entries must have been duly received by Plett Tourism by 5pm South African time on the Friday 26th September 2014. Any entries received thereafter will be disqualified and will not be considered for the purposes of the competition.
  9. No responsibility or liability will be accepted for entries not having been received by the closing time whatever the reason for non-receipt may be.
  10. By entering this contest, entrants undertake to make the content of their submissions available for the sole, unfettered and exclusive use of Plett Tourism in perpetuity for promotional purposes at no cost to Plett Tourism. Entrants will, however, be given verbal and written credit for submitting successful entries.
  11. Plett Tourism reserves the right to cancel or amend this contest and these terms and conditions without notice to potential and actual participants in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law, regulation, pre-existing right or any other event outside of the reasonable control of Plett Tourism. Any such changes to the contest will, however, be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the same means used to communicate the contest.
  12. Plett Tourism will under no circumstances be responsible for any inaccurate prize details supplied in good faith in respect of prizes supplied by any third party in connection with this contest and will not enter into any correspondence on any dissatisfaction in this regard.
  13. No cash alternative to any of the prizes will be offered. Prizes will only be transferrable at the sole discretion of Plett Tourism and be subject to written confirmation by Plett Tourism. Prizes are subject to availability and Plett Tourism reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equivalent or similar value without giving prior notice of its intention to do so.
  14. Winners will be notified within 3 days of the contest closing date. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. If the winner cannot be contacted or does not claim the prize within 2 days of notification, Plett Tourism reserves the right to withdraw the prize or select a replacement winner.
  15. Plett Tourism will notify the winner(s) when and where the prize(s) can be redeemed and such prizes must be redeemed at such place and time.
  16. The winner(s) agree to the use of his/her name and photographic images in any publicity material pertaining to the competition and/or Plett Tourism. Any personal data relating to the winner(s) and any other entrants will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent..
  17. By entering this contest, all entrants will be deemed to have read, understood and agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  18. Facebook Disclaimer: The data you provide for this competition is being collected for the Plett Tourism Association and for the purposes of the “Plett It's a Feeling” Contest. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Facebook. The information that you provide is for the benefit and use of Plett Tourism and not Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for the purposes of this competition although you may be contacted by Plett Tourism regarding future promotions or competitions. You may unsubscribe from these promotions at any time in the future.

 


 

Plett's new wine event gears up for two days of wine tasting

Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival - Poster by Caitlin Truman BakerSIP more than 50 local wines and bubbles,
SAVOUR
the delicacies of artisanal foods and
SEA
the Big Blue and ENJOY the festivities along the Plett Winelands.

The Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival presented by Plett Tourism and the Plett Wine Growers Association will offer over 30 wines from the Plett Winelands area, for guests to sample during two days of grand tastings. This year’s event takes place at the Beacon Island Resort, October 4th and October 5th, from 13h00 – 20h00 on the Saturday and from 12h00 – 20h00 on the Sunday and will include the dress theme ‘blue and white, ocean and bubbles and wear a hat’.

“The Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival is the front window to the Plett Winelands, Plett’s newest attraction consisting of 16 wine farms and estates and two slack packing trails, all of which will be officially launched at the Festival. It is a major step forward to extending Plett’s appeal beyond the summer and Easter seasons. The Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival will become one of Plett’s main drawcards in years to come and is a perfect fit to Brand Plett," says Plett Tourism Chairman Peter Wallington.

Tickets are R250 per person and this includes a signature Plett Wine & Bubbly champagne flute and one complimentary glass of wine from a pre-selected wine farm. Food is available á la carte at artisan stations and Plett Tourism will tantalise the taste buds with their Oyster & Bubbly Bar. There will be artisan food stations, including a tapas-style Mediterranean selection presented by the Coral Reef Restaurant and a selection of cheeses, artisanal breads and delicacies presented by local producers.

The entertainment line-up includes South Africa’s leading acoustic rock group, Watershed on both days, with supporting acts of Sujo & Storm and local favourite Tigger.

VIPs will be treated to an exclusive food and MCC wine pairing brunch sponsored by The Plettenberg and their signature restaurant, Seafood at The Plettenberg. Sommelier Michelle Michaels will introduce guests to the amazing MCCs to be showcased at the festival.

Parking will be available to patrons at the Central Beach Parking area both Saturday and Sunday, and there will be escorts to assist you across the bridge and beach to the Beacon Island Resort. 

Don’t miss the first celebration of wine and bubbles in Plettenberg Bay! For more information and to book online, visit www.plettwinelands.com.

 


 

Article courtesy of the Weekend Post, 19 July 2014

PICTURESQUE vineyards, warm hospitality and most importantly, good vino is at the heart of Plettenberg Bay’s burgeoning wine industry.

A vineyard in PlettNow gearing up to host the first Plettenberg Bay Wine and Bubbly Festival in October, these wine makers are doggedly working at proving they have what it takes to compete with wine tours in the Western Cape.

Good news for those in the Eastern Cape as travelling time is slashed.

The wine industry in Plett started a mere 14 years ago when Peter Thorpe opened Bramon in The Crags area and today, a remarkable 16 vineyards are operational. Not only are they operating, they are also innovating.

With the wine and bubbly fest, from October 6 to 12 on the cards, guided horseback tours through the winelands are available and slackpacking tours arejust about to start. Vineyard owners are dead set on the area becoming known as a sparkling wine route of note.

Pioneer of Plett’s wine industry, Peter Thorpe, planted the first vines, a sauvignon blanc, in 2000 effectively starting an industry many never believed could be so successful outside the Western Cape.

But Thorpe beat the odds and Bramon’s award-winning Methode Cap Classique (MCC) sparkling and still wines paved the way for a plethora of new vineyards in the area.

Gearing up for Wine and Bubbly Festival

The Plettenberg Bay Winegrowers Association now strongly urges all farms in the area to produce MCCs in order to market the sparkling wine route — and most seem keen to do it.

Newer kid on the block, Newstead Lund Family Vineyards, has heeded the call and is now producing a stunning MCC with the first batch produced last year. However, the farm’s first harvest, a sauvignon blanc, was produced in 2012, with a chardonnay also available. Newstead now also provides guests with a superb wine tasting experience that includes scrumptious cheeses, humus, fig preserve, pate and breads.

Seeing the massive potential to draw more visitors to the region, Plettenberg Bay Tourism has also come to the party and with most of the vineyards in the area signed up for the Wine and Bubbly Festival, visitors will experience cellar tours, themed lunches, wine tastings, culinary lessons, estate tours and picnic lunches in the vineyards.

For the more adventurous, Hog Hollow Horse Trails and Tamodi Lodge will take guests on horse rides through the wine estates and guided mountain bike rides along the wine route. The growing international trend of slackpacking, where porters take care of your luggage and you stay in top-notch accommodation at night, is on the cards for the wine route with tourism authorities putting the final touches to the trails.

Ahead of the Plettenberg Bay Wine and Bubbly Festival, many of the wine farms will be represented at the Port Elizabeth Wine Show at the Boardwalk from July 31 to August 2.

You might want to look out for these BOOMING TRADE: Plett winemakers newcomer Newstead and a selection of the wines available from Bramon in the Crags.

Plett Winelands

 


 

Article courtesy of the Weekend Argus, 19 July 2014

Plett wine festival bound to please
Region is home to several award winners
By Yolande Stander

ArticleTHE wine industry in the Garden Route holiday town of Plettenberg Bay is flourishing, today, boasting 16 new vineyards since the first vines were planted there more than a decade ago. And to celebrate the award-winning wines produced in the region, local vineyards and Plett Tourism have launched the first Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival, which will take place later this year.

The Plett wine industry was established in 2000 when local Peter Thorpe, who grew up on a wine farm In Worcester, planted the first vines of sauvignon blanc in the Crags area on his Bramon Wine Estate, the 16 new wine vineyards producing several varieties, including Methode Cap Classique, Sauvignon Mane, Rose and Pinot Noir.

Bramon’s cellar master Anton Sinai said the Industry was not established on a whim, but that Thorpe had called on several wine experts to look into its viability. “They did not find anything that should hamper vines from flourishing.” Smal said. He added that the first harvest in 2004 produced very high-quality wine – and the rest is history “Soon, others realised the potential of the region, and more vineyards were established with different labels,” he said.

The wines produced in the area have received various top honours, including The Crags Sauvignon Blanc 2013, which was awarded a gold Vitis Vinifera, and a silver Michelangelo international award, and the Bramon Sauvignon Blanc Methode Cap Classique, which won an Old Mutual award.

The boutique vineyard’s Chardonnay 2013 also received a gold Vitis Vinifera award. About 200 000 bottles are produced in the region annually, with the sauvignon blanc being considered equal to the one that is produced on the Malboro estates in New Zealand. “With the growth in the area,” said Plett Tourism spokesman Patty Butterworth. “Slack-packing in Plett will soon be a reality. With amazing natural beauty and a pristine coastline, they may be some of the best slack-packing trails in South Africa.” These trails will include marine, bird and indigenous wildlife, geology, forests.

The Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival will take place on October 4 and 5, 2014. “The festival is a two-day event, with additional social events to choose from between October 6 and 12, to be hosted by some of the established wine estates, country lodges and adventure tourism operators,” she said. These would include cellar owners.