Its time for the Franschhoek Champagne Festival again!! 4 - 6th December

In Franschhoek we believe life is about experiences and the best experiences are the ones involving the ‘magic of bubbles’. It’s for this reason that wewill be hosting the third annual Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival. Where the finest South African Cap Classique and French Champagne flows for an entire weekend.

Spend the Champagne festival weekend popping corks, filling flutes, sipping vivacious bubbly and snacking on delicacies prepared by some of the valley’s gourmet masterminds.

FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER 18H00 - 22H00 - Join us for a cocktail event under the stars!

The imported bubbly brands represented at the Festival will be Billecart Salmon, Joseph Perrier, and Laurent Perrier, while local brands are Avondale, Bon Courage, Boschendal, Bramon, Cape Chamonix, Colmant, Dieu Donne, Du Preez, Genevieve Mcc, Graham Beck, Groote Post, JC le Roux, Krone, Hout Bay Vineyards, Kumkani, La Motte, L’Avenir, Morena, Morgenhof, Nitida, Pierre Jourdan, Seidelberg, Silverthorn, Simonsig, Steenberg, Topiary, Villiera, Weltevrede and Woolworths.

Not only will the visitors taste the best of bubbly, but they will also be able to taste delicacies of the Franschhoek restaurants, which include Cafe Allee Bleue, Dieu Donne, Haute Cabriere, La Petite Ferme, Le Franschhoek, L’Ermitage, Mange Toute, Monneaux, Grande Provence, and Salmon Bar.

Tickets cost R180 for a tasting glass and 10 tasting coupons, and can be booked at www.webtickets.co.za. The dress code for the Festival is ‘white with a touch of black’. The Festival runs from 18h00 - 22h00 on 4 December, and from 12h00 - 18h00 on 5 and 6 December.

Franschhoek Bastille Festival 11-12 July

Franschhoek, South Africa’s Gourmet Capital, will once again celebrate its centuries-old French Huguenot heritage with a wonderful feast of food, wine and entertainment at its annual Bastille Festival on the weekend of July 11 and 12.

With lots to see, do and enjoy for the whole family, make a memorable weekend of your visit and take advantage of the special Bastille packages offered by a plethora of hotels and guest houses, many of which include a complimentary bottle of Franschhoek wine. The theme of heavenly cuisine and fine wines is the order of the day and threaded throughout the Festival. Enjoy this gastronomic affair in style, as chefs and winemakers showcase Franschhoek’s crème de la crème. Award-winning restaurants are composing special menus exclusive to Bastille.

The Bastille Food and Wine Marquee is the focal point, drawing people to the hub of activity and fervour, as well-loved wineries and esteemed chefs parade their talents at colourful, vibrant stalls, offering delicious fare from: oysters, sushi, local and French cheeses to charcuterie, hand-made chocolates and salmon trout from the valley, complemented by Franschhoek’s fine wines.

Come along and paint the town red and blue, with entertainment ranging from a French Film Festival at Le Quartier’s Screening Room, to boules, a chefs and waiters race, street soccer, a barrel-rolling contest and fly-fishing competitions. Guests can jive to the tunes of musicians while shopping up a storm at the market stalls and drinking in the wine, food and atmosphere. While a wide variety of children’s activities promise to keep your little ones amused for hours.

So, with something for everyone, come celebrate this universal, colourful appreciation of French heritage, history and culture. C’est la vie!