Stoep Tasting in the Karoo one to remember
Visitors flock to Graaff-Reinet and Nieu-Bethesda for wining and dining event of note
With hundreds of bottles of wine popped and delectable food being served, the annual Stoep Tasting Wine Weekend drew to a close on Saturday night.
Now in its 10th year, the Stoep Tasting event has grown in popularity and welcomed visitors from far and wide to stroll through the streets of Graaff-Reinet and Nieu-Bethesda to sample wines and food from more than 70 producers.
As one of the premiere wine tourism weekends, the threeday Stoep Tasting lived up to its promise to offer a divine experience with several side and pop-up events taking place during the festival.
The relaxed country weekend gave patrons the opportunity to sample some of the best tipples in the world while enjoying the refreshing atmosphere both towns had to offer.
These ranged from wine pairing at The Bethesda to luscious six-course meals and wine pairings at The Ibis in Nieu-Bethesda and craft beer and gin master classes in Graaff-Reinet.
Carla Smit, from NieuBethesda tourism, said the Stoep Tasting was a success in
more ways than one as residents received training and employment opportunities in the lead up to the event.
Smit said everyone went above and beyond during the festival.
“Well done to all the wine producers, stoep hosts, suppliers, restaurants, galleries and businesses, accommodation suppliers, and so on.
“Kudos for providing training and much-needed employment for locals.
“Thank you to the organisers of side events and functions and pop-up events and shops, markets as well as art exhibitions,” Smit said.
Kim Imrie, from GraaffReinet
tourism, said the Stoep Tasting Wine Weekend was a highlight on the town calendar and had grown in popularity.
“Its popularity hasn’t waned and if anything, it is growing.
“We are so grateful to the folks who support us from year to year and we are very excited that this niche event will be spread over two weekends next year.
“This will help it to keep its flavour without growing too big,” Imrie said.
“Its location in the Karoo gives us the opportunity to share this beautiful region with visitors who we hope will come back or extend their stay.”
Event organiser Rose Wright of the Karoo Wine Club said the event was a success, with between 8,000 and 10,000 people in attendance.
“This equates to an estimated income injection for the district of between R70m to R80m.
“Which is very much needed here. This is excluding wine sales.
“We never measure the success of the event on the number of tickets sold.
“For us it’s far more important to know that our producers, the magnet that draws the ticket holders here, are happy and that they, their hosts and all the other participating businesses and charities in our community have done well and are willing to do it all over again in a year from now,” Wright said.
Nieu-Bethesda resident and festival volunteer Danie Boneschans said the Stoep Tasting was a wonderful opportunity to showcase what the small Karoo village had to offer.
“It is great to see so many people visiting the village and getting more people interested in what we are all about,” he said.
Stoep Tasting patron Lizette Marais, 48, who travelled from the Western Cape to attend the event, said it was a fantastic experience filled with laughter and good times.
“This type of event brings a lot of people from different places together to have a good time.
“I will definitely be coming back again next year,” Marais said.
Stephan Grobbelaar, 39, who travelled to Nieu-Bethesda from Limpopo, said though he was not a regular wine drinker, he enjoyed the experience and the atmosphere.
“I have had more wine in the past three days than I think I have ever had but it was great fun,” he said.