Enjoy romance and rosé in Franschhoek

PINK is the colour of romance and a chilled glass of rosé is like summer in a glass. Put these elements together for an early Valentine’s Day celebration at the Revving Up Rosé Festival, Rickety Bridge in Franschhoek today.

Originally hailing from the Provence region of France, rosé is traditionally dry and crisp, but in this country in particular it went through a few decades of being sweet or semi-sweet, which didn’t do it any favours. In recent years, however, South African producers have returned to making dry rosé from a variety of different grapes, with wonderful results.

As refreshing as a white, with some of the complex berry flavours of a red, this is the perfectly accessible inbetween wine. It’s also usually very reasonably priced, which is a bonus.

At this festival you’ll be able to sample the rosés from Anthonij Rupert, Babylonstoren, Delaire, Foothills, Haute Cabrière, Krone, Le Lude, Lynx, Paul René, Rickety Bridge, Solms-Delta, The Wolftrap, Vrede en Lust and more.

The day begins – or began, depending on what time you got up and bought the newspaper – at 8.30am with The Rosé Run (5km, 10km or 20km) and The Rosé MTB Ride (20km, 40km or 60km). From 10am until 4pm there will be wine tasting and rosé-friendly food at Paulina’s Restaurant like salmon roulade, candied beet salad and tempura line fish.

Thereafter the tasting closes, but until 6pm visitors can still buy wine by the glass or bottle, as well as cocktails, and continue eating at Paulina’s while listening to live music.

● RicketyBridgeisontheMainRoad (R45),Franschhoek,phone0218762129. Tickets–fromwww.webtickets.co.zaorat thedoor–areR120foraglassandtastings.

Seewww.ricketybridge.comand www.dnaevents.co.za.

IN THE PINK: Everything’s coming up rosé this summer with the Cape’s premium rosé producers getting together at Rickety Bridge Estate in Franschhoek today for the inaugural Revving Up Rosé Festival.