Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
CONSTANTIA
ALONG with all the harvest festivals at this time of the year, come the wine festivals. The ninth annual Constantia Fresh Fine Wine & Food Festival takes place on the lush green lawns – a phrase that should strike joy into every Capetonian’s heart right now – of Buitenverwachting in Constantia on February 24, from 3pm-7pm.
A celebration of the good things in life, more than 200 wines from 45 producers will be available for you to swirl, sip and savour, while you nibble on gourmet canapés prepared by seven of Constantia’s chefs.
“The festival offers a refreshing change to the many wine events held in crowded halls and is tailor-made to ensure that guests not only enjoy the day, but that each leaves feeling invigorated and filled with a lust for life,” say the organisers, explaining that Higgo Jacobs and Jorg Pfutzner select wineries with top wines.
Archie Maclean from Catharina’s Restaurant at Steenberg will be serving Franschhoek smoked salmon trout salad with pickled ginger, spring onion, sundried tomato, cucumber, toasted sesame seed and a lemon soya dressing.
From Jonkershuis Restaurant at Groot Constantia, Chris Coetzee is planning West Coast mussels done Cape Malay style with green mango, lentil them not to be a bother, but close enough for moms and dads to still keep an eye on them.
Picnic boxes are available to buy with your ticket and include a selection of fresh bread, quiche, charcuterie, locally sourced cheese, olives, pâtés, preserves, pinotage onion relish, pickles, a chef ’s salad, a chocolate brownie and fresh seasonal fruit salad. Wine, beer and cider are available on-site as well and masala cream and served with flame-toasted bruschetta and summer stone fruit and coriander salsa. Brad Ball’s dish will be “Bang Bang Shrimp” – tempura fried prawns with miso mayo and black sesame.
Tickets are R550, available from www.quicket.co.za or participating wineries, and include a festival glass, tasting of all the wines, as well as the gastronomic extravaganza on offer. Live music by Gerald Clark will be part of the afternoon’s entertainment.
For more information, call 083 265 2405, email info@ finewineevents.co.za, or go to www.constantiafresh.com, where you’ll find a list of all the participating wineries and chefs.