Shrug off the winter cocoon, have some fun in the sun and celebrate the start of the white wine season in the picturesque Durbanville Wine Valley. Join in the Season of Sauvignon, a jubilant event taking place on twelve wine farms from 1 to 2 October 2011.

“For months now our winemakers have watched over their sleepy vines,” says Michelle van Staden of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association, organisers of the annual event. “What better way to celebrate the awaking of the vineyards than with a glass of wine, paired with outstanding local food, live music and the company of friends and family.”

“The Season of Sauvignon wine festival – now in its 7th year - is deeply rooted in Durbanville terroir,” she adds. “Visitors can experience the season’s debutante wines and taste why the Durbanville Wine Valley won the 2011 SA Terroir Award as the country’s top terroir for quality wines.”

Festival goers can choose from an array of individual events offered by the following wine farms Altydgedacht, Bloemendal, D’Aria, De Grendel, De Vallei, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Groot Phesantekraal, Klein Roosboom Hillcrest, Meerendal and Nitida.

As Van Staden says, the combination of unique first time events, such as a wild-and-wonderful Sauvignon Saloon, a Pink Paisley party and a West Coast Feast along with traditional favourites such as French-styled ‘le picniques’ and the popular Durbanville Sauvignon Wine Ferry make for the most exhilarating start to summer. “Season of Sauvignon caters to all interests and levels of wine knowledge, but mostly it is focused on fun with family and friends.”

“We are also very happy to have Simonsberg on board as the festival’s official cheese partner, celebrating the marriage of cheese and wine.”

Mark your calendar for the weekend of 1-2 October. Please note that booking is essential at some farms. Bookings need to be made with the farms themselves. For the full festival programme visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za or call the festival office on 083 310 1228 during office hours.

Programme highlights

Festival goers can explore the route from farm to farm, or linger at their favourite destination for the entire day. Here’s a round-up of the festival fun offered by the 12 participating wine farms:

The historical farm Altydgedacht serves picnic baskets under their wispy trees for those looking to enjoy light jazz and a great relaxing day out. Looking for more? Take an open air ride through the vineyards or a cellar tour with the winemaker. To end it off enjoy a neck or foot massage with grape oil products. The kids will love the pony rides, face painting and jumping castle.

Bloemendal marks the spring celebrations with the theme ‘Good Times in the Vines.” Tap your feet to Broers, DJ Ossewa, Ghapi, Steyn Fourie, Jesse Jordan and more, as well as feasting your eyes on Master Chef Demonstrations and Big Screen Currie Cup entertainment. Sunday offers a free wine tasting of a gold medal winning sauvignon blanc and the exclusive launch of the 375ml 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Dessert Wine as well as a light wooded 2011 Chardonnay. Harvest tables, spitbraais, boerewors rolls and more. Pony rides and supervised play for the kids.

Follow your senses. Join a leisurely day at the D’Aria Cellar where the festive Bedouin tent sports live music, a Sauvignon Bar and a Food of the World Market with tastes ranging from Indian Curry, German sausages, Chinese noodles and sushi, Dutch cheese and Kudu burgers to West Coast oysters, trout – and delicious Steak and Sauvignon Blanc pies. Get active with mountain biking, walking trails, mini golf, a Boules competition, tractor rides and entertainment for the little ones.

De Grendel goes casual-gourmet, creating an idyllic ‘le picnique’ ambiance with vistas of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. Guest chef Marc Wassung cooks Picanha beef over an open fire. Experience gourmet hot dogs, fresh West Coast oysters with all the trimmings and Simonsberg cheese. For a closer look, book for the exclusive sauvignon workshop at the Kliphuis. De Grendel is also one of the wine destinations for the Base 4 Durbanville Wine Hopper on Saturday, while the Lion of Africa De Grendel Mountain Bike Race starts on Sunday morning.

Saddle up for summer at De Vallei where it’s all about the Wild West. Visit De Vallei’s Rodeo Town for the finest of wines at the Saloon. Take the bull by the horns on a mechanical bull or sit back and tip your hat to Dewald Forest who will be jamming to the tunes of old classics. Kids will enjoy the Billy the Kidz area. For the hungry cowboys and cowgirls, Western Vendors will cater for all your needs: Ice Cream Ninjas, Reddies Sushi, Martin’s Catering and well as the new De Vallei pizza stand. Keep an eye out for our “Most Wanted” to claim your reward.

It’s a kind of magic at Diemersdal with live music, kid’s entertainment, a food market and Mediterranean fare, pony rides and fun games for everyone, lots of wine and a bit of magic in between. Always an early sell-out event day, this is suitable for the whole family. Here the vibrant, classically styled Sauvignon Blanc is complex with alluring fruitiness and crisp flavours.

Durbanville Hills has created the ‘Perfectly Paired Picnic’ to compliment the cellar’s award-winning Sauvignon Blancs with a variety of fresh dishes such as marinated prawns, asparagus quiche and melon salsa. For the more hands-on type, create your own wrap at the Grill Bar, where fresh West Coast oyster buckets will also be available. For the kiddies, a ‘Box Full of Fun’ gives them the chance to create their own pizzas. The Durbanville Hills Eatery, with its panoramic views over Table Mountain and Robben Island, will be serving a Bistro menu on both Saturday and Sunday. Children’s entertainment: Face Painting, Sand Art, Jumping Castle, and Make Your Own Cork Pin Board. This farm is also a Base 4 Durbanville Wine Hopper destination.

At the beautiful historic Groot Phesantekraal farm the focus is on a sense of family and friendship, country style and great wine. Here the sushi, venison kebabs and boerewors rolls pair beautifully with great views and a relaxing atmosphere.

Klein Roosboom is ‘rocking the pink paisleys’. Support the start of Breast Cancer month by joining the festivities of food - from cupcake stations to boerewors rolls. The kids will love the bubble ball and the famous giant sandpit as well as sand art for the younger kids. Part of the proceeds at the gate benefits The Pink Drive.

Hillcrest Estate celebrates @ The Quarry. Rock to the sound of Jacobus Brink while you get your blue suede shoes out for Elvis. Award-winning winemaker Graeme Read will be offering tastings to those who want to get to the bottom of Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy picnic baskets, a jumping castle, face painter and balloons for the children. Bring a brolly and blanket and enjoy the fresh air.

Meerendal’s three day celebration kicks off on Friday night at a dinner prepared by chef De Wet Wilch. Different Meerendal Sauvignon Blanc vintages will be paired with five food courses, with Liza Goodwin and Bennie Howard as hosts. Saturday’s Famer’s market is not to be missed while enjoying live music at Barn & Lawn where a special breakfast and lunch menu is on offer. Special tastings of Sauvignon Blancs from different vintages of Meerendal showing the ageing potential of Durbanville Sauvignon Blancs, will be held at different intervals during the day. Some overseas Sauvignons will also be included. Base 4 Durbanville Wine Hopper will operate their popular heli flights during the day. On Sunday the Barn & Lawn hosts a ten-course West Coast fish braai with snoek, cape salmon, prawns, mussels, harders, paella and lots more. Activities for kids on Saturday and Sunday.

Nitida kicks of the festivities with a spring-inspired food and wine evening at Cassia. Wine away the rest of the weekend around the dam with picnic baskets to the tunes of Ricky Nass. Kids can enjoy their own picnic baskets, a jumping castle, sports games and canoeing on the dam. Sunday sees the finish of the three-day Ride the Rhino from Langebaan to Durbanville.

Durbanville Sauvignon Wine Ferry helicopter rides: Saturday, October 1st.

The glamorous Base 4 Durbanville Wine Hopper will once again take to the sky, whisking festival goers off to De Grendel, Durbanville Hills and Meerendal in helicopters. This exclusive shuttle service flies from one estate to the next, for festival goers to enjoy tastings and festival offerings. Tickets are R650 pp and includes a tasting glass, wine tastings, helicopter shuttle and a Simonsberg gift hamper.

·Bookings for Base 4 Durbanville Wine hopper: 021-934 4405