Annual Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine Festival

Escape the city and head out to this family-friendly affair in the Breedekloof Valley

Looking for an event outside the city limits that’s tops for both adults and kiddies? Look no further, the annual Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine Festival splashes onto the calendar from Friday, 11 to Sunday, 13 October 2013 along the Breede River,  a mere 90kms outside of Cape Town, to grant weary townies the perfect opportunity for escape.

A decentralised celebration, the kid-friendly affair is hosted at 15 different venues (12 of which are wine farms) in the picturesque Breedekloof Valley region and offers festival-goers a chance to eat, drink and be merry while partaking in a slew of great activities, from live entertainment to sporting competitions. Not to mention, revelers can look forward to sipping, swirling and purchasing – at special prices – the finest wines from wineries in Rawsonville, Slanghoek, Goudini and the Breede River areas.

Keep in mind, aside from the fine wines and the hearty country fare that come from the area, this scenic valley boasts majestic mountains and is a natural playground for mountain bikers, runners, 4x4 enthusiasts, bird watchers and fly fishermen alike.

What to expect at the 2013 Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine Festival

Wine: With no less than 12 wine estates showcasing their wares, vino lovers will be spoilt for choice. Festival-goers can take part in a series of wine tastings and pairings featuring the latest vintages and flagship wines of some of the area’s most renowned estates and boutique vino producers. Perhaps most notably, on Friday, 11 and Saturday, 12 October, the historic Goudini Wines will host a special tasting of their Gevonden Hendrik de Wet Cape Hanepoot; a collector’s item, this wine is produced by the very same vines planted in 1882.

Food: From breakfast and brunch to lunch and dinner, patrons can choose from a veritable buffet of yummy food dishes and offerings. Tuck into traditional German-style foods at the Dwarsberg Trout Hideaway’s Oktoberfest celebration, sample Merwida Wine Cellar’s waterblommetjiebredie and roosterkoek, or simply try Deetlef wine estate’s lekker plaasvetkoeke with various lip-licking fillings and more! For those looking for something a little more contemporary to chow, head down to the Opstal Estate where chef BiBi and her team have put together a sushi and wine pairing with the farm’s popular Blush wine.

Sporting Activities: The festival coincides with the annual Slanghoek Mountain to Mountain MTB Classic – it’s a CSA endorsed event – on Saturday, 12 October. Avid mountain bikers can choose from three different race distances (13-km, 33-km and 63-km routes) that snake through the estate, offering scenic views and tracks for all fitness levels. Late entries will be taken on the day of the race; for more information visit Iqela-events.co.za.

Live Entertainment & Other Activities: If getting down, dirty and sweaty is not quite your thing, there’s a wide range of incredible events, like a raisin-spitting competition, sumo-suit fighting, rodeo-bull riding, paintball shooting and so much more, on the go. Not to mention, classic car lovers can check out a Cobra car display, and adrenaline junkies can take in the famous Goudmyn route in a 4x4 trip for only R120p/p (4x4, breakfast and bubbly included).

Kids: Last but definitely not least, moms and pops can keep those kiddies entertained all day long with an array of activities. Kids can choose to let loose on the bugslide, jumping castle, at the activity table, with sand art and so much more.

Tickets for the 2013 Breedekloof Outdoor and Wine Festival

Visitor must buy a festival pass to gain entry to all of the separate festival ground areas; the pass is valid for the whole weekend. These tickets are available at all participating venues and cost R100p/p for adults and R50p/p for children between the ages of 6 and 18 years; little ones younger than 6 years enter for free. While entry to most of the events and performances are included in the festival pass, costs do apply for select activities. Tickets for individually priced events must be purchased directly from the venue.

For more information or to see the festival programmes, visit Breedekloof.com.

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Arrive in style! Consider renting a Harley-Davidson for the day to conquer the scenic drive from Cape Town and surrounds.

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