Wine beauties meet hairy beasts when the colourful wine community of Bot River in Cape Town, South Africa sets the stage for its annual Barrels & Beards celebration to toast the local winemakers’ post-harvest looks and latest fruits of their labour on Saturday, 20 April 2013.
Each year the laid-back wine folk of this prized yet unspoilt Winelands pocket in the Overberg, follow a tradition of ‘no shaving or barber visits for the duration of the harvest season’, only to reveal their scruffy facades during a fun-filled ‘beard parade’. And this year’s event promises one big hairy hullabaloo.
Along with esteemed judges, guests will get to vote for the boldest beard in Bot River and sharing the spotlight with raging beards and monster mo’s will be the latest 2013 cellar gems to be sipped and savoured straight from the barrels.
“We only get one chance a year to make the best wines we can and we invite enthusiasts to come and rub shoulders with our winemakers as we flaunt our whiskers and wines,” shares winemaker Sebastian Beaumont of Beaumont Estate.
The quaint Bot River Wine Route is home to an eclectic bouquet of conservation-conscious wineries ranging from historic and time-honoured to ultra modern, state of the art cellars that are all committed to individualistic, quality-driven wines. Joining Beaumont at this joyous occasion will be Barton, Eerstehoop, Feiteiras, Gabriëlskloof, Genevieve, Goedvertrouw, Luddite, Maremanna, Rivendell and Wildekrans.
“At the Barrels & Beards evening we pay tribute to the pampering that went into our wines and not ourselves over the past few months,” adds bubbly beaut Melissa Nelsen, proprietor of Genevieve Cap Classique.
This exclusive evening includes a hearty ‘terroir to table’ potjiekos dinner of unique tastes and produce from the area, whilst cool-climate, top quality wines from more than eight local producers will be on sale. The ‘boereorkes’, Die Stoepsitters, will add sakkie-sakkie vibes to this homegrown affair.
Barrels & Beards 2013 takes place at The Old Shed at Anysbos Farm on the Swartrivier Road, Bot River and starts at 5pm. A shuttle service will be available on the evening in support of responsible drinking.
If last year’s sell-out inaugural Barrels & Beards event is anything to go by, tickets will be flying fast so make sure you get hold of yours today. Tickets costs R250 per person and include a complimentary barrel tasting of the latest Bot River wines, a souvenir wine glass, dinner, music entertainment and real country hospitality.
For more information or to book your tickets contact Nicolene Heyns at [email protected]. Seating is limited and no kids under 12 allowed.
Bot River is situated en route to Hermanus on the N2 – a mere hour’s drive from Cape Town.
