‘Heeden is Gode loff van de Caepse druyven d'eerste mael wijn geparst’
OK, so if your High Dutch is a little rusty, let me help you out.
‘Today, praise be to God, wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes.’
It was February 2, 1659, and the colonial governor Jan van Riebeeck scribbled in his journal to record the precise date in history that wine was first made in what would later become South Africa.
South Africa may fall into the so-called ‘New World’ of winemaking, alongside the likes of the United States, Argentina and Australia, but few wine-lovers realise that wine was made in the Cape as far back as 1659… 100 years before the first vines were even planted in California or Australia!
Today that long vinous history is celebrated across the Cape winelands each year, usually just as the annual grape harvest is in full swing. But unless you happen to work in a wine cellar, you’ll want to make your way to the One&Only Cape Town on February 2 to raise a glass to 366 years of South African wine.
To mark ‘South Africa’s Wine Birthday’ this glam urban resort is hosting an al fresco wine festival on the terrace of the Vista Bar from 4 pm – 8 pm. To a backdrop of waterfront canals and mountain views, expect more than 20 wine farms from across the Cape to be on show, pouring a selection of releases for wine-lovers. While you sip and explore, snack on creative canapés created specifically to pair with the wines on offer: think charcuterie boards and roast lamb to fresh oysters and bite-sized desserts. Tickets cost R750pp and include unlimited wine and canapés. Get your ticket via Webtickets.
Want to keep the celebrations going?
A short walk from the One&Only you’ll find the new Cultivar Wine Bar at Time Out Market Cape Town. Here sommelier Lennox Nyengera showcases the quality and diversity of South Africa’s wine regions, perfectly paired with the world-class culinary experience served up by the Market’s 13 chefs.
At the Bar you’ll find a thoughtfully-curated selection of South African wines, available by the bottle or the glass, alongside sommelier-led tasting flights that explore the nuances of South African terroir.
While the first shoots of the wine industry sprouted in the Company’s Garden of the inner-city, some of the Cape’s most famous wines came from the winelands of Constantia.
So it’s fitting that Groot Constantia is hosting a wine celebration, with a formal event on February 6 in the heart of this historic estate. It’s a black-tie affair, with fine wines and gourmet meal included in the ticket price (R1300pp), and entertainment from the acclaimed Tygerberg Children's Choir.
There's a delicious new addition to the Durbanville wine route!