Saturday morning, 18 April, tempts the more serious winos and cellar buffs to attend a Best of Bot River Tasting at Luddite Wines, owned by winemakers Niels and Penny Verburg. During this tasting, a selection of terroir-driven Bot River wines will be 'blind tasted' against international wines of the highest standards ranging from rare Rhône vintages to New World gems.
The weekend concludes with the Bot River Barrels & Beards post-harvest celebration when the winemakers' self-imposed shaving ban (which starts on 1 February and lasts throughout the entire harvesting period) ends on a high and hairy note at the family-run Beaumont Estate on Saturday evening, 18 April.
At this annual celebration of good food, wine and company the winemakers flaunt their facial fur and wacky whiskers during an amusing 'beard parade' when the boldest beard in Bot River is crowned by esteemed judges who take their job very seriously.
A new addition to this year's hairy hullabaloo will be the launch of an exclusive Bot River Auction Reserve 2013 wine, which will be auctioned off on the evening. For one night only, guests will have the opportunity to get their hands on this premium red blend, made with only the finest grapes from the Bot River area, with proceeds going towards paying for an extra teacher for Bot River Primary School. Only 100 magnums and 300 750ml bottles will be produced to go under the hammer.
Besides a chance to get your piece of this Limited Release action, the Bot River Barrels & Beards 2015 party includes complimentary barrel tastings of the latest wines, a hearty farm-to-fork dinner and music entertainment led by a lively marimba band. Wines will be on sale on the evening.
Cellars to take part in the Bot River weekend include Barton, Beaumont Wines, Benguela Cove, Eerstehoop, Feiteiras, Gabriëlskloof, Genevieve MCC, Goedvertrouw, Luddite, Maremanna, Rivendell and Wildekrans.
Costs: Best of Bot River Tasting, includes all the selected wines and lunch, on Saturday 18 April at 11am at R300 per person. Bot River Barrels & Beards showdown on Saturday 18 April at 5pm is R350 per person, including barrel tasting and dinner.
For more information, go to www.botriverwines.com.
