More exhibitors, more space at bumper 8th Stellenbosch Wine Festival

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival committee is pulling out all the stops to host the expected 13 500 visitors at its 8th annual festival taking place from 30 July – 2 August at the Paul Roos Centre. The festival will be even bigger this year, with more than 500 wines and gourmet delights from 170 top exhibitors.

The Stellenbosch Wine Festival, established as a leading event on the winelands calendar, attracts both national and international visitors, bringing together wine producers, exhibitors and those who love wine. In 2008, the Stellenbosch Wine Festival showed tremendous growth in both exhibitors and visitors. The festival played host to more than 12 500 visitors and 150 exhibitors over the four days with total wine sales topping R380 000. Last year, 85% of the festival goers were from the Western Cape, 7.3% from Gauteng and 7.7% from overseas.

This year, the festival will open once again with the Wine Connoisseurs Evening on Thursday, 30 July. This is the perfect opportunity for serious wine lovers to taste top quality wines and mingle with Stellenbosch winemakers, in a relaxed and leisurely environment. New on the Festival line-up this year is the Gourmet Lane, showcasing top Stellenbosch restaurants in association with Stellenbosch Wine Routes and American Express®. Sunday is Family Day with fun for the whole family, with kids under 18 entering for free. Local music talent will entertain guests during the four days of the festival. The Stellenbosch Wine Week, preceding the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, brings a host of day trips, restaurant specials and exclusive winemaker dinners to the table.

The festival offers great promotional opportunities for exhibitors to promote their brands. Wine lovers do not only come to enjoy a weekend of wine indulgence, but also to buy their favourite Stellenbosch wines, to stock up on their personal supplies and to explore what the Winelands has to offer.

Exhibition space is limited to 3,202m˛ and is allocated to Stellenbosch American Express® Wine Routes members, Stellenbosch restaurants, food producers, related products and services. Exhibitors can direct any queries to the festival co-ordinators, CADEK Media. Contact Chris de Klerk or Elmarie Rabe at Tel: 0861 222 335.

Tickets for the Stellenbosch Wine Festival are available from Computicket, ranging from R100 to R300 per person. For more information on the Stellenbosch Wine Festival, contact 021 886 4310 or visit www.wineroute.co.za. To win tickets and top prizes, sms WINE to 34010 (sms cost R2).

Stellenbosch Wine Festival dates and times:

Thursday, 30 July 16:00 – 21:00 (Wine Connoisseurs Evening)
R150

Friday, 31 July 16:00 – 21:00
R100

Saturday, 1 August 11:00 – 17:00
R120

Sunday, 2 August 11:00 – 16:00 (Family Day)
R100

Golden Pass R300 (valid all 4 days)
R300

Venue: Paul Roos Centre on the corner of Piet Retief and Suidwal Streets in Stellenbosch.