We set off for Wacky Wine Weekend fully geared for winter in the Klein Karoo. I packed winter coats, boots, gloves and a load of bedding. If past experiences were anything to go by, we would be expecting a wet weekend with snowcapped Langeberg Mountains.
Wacky Wine Weekend is a local wine festival dedicated to showing off the Robertson Wine Valley’s finest wine estates. It has a long tradition in this valley and has been going for fifteen years. Wacky Wine has become well loved by locals and tourists alike and often results in drunken debauchery with friends.
I have been to the festival once or twice before, as a student admittedly. My friends and I had taken the Land Rover up, packed full of bedding, food and drinks to enjoy the weekend away in the country. I remember hopping from wine estate to wine estate, sampling the chardonnays and merlots. The properties were packed with students and adults, queueing to get more wine and getting stuck in traffic. It was often accompanied by heavy rain and even snow.
This year it was a little different.
Instead, we were greeted by a hot wind and clear skies. But this wasn’t the only change to Wacky Wine Weekend. Wacky had a makeover. They had installed a new coupon system which made Wacky a lot more enjoyable. Instead of the usual rowdy crowd, long queues and slurred brawls – we had civilised wine tastings and lounged at wine estates for hours, enjoying the view and the laidback atmosphere.
I was excited to savour the taste of our local vineyards. I heard rumours of boutique wineries and fine-dining restaurants. Maybe it was the adult in me, but the festival finally seemed worthwhile.
Marc and I arrived in McGregor in the early hours of Saturday morning. Our first stop was to be a little boutique wine estate outside Bonnievale called Esona. I booked us for an intimate wine tasting in the small cellar. This comfortable spot was lit up from the inside by a crackling fireplace and warm greetings.
And what a treat! We were the only two booked for an 11 o’clock spot, so we had our guide Hirchill all to ourselves. We descended into the dark cellars and prepared for our decadent wine tasting paired with fruit preserve and Lindt chocolate. This turned out to be as much of an educational session as it was a wine tasting. Hirchill explained that different wines required grape-specific glasses. They are called Riedel glasses and are crafted in Austria.
The cute little boutique winery perched between the vineyards at Esona, our first stop for Wacky Wine.
Cosy country comforts at Esona boutique winery.
The beautifully handcrafted labels of Esona wines, reflecting the hard work every individual puts into the wine.
The Riedel glasses that are grape-specific to accentuate unique flavours in the wine.
We had decided beforehand to stick to the boutique wine estates this Wacky Wine. After we took a slow drive to Weltevrede Wine Estate, we found our lunch spot and a large patch of grass to relax on. We spent quite some time here, lounging in the heat. It was a lazy atmosphere. We concluded our afternoon by disgorging our own champagne bottle. Megan took the wheel and led us through the process.
The disgorgement booth stand at Weltevrede Wine Estate.
All part of the disgorgement process. How yummy!
The final step of the disgorgement process. Then it’s all yours!
Feeling a little windswept at Wacky Wine this weekend.
With the wind and dust picking up we decided to call it an early afternoon. We made one last stop at a new boutique winery en route home. River Gold private cellar had a great atmosphere and lots of swing. We made a quick stop and devoured some traditional South African bunny chow, an impressive dish to pair with the chardonnay. It was my first time enjoying this local cuisine, and I dug into the Durban dish hungrily.
River Gold’s selection of wines.
The contemporary restaurant space inside the River Gold wine estate.
My first bunny chow – a delicious lamb curry inside a quarter loaf of bread.
And the bunny chow is gone!
Sunday took a bit of a slow turn. The much-anticipated storm that was to hit on Saturday night failed to come through. Instead, Sunday morning was as dry as the day before. After a delicious breakfast at Flora’s Eatery in McGregor, we set off to our final stop of the Wacky Wine Weekend.
Paul René was an excellent way to end our Wacky Wine Weekend. We arrived around midday to a spicy crowd and bubbly. It had been a bit of a busy weekend, so I decided to slow down and sip a cup of TWC coffee. The latte did as it was intended, offering me a slow wake up to meet the final day.
The bubbly atmosphere at Paul René near Robertson on Sunday.
A warm latte and an ice coffee, should give you an idea of the crazy weather.
The country air was warm, and the atmosphere was bubbling with conversations. We grabbed some MCC and a seat in the sun. This time my drink was paired with another exotic dish. An Asian food truck was stationed on the scene and offered delicacies such as the vegetable spring rolls, ramen and banting burgers.
The Bali Food truck with delicious Asian cuisine at Paul René.
All in all, this Wacky Wine Weekend was more enjoyable than before. We took it slow, visiting boutique wineries and taking our time to really enjoy the wine and the winter atmosphere in the country. What a surprising little country getaway!
