Calitzdorp Port Festival Dates Announced
Some say that Calitzdorp produces the finest Ports in the world……..outside of that famous wine’s birthplace in Portugal’s Douro river valley. This accolade alone would be enough cause to visit the historic Klein Karoo village, but now there’s the added reason of the upcoming Calitzdorp Port Festival. The organizing committee has just announced the eagerly awaited dates for the next event – 16 to 18 June 2011. This will be the latest in a popular series which started in 1992 and continues to enjoy enthusiastic support.
The town’s Port producers anticipate another invasion of eager visitors who fill Calitzdorp accommodation to capacity each Festival, indeed, late responders often have to make do with lodgings outside the town, even as far as Oudtshoorn and Ladismith.
Since the launch of the Festival in 1992, Calitzdorp’s fame as the South African home of Port has grown exponentially, helped in no small measure by the host of awards garnered each year by its eight producing cellars. These renowned Port producers: Axe Hill, Boplaas, Calitzdorp Wine Cellar, De Krans, DuSwaroo, Peter Bayly, TTT Cellars and Withoek Cellar will once again host the Port Festival and visitors will be treated to a showcase of the finest Ports these cellars produce, ranging from value-for money Ruby and Tawny Ports, to the multiple award winning Vintage Reserve Ports - the finest Ports outside the wine's original home in the Douro.
A full and diverse Port Festival programme is planned and will be centered on the new venue at the historic Calitzdorp Station as well as the various wine cellars and village venues. Some of the additional attractions already secured include:
- Chef extraordinaire Francois Ferreira will host fun-filled food and port pairings
- He and Junel Vermeulen will also combine their fabulous talents to showcase cheese, port and wine combinations
- Marita Lamprecht of Rococco will delight with her delectable Belgian-style chocolates paired with port and wine
- Lifestyle stalls will offer all the best delicacies of the region - various cheeses, breads, unusual pickles, olives and olive oils will be offered
- Local winemakers will unravel the mysteries of Port at a series of conducted tastings and workshops.
And of course, all the other special aspects of this Klein Karoo town, known for many years as the Port Capital of South Africa, await those visitors who can find some extra time away from the excitement of the planned festivities.
These include visits to some of the stunning mountain passes, including skyscraping Swartberg which has been compared to the Khyber Pass, Rooiberg Pass, with its riot of succulents in bloom at that time of year and Seweweekspoort (Seven Weeks Gorge), home of fantastically distorted geological upheavals, all within a couple of hours driving time of the village. Then there are the ostrich farms, World Heritage site Cango Caves, excellent country restaurants and the special pleasure of visiting a region where no fewer than three different geo-diverse biomes of the Cape Floral Kingdom intersect.
If it seems rather early to alert travelers to the 2011 Port Festival, the explanation lies in the overbooked situation that inevitably applies to late-comers. We suggest you take the opportunity to book Calitzdorp accommodation soon and avoid disappointment.
And Calitzdorp Country House remains the alpha and omega of Klein Karoo accommodation.
Escape with that special someone.
