Good food, good wine and good people. That was the spirit at the Swartland Seaside Party held at the Sea Shell in Saldanha on Saturday 4 November.
The event, being a first for hosts Swartland Wine and Olive Route in Saldanha, did not disappoint. Manager Jolene Janse van Rensburg explained they hold an annual event on the first Saturday of November, but this time decided it would have it in Saldanha. She said: “One of our wine producers recently bought the old Sea Shell petrol-station building at the sea in Saldanha and is currently setting up a sherry aging cellar there. He offered us the use of the premises for a nice Swartland Seaside party and we seized the opportunity. The people of the Swartland are always ready to try new things and so the planning for a delicious authentic wine festival at the sea began.”
With the great weather guests thoroughly enjoyed the food, wine, music and entire experience. Guests from as far away as Singapore, Japan, France and Australia attended the event. “There was even a van full of ladies all the way from Natal who flew down specially for the occasion. Venues for this type of event change sometimes. In previous years we hosted the Swartland Street Party in Riebeek-Kasteel. So yes, we are definitely going to party again next year in November, and maybe it will be in Saldanha again.”
The evening before, on Friday 3 November, an exclusive wine tasting and dinner was hosted, and the American winemaker Tegan Passalacque of Sandlands and Turleywine in the Napa Valley in California offered to taste some of their wines. “The wine industry there is many years old,” Janse van Rensburg pointed out, “and the approximately 170 guests had the opportunity to taste exclusive wines made from grapes that grow on vines that were planted more than 100 years ago.”
She thanked the Swartland Municipality and local businesses, that were involved and prepared the delicious food for the Saturday, namely Saldanha Bay Hotel, Hoedjies Bay Hotel, Cup of Cake and Charlie’s Fish & Chips. “Thank you to Adi and Cornelia Badenhorst, owners of the premises, and their team on Kalmoesfontein farm in the Paardeberg for the preparation of the premises and the hours of planning.”
Janse van Rensburg also thanked the wine producers in the Swartland. “It is incredibly nice to be part of such a dynamic team, all exceptional, down-to-earth people who make quality products. You wave the flag not only for the Swartland, but also for South Africa.
