Cap Classique and Champagne Festival 2010

The French would have you believe it, but does a name make it better?

France has trademarked the right to call their sparkling wines Champagne, whilst wine estates locally have settled for describing their “bubbly” as Cap Classique.

From Friday 3 December to Sunday 5 December be sure not to miss this year’s The Franschhoek ‘Magic of Bubbles’ Cap Classique and Champagne Festival, and for the fourth year running this social calendar highlight is sponsored by Investec Private Bank.

Proving to be the ideal host for this festival, the largest of its kind in the country allowing visitors the opportunity to sample both Champagne and Cap Classique wines, Franschhoek offers visitors a change to taste South African Cap Classique and do French Champagne tastings in a unique combination of French heritage and South African winelands.

Some of France’s best Champagne will be tasted alongside the finest Cap Classiques to emerge from the wine cellars of South Africa. The winemaking method is virtually the same, so it comes down simply to the terroir and skill of the winemakers.

The centerpiece of the festival will be a grand marquee on the sprawling lawns surrounding Franschhoek’s famous Huguenot Monument, where bubbly stalls will be interspersed with stalls from the local restaurants offering delicious delicacies to match.

This year the festival will take full advantage of the Cape’s glorious summer evenings, with the festival open from 6pm to 10pm on Friday the 3rd, and then between 12pm and 6pm on both the 4th and 5th.

This social calendar highlight allows visitors the opportunity to experience multilayered gastronomic delights, prepared by some of the country’s best chefs, whose restaurants in the village underpin Franschhoek’s status as one of the world’s great culinary destinations.  Some of the fine dining restaurants represented at the festival include Le Quartier Français, The Restaurant at Grande Provence, Bread & Wine, Mange Tout at Mont Rochelle Hotel, La Petite Ferme, L’Ermitage, Monneaux Restaurant, SalmonBar, Dieu Donne, Café Allee Bleue and Le Franschhoek.

A short wander down the main road in Franschhoek will uncover world-class shops and boutiques for an intimate and relaxed shopping experience. And not to be overlooked are the wine farms, situated in and around the area.

Price includes access to the festival, a tasting glass and a complimentary booklet containing 10 tasting coupons. Thereafter all tastings will be charged on consumption.

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For all events happening on in the Cape Winelands in December, be sure to check out our Events Section.

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