EVENTS
FEBRUARY
02 FEBRUARY
Happy Birthday SA Wine - Stellenbosch wine routes office - we will be there to pour some Chenin bubbles and celebrate 365 years of SA Chenin Blanc.
12 - 14 FEBRUARY
Wine Paris - 23 member wines have been sent to show at the Fan de Chenin and #DrinkChenin pods at this year's Expo in Paris.
24 FEBRUARY
Run the Vines Summer of Chenin Festival at Lievland.
This is our first-ever Run the Vines collaboration. Join us for a 5km or 10 km run in the vineyards, followed by a celebration of Chenin Blanc from 20 producers.
Guests can walk around, taste and buy a bottle to enjoy while sitting under the trees or in the pitched stretch tent on the lawn where Lievland will be serving their delicious food and soft drinks.
MAY
Chenin Safari
17 MAY - 14 JUNE
R350 to enter and gives entry to the festival plus a 2025 t shirt on 14 June* designs to follow
Consumers receive a passport booklet on entry - see attached artwork
They must collect a Drink Chenin sticker from each participating winery to complete their booklet
They must post on social media at each winery tagging the winery and the CBA to stand a chance to win prizes on 14 June.
1 safari booklet per person
Best photos win prizes
Best caption wins prize
Most visits win prizes
Participating wineries to date:
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Backsberg
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Bellingham
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Cavalli Estate
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Cederberg
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DMZ
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Kaapzicht Wines
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Ken Forrester
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Kleine Zalze Wines
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L'Avenir Wine Estate
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Mulderbosch
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Old Road Wine Co.
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Painted Wolf Wines
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Perdeberg Wines Pty Ltd
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Simonsig
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Stellenbosch Vineyards Signature Range
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Strydom Vineyards
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Tierhoek Wines
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Villiera Wines
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Spier
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Wolvenhoek Vineyards
Quicket link for tickets to Safari:
DRINK CHENIN FESTIVAL
14 JUNE
Food and live music
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tasting ends at 2:00 PM, sales and purchases from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Venue: Cavalli Wine Estate, R44 Strand Road, Somerset West, Cape Town
Overview:
Drink Chenin Festival returns for another unforgettable celebration of South Africa’s most beloved white varietal – Chenin Blanc. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Cavalli Wine Estate, this signature winter wine experience is the ultimate blend of flavour, fun, and finesse.
Key Highlights:
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Enjoy tastings of Chenin Blanc from over 20 top producers across the country.
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Live music performances throughout the day.
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Delicious, local gourmet food vendors – all available for purchase.
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If you are feeling active, join the Chenin Safari or Run the Vines (tickets sold separately), and return for a glass (or three) with fellow Chenin lovers. Contact us for more info on these separate activities: drinkchenin@gmail.com
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Exclusive wine sales between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM – grab your favourites to take home.
Ticket Info:
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R350 per person, includes:
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A branded DrinkChenin wine glass
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All wine tastings
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Access to live music and full event area
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Children welcome – free entry but must always remain under adult supervision. No under 18s may participate in tastings.
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Chenin Safari and Run the Vines participants enter free.
Important Details:
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Dress code: Casual, comfortable, and winter-ready. The event is prepared for inclement weather, but the lawns may be damp – wear sensible shoes.
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No dogs allowed.
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Please note: No external food or drink permitted.
Wineries participating in the Drink Chenin Festival 14 June (note some are different from the safari and more may join up before 14 June):
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Cavalli Estate
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Flagstone Wines
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Jordan Wine Estate
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Kaapzicht Wines
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Ken Forrester
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Kleine Zalze Wines
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L'Avenir Wine Estate
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McFarlane Wines
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Mulderbosch
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Old Road Wine Co. / Bellingham / Backsberg
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Painted Wolf Wines
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Perdeberg Wines Pty Ltd
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Raats Family Wines
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Roodekrantz Wines
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Simonsig
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Snyman Wines
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Stellenrust
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The Fledge & Co. Wines
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Tierhoek Wines
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Wolvenhoek Vineyards
Quicket link for Festival on 14 June:
BEYOND THE STOEP: THE CHENIN BLANC DISCOVERY
24 MAY
For the first time, we are hosting 2 fringe events at Stoep tasting OG weekend on Saturday 24th May.
Step off the stoep and into something seriously special. The Chenin Blanc Association Discovery Tasting is your exclusive chance to sip and discover rare Chenin Blancs you won’t find anywhere else during the main Stoep Tasting festival.
We're talking hand-selected, one-of-a-kind wines, poured by the people who know Chenin best. Whether you're a casual sipper or a serious swirl-sniff-sipper, this is the tasting for you. Brunch snacks will also be provided!
Only 50 tickets available!
R150 per person
Book now!
This is strictly for Stoep Tasting ticket holders only. So, if you're in the know, act like it—because when these tickets are gone, they're gone.
Graaff Reinet Quicket link: Click Here
Nieu Bethesda Quicket link: - SOLD OUT
JUNE
4 JUNE
WOSA USA Buyers trip
Celebrating two of our Chenin-producing regions, Swartland and Sellenbosch, showcasing 80 wines from 40 producers.
8 JUNE
International DrinkChenin Day 2024!
Festival in Stellenbosch at Cavalli Estate.
Collaboration with Run the Vines, with trail run starting at 8am, with the festival from 10am until 4pm.
Sumi Glyphs will be available for sale, with a percentage of proceeds going towards the Ina Smith Bursary for Chenin Blanc Research.
JULY
Standard Bank Top 10 Chenin Blanc 2024
Top 10 wines will be announced in August 2024
This year marks the 11th edition of the competition, celebrating the top 10 Chenins with a cash prize. Winners receive R25,000 each, which must be used for community upliftment or upskilling projects for farm workers, acknowledging their essential contribution to the success of the vineyards. This condition has been a mandatory part of the competition since its inception in 2014.
Judging Panel:
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Higgo Jacobs (panel chair): Sommelier and industry expert, in his final year of a 3-year judging rotation.
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Madeleine Stenwreth: Master of Wine, serving as the international judge.
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Noncgebo Lange: Winemaker at Delheim Estate.
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Ginette de Fleuriot: Cape Wine Master and Wine Training Manager at Vinimark.
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Shawn Mathyse: Winemaker at Ken Forrester Wines.
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Shane Mumba: Sommelier and brand ambassador for SA Brandy
