💌 Winter Fun, Handpicked For You.

Good Morning, Insiders 😉

School holidays are here, and the calendar's buzzing - pizza-making at Perdeberg, artjamming at Lourensford, padel, ceramics, jazz nights, the lot! Fullest week we've had in a while.

So here's the plan: do it all, but don't skip the reset. Rain clears by Friday, then it's blue skies and 19-20° straight through the weekend - made for a slow market morning or a farm lunch with nowhere to be.

There's a lot to love in this issue: Prime Circle takes the stage at Daisy Jones, Bastille season kicks off early with a braai at Kosé, and we've fallen madly in love with this week's Property of the Week (that loft studio, eish 😍).

Also, a REMINDER: The Boks play England on Saturday @ 5:40pm.

Grab a coffee, settle in, and let's get to it.

Here’s our lineup for you today 👇

Wild Things: Spier's Winter Ceramics Exhibition
📅 24 Apr - 24 Aug | 09:00–17:00 📍 Old Wine Cellar, Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch
Explore Wild Things, a captivating ceramics exhibition featuring 54 works by 44 South African artists. From nature-inspired sculptures to deeply personal pieces exploring identity and healing, this free exhibition celebrates the expressive power of clay.
🎟 Free - More here

Stellenbosch Art Mile Artist Talk with Amy Rusch
📅 Today, 2 Jul | 17:00 📍 Stellenbosch Art Mile, Die Laan, Stellenbosch
Take a walk along the Stellenbosch Art Mile and hear artist Amy Rusch discuss her installation, creative process and the ideas behind her work.
🎟 Free - Info here

Prime Circle Live at Daisy Jones
📅 Fri. 3 Jul | Doors 17:00 | Show 19:00-23:00 📍 Daisy Jones Bar, Summerhill Wines, Stellenbosch
SA rock legends Prime Circle return to Stellenbosch for one night only with an electrifying live performance packed with classic hits and new music.
🎟 From R250 - Details here

Sketchday at KWV Cathedral Cellar & House of Fire
📅 Sat. 4 Jul | 10:00-13:30 📍 KWV Wine Emporium, Paarl
Spend a creative morning sketching inside KWV's magnificent Cathedral Cellar and historic House of Fire distillery.
🎟 Free public event - Here

Winelands Live Jazz Evenings
📅 Every Fri. & Sat. (until 29 Aug) | 19:00-21:00 📍 Marks, Hazendal Wine Estate, Stellenbosch
Settle in for an elegant evening of live jazz, exceptional wines and great food at Hazendal. Perfect for a relaxed date night or catching up with friends beside the fire.
🎟 R295 - Info here

Windmeul Farmers Market
📅 Sat. 4 Jul | 08:00-12:30 📍 Windmeul Cellar, Paarl
Browse artisan stalls, enjoy breakfast, sip award-winning wines and listen to live music while taking advantage of 10% off Windmeul wines throughout the day.
🎟 Free - More here

Franschhoek Bastille Festival 2026
📅 Sat. 11 (Sold out) & Sun. 12 Jul | From 11:00 📍 Church Street, Franschhoek
Franschhoek comes alive for its iconic Bastille Festival with exceptional wines, artisan cheeses, live music, French-inspired food and vibrant street celebrations. Dress in blue, white and red for the chance to win the popular Best Dressed competition.
🎟 R450 - Here

Run The Vines Trail Run at Diemersfontein
📅 Sat. 18 Jul | From 07:30 📍 Diemersfontein Wine & Country Estate, Wellington
Explore scenic vineyard trails, rolling hills and countryside views during the fifth event in the 2026 Run The Vines Series. With routes for every fitness level and great food and wine waiting at the finish, it's the perfect winter morning outdoors.
🎟 Details here

Winemaker's Evening with Roodekrantz Wines
📅 Today, 2 Jul | 18:30–20:30 📍 WYN, Stellenbosch
Meet the team behind Roodekrantz Wines during an intimate evening of storytelling, guided tastings and insights into their small-batch wines sourced from some of South Africa's finest wine regions.
🎟 From R130 - Info here

Italy vs South Africa Wine Tasting with the Winemaker
📅 Sat. 4 Jul | 11:00 for 11:30 📍 AYAMA Cellar, Paarl
Compare Italian native varieties with their South African counterparts during this fascinating guided tasting hosted by Italian winemaker Chiara Fabietti. Includes eight wines and a generous platter of cured meats and cheeses.
🎟 R450 pp - Info here

Burger & Brandy Padel Edition
📅 Wed. 8 Jul | 18:00-20:00 📍 Anura Racquet Club, Simondium
Enjoy an evening of competitive padel, gourmet smash burgers and premium Wildebeest Brandy in this fun men's tournament combining sport, food and great company.
🎟 More

Bastille Braai at Kosé
📅 Sat. 11 Jul | 12:00-16:00 📍 Kosé, Franschhoek
Celebrate Bastille weekend with a generous three-course sharing feast, Fairview wine tastings, pétanque and live music around the braai. A relaxed afternoon of French-inspired Winelands hospitality.
🎟 R750 pp - Here

🍷 Stellenbosch Wine Festival Returns This Winter | The much-loved Stellenbosch Wine Festival returns to the Stellenbosch Town Hall on 31 Jul & 1 Aug, bringing together some of the region's finest wineries under one roof. Expect award-winning wines, delicious local food and the chance to meet the winemakers behind the labels. Tickets now on sale

🛍️ Root44 Market Closes Indefinitely | It’s been announced that Root44 Market will close until further notice. In a heartfelt message shared this week, the team thanked its traders, staff, customers and supporters for being part of the market's journey, acknowledging the impact the closure will have on many families.

👧 School Holiday Fun

Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained these winter holidays? Check out some of the best family-friendly activities happening around the Winelands.

Winter School Holiday Kids Entertainment at Perdeberg
📅 4-5 Jul, 11-12 Jul & 18 Jul | 10:00–16:00 📍 Perdeberg Wines, Paarl
Kids can enjoy a full day of fun with pizza making, scavenger hunts, face painting, brownie decorating, lawn games, a movie and more, with lunch and hot chocolate included.
🎟 R250 p child - More here

Artjamming School Holiday Workshops
📅 6-17 Jul 📍 Artjamming, Lourensford Wine Estate, SSW
From painting and pottery to slime-making, glow-in-the-dark art and tote bag decorating, these creative workshops offer something for every young artist.
🎟 From R175 - Here

Golf Holiday Programme
📅 Tues. 7 Jul | 09:00–15:00 📍 Hazendal Golf, Stellenbosch
Children aged 5-18 can learn new skills with professional golf coaching, games and on-course activities in a fun, supportive environment.
🎟 Booking essential - More here

Playrock Adventure Park Holiday Programme
📅 Weekdays until 17 Jul | Activities from 10:00 📍 Playrock Adventure Park, Paarl
Enjoy free daily holiday activities including cupcake decorating, obstacle courses, Jenga, table tennis and mini golf with an Unlimited Play Ticket.
🎟 Free with Unlimited Play Ticket - Here

Moms & Mini Thursdays
📅 Every Thurs. | From 12:00 📍 Millhouse Kitchen, Lourensford Wine Estate, SSW
Treat the family to lunch while kids receive 50% off their meal and moms enjoy a complimentary glass of River Garden wine.
🎟 Offer available Thursdays - Info here

🍕 Sofia Winter Wednesday Special
📅 Every Wednesday 📍 Sofia Pizza & Pasta House, Stellenbosch
Order any two pizzas or pastas and the cheaper one is free - the perfect excuse for a midweek catch-up with family or friends.
🎟 Buy one, get one free (cheapest meal free)

🍷 Deux Lions Winter Lunch Menu
📅 Throughout Winter 2026 | Lunch service 📍 Deux Lions, Franschhoek
Warm up with Deux Lions' seasonal Winter Lunch Menu, featuring comforting dishes inspired by local flavours. Current highlights include a fragrant Cape Malay Chicken Masala with jewelled rice, apricot chutney, coriander yoghurt, sambals and fresh roti, with the menu evolving throughout the season.
🎟 2 Courses: R350 | 3 Courses: R420 - More here

Today's bringing showers (64% chance, so throw the umbrella in the car), but it clears up fast from there. Expect a mild, sunny stretch from Friday through Wednesday, with temps climbing to a very pleasant 19-20° by the weekend and staying there.

Insider take: Saturday and Sunday are your best bets - low rain odds, gentle breezes, and plenty of sun for market mornings or a farm lunch outdoors. Perfect for the game ☀️

A Corner Stand to Fall in Love With - Val de Vie Estate

Tucked into one of the Winelands' most sought-after addresses, this five-bedroom home on a desirable corner stand is the kind of property that has it all. Think vineyard views, world-class estate security, and an interior that balances elegance with everyday comfort - five bathrooms, two lounges, a sunny open-plan living area, and a loft space perfect for a home office or yoga studio.

Outside, indoor and outdoor braai areas, a sweeping lawn and a pool make it made for entertaining, while solar and inverter systems keep things running smoothly, load-shedding or not.

👉🏼 Take a peak here

👉🏼 This week we bring you a pod by a women’s health expert on what you NEED to know about dieting and exercise. 🎧 Listen here

What's one word, goal or intention guiding you this month? Tell us by hitting reply, and we'll share five of your responses in the next Winelands Insider to inspire others. ✨

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