Good Morning Winelands 😊

Harvest is ON - and the valley is showing off. Think grape stomping, sunset workshops, long-table feasts, cellar tours and wine festivals galore. If you’ve been meaning to book a proper Winelands experience… now’s the time.

We’re 2 days away from V-day ❤️ and whether you’re going full romance, picnic-and-wine casual, or celebrating love your own way - there’s still some seriously good options waiting for you in last week’s issue.

Here’s this week’s full lineup👇

🔥 WINELANDS INSIDER X NUDO HAIR LAB - WE HAVE A WINNER!

And just like that… the glow-up is officially booked 💁‍♀️✨ A huge congratulations to our lucky reader who has won the R5,000 hair transformation voucher with Nudo Hair Lab Tygervalley - including colour, customised treatments and professional styling.

Thank you to everyone who entered and shared the love. More exciting giveaways coming soon… stay tuned! 🔥

SOOIBRAND - Nataniël
📅 5-8th March 📍 Drostdyteater, Stellenbosch
South African theatre icon Nataniël returns to the stage with SOOIBRAND - a bold, brand-new production blending music, storytelling and signature visual drama. Expect sharp wit, emotional depth and a powerful night of theatre, featuring acclaimed pianist Charl du Plessis 🎟 R310 pp - Here

Live Music - Die Piesangskille
📅 Wed. 11th March. Doors 6pm | Show 8pm 📍 Kapstadt Brauhaus, Stellenbosch
A high-energy midweek jol as Die Piesangskille bring their signature sound to Stellenbosch for one night only. Expect big vibes, cold beers and a packed house - always a local favourite 🎟 Info here

Eikestad Musiekfees
📅 Sat. 14th March. Gates open: 3pm | Music from ±6pm 📍 Laerskool Eikestad, S’bosch
Picnic blankets out and good vibes on. Eikestad Musiekfees brings a laid-back, family-friendly afternoon of live music to Stellenbosch with Bok van Blerk, Bernice West and Riaan Benadé on the line-up. Expect food stalls, a beer & bar tent and plenty to keep all ages happy 🎟 VIP (18+) R525 | General (14+) R289 | Kids (6–13) R179 - Details here

Paarlberg Fees 2026
📅 Sat. 28th Feb. From 9am 📍 Faure Street Stadium, Paarl
Paarlberg Fees is set to be massive, with Spoegwolf headlining alongside Bok van Blerk, Kurt Darren and Brendan Peyper. Expect a full day of live music, big energy and proper Paarl gees 🎟 Info here

Valentine’s Market at the Botanical Garden
📅 Sat. 14th Feb. 1-8pm 📍 Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden
Spend Valentine’s Day surrounded by nature with lawn picnics, live music, beer & wine and a curated selection of pop-up stalls. Easy, relaxed and very Stellenbosch 🎟 R15 entrance | SU students & staff free - Pay at the gate

Sunday Picnic with Live Music - Olijvenkraal
📅 Sun. 15th Feb. 11-5pm 📍 Fyre Dining, Olijvenkraal Olive & Wine Estate, Simondium
Live music by Leon Buitendach, great food and relaxed vibes. Bring the family, pack your blanket and enjoy the afternoon with a bottle of Olijvenkraal Shiraz, Rosé or White Blend included 🎟 R700 per picnic basket (serves 2) - Book via email here | 021 770 0088

Volmaanpiekniek | Full Moon Picnic
📅 Sat. 28th Feb. From 5pm 📍 Afrikaanse Taalmonument, Paarl
This much-loved summer tradition returns for one final magical full moon picnic under the Dassiemaankie - bring your blanket, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a relaxed evening beneath the stars at one of the Winelands’ most iconic landmarks 🎟 Adults R40 | Children R10 | Details here

Braai with Backsberg
📅 Sat. 14th, 21st & 28th Feb. From 12:30pm 📍 Backsberg Family Wines, Franschhoek
A relaxed summer braai lunch in the Franschhoek Valley, complete with a welcome glass of Backsberg wine, buffet-style flame-grilled favourites, seasonal sides and a sweet afternoon dessert. Vegan & vegetarian options avail. 🎟 R350 pp - Here

Jan Blohm & Gian Groen - Live
📅 Sat. 7th Mar. Doors 5pm | Show 7pm 📍 Simonsvlei Winery, Paarl
An easy-going evening of live music on the lawns with great wine and laid-back vibes. Bring your picnic blanket or camping chair and settle in - food & drinks avail on site 🎟 R220 pp | Kids under 18 FREE - Info here

Morgenhof Trail Run
📅 Fri. 14th Feb. From 7am 📍 Morgenhof Estate
Run free and run wild on this relaxed trail adventure through the mountain trails - no timing, no prizes, no pressure, just movement and epic views. Choose from 3km, 5km or 10km routes 🎟 Free - More here

Versus 21km Road Run Party (90% SOLD OUT)
📅 Sat. 21st Feb. 6:30am–1pm 📍 Coetzenburg Sport Fields, Stellenbosch
One of the Winelands’ most exciting half marathons - a fast, festive 21.1km route through Stellenbosch’s streets and surrounding wine farms, with high energy and a proper finish-line celebration 🎟 Info here

WC XCO #1 - Paarl Trails
📅 Sun. 22nd Feb. 📍 Paarl Trails / Spice Route Destination
The first XCO of the season brings Western Cape’s top MTB talent to fast, technical short and long course routes - come race, support or soak up the action. Short Course 1.5km | Long Course 4.5km 🎟 Enter here

Investec SA Open Championship (not to miss)
📅 26th Feb. - 1st Mar. 📍 Stellenbosch Golf Club
One of South Africa’s premier golf events - bringing world-class players, a buzzing spectator village and a fantastic atmosphere for fans and families alike. Gates open daily from 6am 🎟 Info here

Run The Vines #3 - Anura Vineyards
📅 Sat. 28th Feb. From 7:15am 📍 Anura Vineyards, Klapmuts
Flowing trails, vineyard views and that unbeatable Run The Vines vibe return to the foothills of the Simonsberg. Choose from 17km, 10km, 5km or 3km (Junior Challenge FREE) with official BoutTime timing included 🎟 Enter here

Stomp the Harvest at Soetmelksvlei
📅 4th-22nd Feb. (Wed–Sun). 11-3pm 📍 Soetmelksvlei, Simondium
Step back in time and get hands-on with traditional grape stomping as you celebrate harvest season the old-fashioned way. A playful, authentic experience ending with mosbolletjie and fresh grape juice. 🎟 From R200 pp (R550 incl. membership) - Book here

Harvest Sunset Workshop at Perdeberg
📅 Thu. 19th Feb. 6pm 📍 STEEN Restaurant, Perdeberg Cellar
A relaxed golden-hour workshop where you’ll learn to make traditional mosbolletjie and moskonfyt using fresh mos from the current harvest. Enjoy a glass, harvest-style snacks and vineyard sunset views 🎟 R395 pp - More info here

Diemersfontein Harvest Experience
📅 Sat. 21st & 28th Feb. | 7th March. 6pm 📍 Diemersfontein Wine Estate, Wellington
A welcome drink, guided cellar tour, tractor ride into the vineyards for a tasting, and a relaxed two-course long-table dinner at SMUL Restaurant. A full harvest-to-table evening with limited spaces available 🎟 R395 pp - Book here

Lanzerac’s 334th Birthday Weekend
📅 Fri. 27th Feb. – Sun. 1st Mar. 📍 Lanzerac Wine Estate
Celebrate 334 years of heritage with a relaxed birthday weekend at the Taphuis and Craven Lounge, featuring Lanzerac’s famous Pinotage Burger paired with a glass of Jonkershoek wine. 🎟 R250 pp - 📧 restaurants(at)lanzerac.co.za

Pink Valley Harvest Table Dining Experience
📅 Fri. 27th Feb. 6pm 📍 Pink Valley Wines, Helderberg
An intimate harvest dinner hosted by winemaker & executive chef Monché Muller, featuring a 4-course menu paired with 6 curated wines inspired by South Africa, France and Sicily. 🎟 R695 pp - 📧 info(at)pinkvalleywines.co.za

Simonsig Harvest Experience
📅 Sat. 28th Feb. 8-1pm 📍 Simonsig Family Vineyards, Stellenbosch
Step behind the scenes of vintage season with vineyard walks, grape picking and stories from the cellar team, followed by a relaxed long-table lunch celebrating harvest at its best. 🎟 R1 250 pp - Book here

Harvest at Dusk - Nederburg
📅 Sat. 28th Feb. From dusk 📍 Nederburg Wine Estate
This immersive harvest celebration invites guests to experience the magic of vintage season with Nederburg wines, golden-hour vineyard views and live music in a once-a-year open-air setting 🎟 18+ Info here

RMB Simonsberg Wine Festival
📅 Sat. 28th Feb. & Sun. 1st Mar. Wine tasting 10:30-1pm 📍 Plaisir Wine Estate
This vibrant weekend festival brings together premium regional wines, live music, gourmet food stalls and a lively Bubbly & Gin Garden. Bonus: the RMB Run4Rivers trail run takes place on Sunday for those keen to add a little adventure 🎟 Here

La Motte Harvest Experience
📅 23rd Jan. - 14th Mar. 10am 📍 La Motte Wine Estate, Franschhoek
Expect vineyard and cellar insights, seasonal tastings and warm harvest hospitality rooted in La Motte’s French Huguenot heritage 🎟 R300 pp - Details here

🏆 Award-Winning Stay in the Heart of Stellenbosch
Coopmanhuijs Boutique Hotel & Spa has received the Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2026 with an impressive 9.1/10 rating. This Church Street favourite continues to shine for its luxury rooms, courtyard dining and tranquil spa - a proud moment for one of Stellenbosch’s most-loved boutique stays.

🥂 Stellenbosch Does It Again
Spier Wine Farm winemaker Johan Jordaan has been named Global Master Chenin Blanc Winemaker for the second year running - a major international accolade. With top awards for both the 21 Gables 2023 and Seaward 2024 Chenin Blancs, it’s another big win for Stellenbosch on the global wine stage.

💧 Water Usage Alert - Stellenbosch
On 8 February, Stellenbosch recorded 7,935 ML of water usage in a single day - far above the 4 ML daily target. Residents are urged to reduce consumption now to avoid possible restrictions. Small changes like shorter showers, fixing leaks and limiting irrigation can make a big difference.

✨ Youth Empowerment in Action
Stellenbosch Municipality recently hosted a 2-day Job Readiness Programme for 30 young people from Lynedoch and Vlottenburg. With support from the NYDA and Department of Labour, participants gained practical skills, interview prep and access to employment opportunities - a strong step forward for local youth development.

Alice in Wonderland
📅 From 5th March. 7pm 📍 The Playhouse Theatre, Somerset West
Step into a whimsical world inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, filled with curious creatures, playful storytelling and magical adventures. A vibrant, imaginative stage production perfect for families (No children under 6) 🎟 Details here

45-minute lessons for just R999 per couple (save R500)

📅 Throughout Feb. By appointment 📍 The Golf Village, Stellenbosch
Tee off together this Valentine’s season with a Couples Only Special from LJ Golf - perfect for date nights with a difference or learning something new as a team. Enjoy 3 x
📧 info(at)ljmgolf.co.za

🤙 Single this Valentines? Pop into Kirsten’s Kick Ass Ice Cream on the 14th Feb. for a free scoop between 11-1pm 🍦

A comfortable start, then serious heat from Sunday through Tuesday - Monday is your scorcher. Perfect pool-and-umbrella weather.

Love a challenge? Of course you do 😉 Here’s your weekly glow-up challenge for the next month - at home, no excuses.

Chocolate Heart Shaped Dates 🤎

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