🤫 The Winelands' best-kept view (and what R13.75m buys)

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Good Morning, locals! 😊

Big week for Bertus Basson watchers - more on that in a second. First, some refreshing news: today’s looking glorious and sunny (26° and not a drop of rain), so if you've been waiting for an excuse to get outdoors, this is it. Weekend cools off a little and flirts with a bit of rain, but nothing that should mess with your plans.

On the events front, there's a printmaking morning at Glen Carlou, a schoolboy rugby derby at Markötter, a skaapkop ete out in Darling for the adventurous eaters, and - if you're the settle-in-for-a-story type - a stripped-back Roan Ash show at Drostdy Teater on Sunday.

And speaking of Basson: Eike is pausing its doors at the end of the month to make way for a brand-new steakhouse, Basson & Co. Which felt like the perfect moment to remind you that his other Winelands gem - CHORUS, up on the hill at Waterkloof - is still quietly doing some of the best cooking (and best views) in the Cape.

Here’s what we’ve got for you this week 👇

Printmaking with Marelise van Wyk at Glen Carlou
📅 Thu 13 Aug | 10:00-14:00 📍 Glen Carlou Gallery, Klapmuts • Hands-on drypoint etching on recycled TetraPak plates - prep your plate, etch your design, pull your own small print run to take home. Only 15 spots, bring old clothes. 🎟 R500pp | Email to book

Demi Lee Moore Live at Die Platteland
📅 Fri 14 Aug | Doors 17:00 📍 Die Platteland, Paarl • A Friday night on the dansbaan - Demi Lee Moore headlines, with Ivan van der Merwe warming up the crowd and DJ Wico keeping the party going after. Free entry before 7pm. Strictly 18+. 🎟 R75pp online, R100pp at the door | Here

Van Toeka Tot Toekoms: A Panel on Afrikaans' Printing Heritage
📅 Fri 14 Aug | 18:00-20:30 📍 Historium, Paarl • A free panel marking 150 years since Die Afrikaanse Patriot first went to print, on what gets lost when heritage moves from paper to digital. Refreshments included. 🎟 Free | RSVP WhatsApp 076 017 6026

Scroll Stitching Workshop at RELEVANT Art Gallery
📅 Sat 15 Aug | 10:00-15:00 📍 RELEVANT Art Gallery, Paarl • A gentle, meditative Saturday - psychotherapist Dr Marleen De Villiers guides a hands-on scroll stitching workshop from lappies and thread, lunch at neighbouring Noop included. 🎟 R1,200pp | Email to book

Roan Ash Live at Drostdy Teater
📅 Sun 16 Aug | 15:00 📍 Drostdy Teater, Stellenbosch • A stripped-back, songs-first show - just voice, guitar and the stories behind the music, changing night to night rather than following a script. 🎟 Book here

Juan Boucher Live at Lourensford Wynkelder
📅 Fri 21 Aug | Doors 18:00, show 19:00 📍 Lourensford Wine Cellar, Somerset West • A first-ever performance among Lourensford's striking silver wine tanks - stories, music and his biggest hits woven together in a setting far more atmospheric than your standard gig venue. 🎟 R250pp early bird / R295pp standard | Info here

Flieknick: Life of Pi
📅 Thu 13 or Fri 14 Aug | 18:00-20:00 📍 Jannie se Leeskamer, Oude Leeskamer, Stellenbosch • A cosy weeknight screening in the historic reading room, popcorn and a drink included. 🎟 R80 | Book here

PRG vs Grey Kollege
📅 Sat 15 Aug | 12:00 📍 Markötter Sports Complex, Stellenbosch • One of schoolboy rugby's biggest derbies returns - flags, singing and a proper crowd. Learners in uniform get in free. 🎟 From R30 | Details here

Morgenhof Estate Tourism Open Day
📅 Sat 15 Aug | 10:00-14:00 📍 Morgenhof Estate, Stellenbosch • Self-guided visiting at your own pace - tasting, wood-fired pizza, picnics, horse riding, quad biking and e-bike tours, all in one go. 🎟 RSVP via Instagram or morgenhof.com

Delheim Live Music Sundays: Songscape Beerfest Duo
📅 Sun 16 Aug | Arrival 12:00, music 12:30-15:00 📍 Delheim Wine Estate, Stellenbosch • Delheim's winter Sunday series wraps its German/Bavarian instalment with the Songscape Beerfest Duo playing traditional German, Bavarian and Swiss tunes against the Simonsberg backdrop. Ticket includes the estate's cheese fondue lunch with a Glühwein welcome - come hungry. 🎟 R580 adults, R355 children under 10 | Here

Lavender Picking at Canettevallei
📅 Mon-Sat, season runs to 25 Oct 📍 Canettevallei Lavender & Wine Farm, Stellenbosch • An easy, unhurried one for couples or kids - snip your own bunch among mountain views and farm sheep, then settle in for coffee and a wine tasting. 🎟 R60 per bunch | Book here

Greyton Brew Run 2026
📅 Sat 15 Aug | from 07:15 📍 Greyton • Trail running and craft beer for a good cause - 6km, 13km or a full 21km, every cent to the Greyton House Bursary Fund, free pint waiting at the finish. 🎟 Enter here

Trust Your Gut: Cultivating Your Second Brain
📅 Thu 20 Aug | 10:00-12:00 📍 Cell Nutrition, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch • A small, 10-person morning on gut health with clinical nutritionist Lynne MacCallum - real talk on the microbiome, the gut-brain link, and snacks to try. 🎟 R120 | WhatsApp 064 531 0121

Lelik Maar Lekker: Gert Pop-up at D'Stasie
📅 Fri 14 Aug | 18:00 📍 D'Stasie, Deetlefs Wine Estate • Chef Gert's much-loved pop-up lands for one night - three courses paired with estate wines and a welcome drink, long tables mean solo diners are welcome too. 🎟 WhatsApp Bianca on 063 293 6455

Brunch, Bubbly and Bento Cake Painting at Simonsig
📅 Sat 15 Aug | 10:00 📍 Vonkel Restaurant, Simonsig, Stellenbosch • Brunch paired with Simonsig's award-winning Cap Classique, followed by a guided bento cake painting session - all materials included. 🎟 R550pp | More here

Story Room Experience at Muratie - Taste Stellenbosch
📅 Sat 15 Aug | 12:00-15:00 📍 The Story Room, Muratie Wine Estate • Slow-braised lamb shank, a tasting of Muratie's flagship wines and a history talk in one of the wine route's most storied rooms. 🎟 R495pp | Book here

Die Ina Paarman Wintertafel
📅 Sat 22 Aug | 17:00 for 17:30 📍 Festa Restaurant, Wellington • A rare one for local food lovers - Ina Paarman, whose name has anchored South African kitchens for over 40 years, joins Festa for an exclusive long-table dinner with a menu curated by Ina herself, plus stories and kitchen wisdom straight from her own experience. 10% of every ticket goes to a local school. Seating limited. 🎟 R825pp | Book here

Eike Pauses, Basson & Co Opens Its Doors Big news for Stellenbosch's dining scene - Bertus Basson is pressing pause on Eike, last service Saturday 29 August, before opening a brand-new steakhouse, Basson & Co, in the same Dorp Street space from 1 September. Think open-fire cooking, nostalgic SA flavours and a menu you can genuinely bring the kids to on a Tuesday. Want one last taste of Eike first? Booking now strongly advised.

Stellenbosch Cabernet Month Kicks Off August marks Stellenbosch Cabernet Month, with the wine route's member estates rolling out exclusive tastings, food pairings and cellar-door offers all month, building towards International Cabernet Sauvignon Day on 30 August. Worth keeping an eye on if a Cab-focused outing is on your radar.

Stellenbosch's Choir Is World-Class - And It's Not News to Locals Small addition to Stellenbosch's long list of accolades: the Stellenbosch University Choir topped the Interkulture World Rankings for amateur choirs from 2012 to 2024 - only slipping off because it hadn't competed in enough qualifying events, not because anyone beat them. About 100 students strong, led by André van der Merwe for over two decades.

New Head Coach for Maties Rugby Stellenbosch University and Maties Sport have appointed Sean Erasmus as the new Head Coach of Maties Rugby, taking up the role on 1 September. Erasmus arrives after a standout run at Paarl Boys' High, bringing over a decade of high-performance coaching across school, provincial and professional rugby, plus a World Rugby Level 3 Coach and Educator qualification. His brief: honour Maties' rugby legacy while giving players room to grow.

Klein Libertasteater Tienertoneelfees 2026
📅 Until Sat 15 Aug | Performances from 15:30 📍 Klein Libertasteater, Stellenbosch • Stellenbosch's teen theatre festival returns - high school drama learners perform their own original work and get real feedback from professional practitioners, judged this year by Marion Holm, Leatitia Solomons and Oscar Petersen. Worth a look if there's a budding thespian in your house. More here.

🍽️ Winter Prix Fixe at Dusk • A gentler way into one of Stellenbosch's most decorated fine-dining rooms - same open kitchen, same dramatic dark interior, just less commitment on the plate. Three courses R645pp, four R745pp.📍 43 Plein Street, Stellenbosch | Book here

🥃 Brandy & Food Pairing at Deux Lions • Four Western Cape brandies, each paired with a curated bite - a relaxed way to discover local brandy's heritage. R350pp, available throughout winter.📍 Franschhoek | Details here

Good news first: today is a stunner - clear skies, 26° and zero chance of rain. Make the most of it. Friday cools right off (15°) and the weekend brings a touch of cloud and a small chance of showers, nothing that should derail outdoor plans. It warms back up into next week, with Tuesday and Wednesday both pushing 21-22°.

Best days to lock in outdoor plans: Today, Saturday and next Tue/ Wed ☀️

A Schonenberg Showstopper Built for Family Living

Some homes just have presence, and this one on Schonenberg Estate in Somerset West is a good example - five bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms spread across 705m² of genuinely elegant, practical design. Think generous living spaces built for both everyday family life and proper entertaining, with the kind of finishes that make you stop mid-tour to take a second look.

Schonenberg has quietly become one of Somerset West's most sought-after addresses, and homes at this scale and finish level don't come up often - worth a look even if you're just curious what R13,750,000 buys you out here.

Both use the same core Pilates principles - the difference comes down to load.

Insider take: Don't pick a side - mat for the days you need portability, reformer for the days you want to build. Fittingly, Pilates For Life (Spice Route, Paarl) is running a Reformer Teacher Training course this month (21, 22, 28 & 29 Aug) if you're keen to go deeper.

⏰ A little reminder: Laurika se Tuiskoms is streaming only until Saturday

After nearly five decades and 25 albums, Laurika Rauch takes her final bow in this intimate farewell documentary - from Kinders van die Wind and Stuur Groete aan Mannetjies Roux through to Huis. Exclusive interviews, rare archival footage and candid moments from one of Afrikaans music's most beloved voices. Not an event, but if you've grown up on her songs, it's worth an evening before it's gone. 🎟 From R150 (streaming link valid for the full run, available until Sat 15 Aug) | Watch here

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