It’s Bastille Festival time again in the Cape Winelands, and the 2012 Franschhoek Bastille Festival promises to eclipse your wildest expectations!

This year the organizers took advantage of the collaboration between France and South Africa – a bilateral agreement concluded end of 2011 that will see an SA – French Season starting this winter with the Bastille Day Festival and to continue till November in South Africa – they have invited Winemakers from France to the event.  So this year for the first time the Franschoek Bastille Festival will have no less than ten winemakers from the Rhône-Alpes Region in France.

The only thing missing this year would be the Eiffel Tower, as even the main road will be looking like a mini Champs Elysèe with the colours of the Tricolour donning houses, cars, trees, bistros even horses. This gastronomic event will offer visitors a feast of delectable food and the finest wines, the best Franschhoek has to offer under one ”roof”. The Food and Wine Marquee, which will be located closer to the village this year, is open from 12pm until 5pm, and as always is the focal point of attracting visitors to the hub of activity.

Tickets to the VIP marquee will include a tasting of the French Wines as well as a selection of Vignerons de Franschhoek wines and a delicious platter of French inspired food. This ticket will also allow you access to the Food and Wine Marquee. Visitors can also look forward to special public tastings presented by these winemakers, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday morning. Booking is essential as seating is limited to 100 people.

Don’t miss the Barrel Rolling Competition or the Waiters Race, as always the Boules Competition will be open to everyone and you can enter on the day. The Franschoek Minstrel Parade will be back, as will the the Farmers’ Market, Craft Stalls, musicians and children’s activities. Visitors to Marche de Franschhoek, located in the Town Hall, can look forward to an array of French and French inspired food and lifestyle products.

Whatever you do – don’t miss this year’s Bastille Festival in Franschhoek!

Some interesting notes:

Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on the 14th of July each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale (The National Celebration).

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In the December of 1687, the first organized group of French Huguenots, seeking refuge in the Cape set sail from Holland. From 1688 to 1700 some 150 French Huguenots and their families arrived in the Cape. They were granted land, mainly in the Franschhoek area, bringing with them an advanced knowledge of viticulture.

Thanks to their knowledge and the fertile valleys around Franschhoek and Stellenbosch the wines produced in the area improved significantly and ultimately ensured that Stellenbosch became the centre of the South African Wine industry.