Gallery Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The fourth Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival has been described a resounding success with good visitor numbers and a lively atmosphere – despite a last-minute postponement of the event.
After the withdrawal of the festival’s main sponsor at the time, Sasfin, the Bitou municipality came to the rescue and sponsored the festival to ensure that it did not lose the momentum it had built up over the past four years.
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“Plett Tourism and the Bitou municipality were overwhelmed with the generous comments and overall camaraderie.
"It’s been a difficult year for Plett and this was exactly what we needed to uplift the spirit of our community,” said Plett Tourism chair Peter Wallington.
The event, which took place on 25 and 26 November at Central beach, showcased more than 30 different wines from nine local producers.
To complement the wines, local kitchen aces also had delicious meals available during the festival including artisan cheeses, charcuterie, breads, savouries and oysters, while top-class musicians took the stage to entertain the crowds with Central beach and the Indian Ocean as the backdrop.
The Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival 2017, on 25 and 26 November, has been labelled a massive success with large visitor numbers and a lively atmosphere. About 30 different wines from nine local producers were showcased as well as delicious food from various local eateries. Photos: Ewald Stander
The opening of the event was officiated by Wallington, followed by Bitou councillor Bill Nel who, with a little help from Bramon cellar master Anton Smal, did the traditional sabrage of a bottle of méthode cap classique to get the festivities under way.
“Regular festivalgoers have been very complimentary about this year’s festival layout, music selection, food vendors and the introduction of a master of ceremonies, radio personality Buli G.”
New highlights this year
Other highlights included the addition of a beer stall, biltong and droëwors, and a very popular Ice Palazzo cart with champagne and sangria sorbets and a cabernet gianduia ice cream.
This was the second year for the Plett Wine Theatre with special guest speakers Pieter “Mr Bubbles” Ferriera from Graham Beck wines, well-known wine columnist Peter “PeeBee” Bishop and Smal on the Sunday.
Plett Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth said the festival attracted about 2 000 visitors – an improvement on last year’s 1 600 guests.
“This is a significant achievement, in particular due to the postponement of the festival and the cancellation of the previous sponsor very late in the year.
"We are well on track for October to host the 2018 Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival,” Butterworth said.
The festival has grown massively and has become more than just enjoying the finer things in life.
When it was first introduced in 2014, the event attracted about 500 visitors, a year later the figure more than doubled and by last year about 1 600 people attended.
The festival has grown massively and has become more than just enjoying the finer things in life.
The event has also created good media coverage with editorial value of R1.9-million during the first year, R2.2-million in 2015 and more than R3.5-million last year.
Butterworth said that the wine industry was also playing a role in agriculture in Bitou and could be seen as a “gateway to other produce in the area".
Read a previous article: Plett wine & bubbly fest this weekend
ARTICLE & PHOTOS: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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