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GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The organisers of the popular Knysna Wine Festival, which has been running for 15 years, hosted the first Garden Route Wine Festival at the Diaz Hotel in Mossel Bay on Friday, 15 July. The event took place during the Garden Route International Film Festival, which was also held at the hotel.

The Knysna Wine Festival is organised by Belinda Hobson and Bronwyn Lloyd.

PHOTO GALLERY: Garden Route Wine Festival

Hobson said many Garden Route towns want them to bring the set-up of the Knysna Wine Fest to their towns.

She and Lloyd decided to fulfil that request, starting with Mossel Bay.

Hobson explained that Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, is supporting the initiative. She explains that the Garden Route Wine Festivals will be "gypsy events, which travel in alliance with elite events".

New baby

Hobson and Lloyd are pleased with how their "baby" - their first Garden Route Wine Festival in Mossel Bay - turned out. "We had 120 people and for our first event, we are pleased with the turnout."

Tickets for the event cost R150 and people could buy snack platters. Guests received a free wine tasting glass and unlimited tasting.

"We had 18 wine estates represented. Of these Bahia Bleu restaurant at the Diaz Hotel brought eight brands to the table.

"Wines from the whole of the Western Cape were available."

To top it all off, the event raised R1 500 for the Seabird and Penguin Rehabilitation Centre (SAPREC) at Mossdustria, outside Mossel Bay.

"We are all about supporting charities," Hobson said.

She says the next Garden Route Wine Fest will probably be in George on 17 December.

Photos: Denise Lloyd

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