What’s On at Bot River’s 2014 Spring Festival

While it might not feel as though spring is in the air just yet, tell tale flowers are beginning to bloom. Soon it will be time to shed those winter wellies and celebrate the new season. Bot River wine country is bustling with preparations for it’s annual two-day spring festival, which kicks off on Saturday, 6 September.

Spring is nature’s way of getting into a festive mode, so why not come along and join in some real honest to goodness country fun. Bring the kids and granny too. All are welcome.

Food, wine and friendly

Thirteen wine farms will throw open their doors on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. Delicious fare includes award winning speciality cheeses, hot and cold smoked products, fresh baked and bottled goodies and plenty more to purchase and take home to snack on later. Al fresco and indoor dining options include food and wine pairings, tasting menus, a pop up bistro, barrel cellar lunch, brunch, braai, carvery and some chef interaction to boot.

Festival activity line up

While happily munching, you’ll get to relax or party to live musical entertainment, sip on Bot River wines or sample some locally crafted beer. You can opt to take the kids on a tractor ride or prove your prowess in an olive spitting competition, a “kettie skiet” competition or a wine blending competition. Alternatively, you might want to visit the historic and rare working water mill, do some wine tasting, tour a vineyard, see a pruning demonstration, participate in a tea tasting workshop or try your hand at some spring wreath making.

Important information

Getting there is easy. From Cape Town, simply take the N2, zoot through Somerset West and over Sir Lowry’s Pass. Within a relatively short space of time you’ll see the signs that will lead you to the Western Cape’s rising wine country. There really is no better way to experience the soul of a place than through its people, wine and food. The spring festival is a prime opportunity to meet some of the local winemakers and owners, to experience Bot River valley for yourself, and to get out of the city and have some fun. 

It’s best to preplan where you want to go and what you’d like to experience. To view the Bot River Spring Festival 2014 line up and to find out more click here.

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What Elgin (Grabouw), Shakespeare and Eminem Have in Common

The apple appears to have been around since ancient times. It’s referenced in religion, myths, legends, fairy tales and folklore throughout the ages. Singers from Frank Sinatra to Eminem have sung about them. Poets such as William Blake and Robert Frost wrote about them. This plump little specimen has even featured in Shakespeare’s works. Remember that famous line from The Taming of The Shrew “There’s small choice in rotten apples”? In the Elgin Valley, Grabouw in the Overberg apples are practically revered and for jolly good reason too.

Inside a historical shoemakers cottage

The Elgin Valley is known throughout the world as the place where apples come from and generously produces 60% of the national crop. Elgin is home to Appletiser, the world famous “champagne of fruit juices” soft drink. And while you might not think of Elgin’s apple history as the most riveting way to occupy your mind, humour yourself, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Just off the main road in Grabouw town you’ll find the signposted Elgin Apple Museum in a historic shoemakers cottage. It’s one of only two apple museums in the world and offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the apple industry.

Among the intriguing bits and pieces

The museum is packed with old photographs and displays from farming equipment to antique kitchen utensils. Find out how apples first came to the Cape. Get to know the stories of the early pioneers. Track the history of apple farming from the very first orchard in Elgin to the modern techniques used today. This little museum is filled with bits and pieces that depict how apple farming put a small community on the world map.

Opening hours and admission

Entrance is free, but donations are appreciated. The museum is adjacent to the Barrel & Beer Pub from which you can request the keys from the bar. Don’t forget to write your name in the guestbook before you leave.

If you ask your children, niece or nephew where apples come from, chances are they might rattle off the name of a retail store. What many people don’t know is that apples probably first came from Kazakhstan. In fact, the last surviving wild apple forests on earth are found there. Regardless, Elgin is by far South Africa’s largest apple producing region and proudly so. So, do take some time out from the area’s breathtaking countryside to do some historical apple browsing.

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Why Everyone Succumbs to Pie Madness in Riviersonderend

There’s no need to scour the Overberg to find delicious, comforting pies made to thick or flaky, buttery perfection. Since the 1980s the Ou Meul Bakery in Riviersonderend has been producing crafted from scratch pie varieties that have made the place a hangout for locals and a must stop for cyclists and travellers passing through.

Who conjures the recipes?

Practice has certainly made pie-making perfect here. Certain favourite recipes have been passed down since the original owner, Tannie Rina, first introduced them. But the range has expanded somewhat, particularly under the guidance of current owner Antonie Basson, who took over in 2009.

The secret to a best-selling pie

Good pie is all about the crust. Ou Meul (Afrikaans for “old mill”) dough is made on site using fresh, local ingredients, all procured within a 15-kilometre radius. Pies are made with bio wheat, stone-ground, unbleached flour that’s preservative free and contain free-range eggs. While they do use machines to roll the dough - given the quantities that must be produced - all the puff pastry is rolled by hand.

Notice the wavy edge on the pie surface just like the good ‘ole days. As Antonie points out, “while we make a couple of hundred pies a day, most customers get to eat only one”, so each pie crust is painstakingly pinched by hand.

How to find Ou Meul Bakery

Finding the Ou Meul is easy. The N2 is the main arterial from Cape Town through to Mossel Bay and forms the main Road that cuts through Riviersonderend. If coming from Cape Town, you can’t miss the Ultra City filling station on your left as you enter the town, which, incidentally is owned by Antonie’s parents. Just next to that you’ll see the big Ou Meul sign and, on stepping out of your vehicle your nose will guide you the rest of the way.

More to the story

Ou Meul has an old fashioned heart with a contemporary twist. The famous pie range includes chicken, steak and kidney, mutton, spinach and feta, venison, *bobotie, and ham and cheese. They serve delicious coffees and other hot beverages too. Plus, you can order a sufficiently satisfying bacon and egg brekkie if you feel it’s too early for pie - although once you’ve had an Ou Meul pie it’s an all occasion and any time of day meal. One of the light lunch options is the popular Ou Meul Deluxe sarmie consisting of crisp lettuce, farm fresh chicken and mayo, bacon and avocado on handmade sour dough bread.

What an Ou Meul pie costs

Step up to the counter and make your pie selection to enjoy as a sit down or takeaway. The very reasonable pay-for-what-you-get prices range between R21 and R25 for a good size with a generous filling. You’ll also find homemade jams, preserves fresh baked breads on the shelves and under counter tasty sweet treat pastry confections. The jam tarts are spectacular and worth a whirl as are the on counter crunchies and chocolate chip bikkies.

Contact information

Ou Meul Bakery
27 Main Road, Riviersonderend
Open Monday to Friday (06:00 to 18:00), Saturday (06:00 to 15:00) and Sunday (07:00 to 18:00)
+27 28 261 1568
info@oumeul.co.za
www.oumeul.co.za 

Riviersonderend is the original Ou Meul pie shop but there are two other outlets:

14 Long Street, Cape Town
Open Monday to Friday (06:30 to 17:30) and Saturday (07:00 to 14:00)
+27 21 419 0062

G40 Willowbridge Lifestyle Centre, Durbanville
Open Monday to Saturday (07:00 to 18:00) and Sunday (08:00 to 17:00)
+27 21 914 0540

 *Bobotie is a typically South African dish consisting of spicy minced meat baked with a creamy egg-based topping

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