Wineries of Bot River celebrate together! 9 – 11 September 2011

A fabulous weekend celebrating the advent of Spring for wine lovers, nature lovers and families to get together for the good-time event of the year with gastronomy, tastings, entertaining activities , local artists and so much more.

Our line up this year kicks off with the Winemakers Selection on the 9th September 2011 to be held at Kol Kol Mountain Lodge, Bot River, tranquil with sweeping views of fynbos.
Winemakers will be showcasing their wines revealing unique perspective on vine-to-glass progression and the personality of Bot River terroir complemented by culinary delights.
Tickets cost R100. info@kolkol.co.za

Throughout the weekend participating Wine Estates and restaurants will announce their involvement by placing pink barrels at their entrances. Entertainment varies from horse riding, fly fishing, wine and olive oil tastings and blending, sumptuous meals, live music, pottery and art exhibitions.
Entry Free. Saturday 10:00 -18:00 / Sunday 10:00 -15:00

Partygoers can shunt their cabooses over to the Bot River Station on Saturday 10th September for the Botriviera Spectacle. The theme is ‘carnival’, an excuse for guests to puff up their feathers and pimp their style for an evening of other-worldly and downright surreal entertainment. The party will be fuelled by DJ Charl who returns this year to rock the rails and steam up the venue. The loco-motion starts at 7 pm and the party will go on till late.
Tickets cost R100 and includes entry to the lucky draw and amazing giveaways.
Tickets available at Shuntin’ Shed

Bot River is only 1.15h Cape Town so whether one is visiting for a day or spending the weekend on one of the participating estates the Botriviera Spring Weekend provides an opportunity to discover and explore this fascinating area, meet the merry winemakers and enjoy their wines!
Join us and explore something out of the ordinary.

You’ll never put a betta bit o’ Botrivier in your glass!
by Cathy Marston …read more on food24.com

Well known four times winner of the Comrades marathon Vladimir Kotov is the quest 21km participant of the 6th Botrivier Van der Stel Pass Challenge on Saturday 30 October 2010.
Vladimir won the race in 2009 and has been invited to defend his title with stiff competition expected this year. The race starts and finishes on the historic Botrivier Station.

Anthony Hess coordinator of the race says the community is very excited to host Vladimir and many other athletes that will run this beautiful race in 2010. The athletes will traverse some of the most beautiful landscape in the Overberg -otherwise unreachable.

The Botrivier van der Stel Pass Challenge is one of the fasted growing mountain bike and road running races in the Western Cape. More importantly the race was started and developed by the community. The Theewaterskloof municipality has now come on board with assistance after discovering the potential of the race. The major Mr Punt hails this race as a true example of what can be achieved if a community stand together and fully support its growth.

The race consists of a 56km, 36km and 15km MTB and a 21km, 10km, 5km running/walking. The race is organized by the Botrivier Education Foundation (BEF) and co-hosted by the Elgin Grabouw Athletic club. The 21 and 10km routes are registered with Boland Athletic Association. All proceeds of the race are towards the BEF’s mentoring program. One thousand (1000) athletes are expected this year. The start and finish is on the historic Botrivier Station and traversed some of the most beautiful scenery in the Overberg. Athletes usually echo the true community spirit of the race evident by the close to 100 marshals servicing the various MTB and running routes.

The Medals will be issued to all finishers. Entertainment in the form of a barrel race and traditional food will be for sale. A thousand rand (R1000) lucky draw, cell phone and many other prizes can be won. Great category prizes on offer too.

For the information on the educational program or the race Anthony Hess can be contacted at 0837732574 or visit the website at www.bef.org.za

Can you beat the Bot River Barrel Race Rollers?
October is Barrel Fest in Bot River! The wineries started to paint their barrels for the 3rd annual Barrel Race. The Bot River station will be the centre of attraction with a lovely farmer’s market, food, live music, prizes and lots of local wine wine plus the thrill of watching your team make the mad dash to the finish line! .

What you need to know:
Date & Time: 30th October 2010, 11:30 -15:00 (participating teams to arrive at 11:00)
Venue: Bot River  Train Station, next to the Shuntin’ Shed
Early Bird Entry Fee: R500.00 per team of 4 before Oct. 20th. Limited – 30 teams!
Entry Forms: Download Here
Races Procedure: Races are relay-style with time trials leaving the two best teams competing for the grand prize in the final race.
Prizes: The winning team wins a new wine barrel to the value of R7500.

See you there!
The wine producers of Bot River want to assist the promotion of educational excellence in Bot River and have created the annual Barrel Race to raise funds to support  catering to the needs of the Bot River Educational Foundation (BEF).
Would you rather just make a donation to BEF?
Contact: melissanelsen@gmail.com

What else to do on the day?
Bot River Van der Stel Pass Challenge organised by BEF. The events start and end at the historic Bot River Station and winds along the beautiful Van der Stel Pass and over land and farms not normally open to the public.
Cycle: 15, 36 and 57 km (MTB)
Run/walk: 21 and 10 km
Fun run/walk: 5 km
For more info and entries on the Cycle & Fun Rub & Walk, please visit the BEF website at: http://www.bef.org.za/

The community of Bot River is actively involved in investing in the future of their children. BEF  (Bot River Education Foundation)is a voluntary association established in 2005 with the aim to motivate and encourage students in the Bot River community to study in the fields of engineering, accounting and medicine by a carefully constructed mentoring programme.

The wine producers of Bot River want to assist the promotion of educational excellence in Bot River and have created the annual Barrel Race to raise funds to support  catering  to the needs of the BEF.

High school students from Bot River who excel in mathematics, accounting and physical science are placed in a mentoring programme. The programme consists of motivational mentoring and tutoring contact sessions. The role of the mentors is to visit students at home and to gather important positive or negative influences affecting their academic or psychological development. The aim is to inculcate ownership of their future and to give guidance where necessary.

Consensus was reached that although BEF is not a bursary fund, the organization will attempt where needed to financially support the students at secondary as well as tertiary level. Financial assistance however will only be given after mentoring of the chosen students by individuals within BEF in order to safe guard the investment.

Twenty two (22) students are currently enrolled in the 2010 BEF mentoring programme. Eighteen (18) are at school grade 10-12 and four (4) students are at university studying accounting, nursing and radiography. The most important achievement is the support given by the entire community. The community has embraced the programme as a vehicle for the resurgence of university graduates from their beloved Bot River, which will not only benefit the Western Cape, but although minute also contribute towards the development of our country.

Listen to the Audio Clip, 40 seconds long…. 

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A fabulous weekend celebrating the advent of Spring and Rosé created by the Bot River winemakers targeted at the pink wine buying market.

Participating wine estates will celebrate Rosé by hosting an appropriately pink event with gastronomy, competitions, tastings, blendings, amusing activities and hilarious entertainment.

Participating wineries will be open on Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00 and on Sunday from 09:00 till 15:00 and will be landmarked by pink barrels at the entrance to each property. Continue reading »

‘Shunting’ is a railroad term for when the train changes from one track to another, and this little spot in Botrivier certainly shunted my perception of the sleepy town of Botrivier. I’d been there a few times to visit Beaumont wines (always a worthwhile visit) and had passed through several more, but nothing had caught my eye. The town is sleepy. Like no-traffic-lights-yet sleepy. Then I heard about this place that serves good pizza. I think I read about it on JP Rossouw’s site a while back. Anyways, some friends decided to move onto a small farm nearby and it provided opportunity to visit The Shunting Shed. Continue reading »

So I was so excited by the pizza and Birkenhead at the Shunting Shed in Botrivier last time, I decided to go back – with reinforcements. So I planned along with several others to spend a Saturday afternoon watching rugby there, which is what we did. We arrived. We ordered some Birkenhead. Sold out. Some of our party had arrived early and already drunk them dry of this beer by then, it appeared. So we drank wine instead. Annoyingly, they still didn’t have any Feiteiras wine in stock. So we ordered something else. Luddite Shiraz 2005, to be more precise. What a mind-blowingly delicious wine! Silky smooth, yet big and voluptuous, bursting with fruits and ending with soft tannins and spices. So delicate, you can imagine every grape was pressed under the holy feet of a shiraz-loving angel. Fuck me, but this wine was just brilliant. And it happens to be grown just down the road. Continue reading »

Bot River Valley Vineyards Association are again ready to roll with their annual Barrel Race on the 31st October 2009.

Held at the Bot River station, races are relay-style with time trials leaving the two best teams competing for the grand prize in the final race. Number of entrants is limited, so get your team together! Entries are open to teams of four. You don’t have to belong to a winery or have a barrel to enter – all will be organised once you sign up.

The racing wine barrels are specially painted by the children of the Bot River Primary School and are dazzling in their opulent colours. Proceeds of this annual event are donated to the Bot River Education Foundation, enabling the town’s children to receive tertiary education.

It’s not only barrels either – local wines, food stalls and music guarantees lots of fun for all, plus the thrill of watching your team make the mad dash to the finish line!

And for those that are in for more than just barrel-rolling, the early morning starts with a fun 5/10 km run/walk as well as a 15/35/50 km mountain bike race… if you wish to partake in sightseeing with vigour!

Interested in making a weekend of it? Check our website for local accommodation in the area. For more detail and entry forms, click here!

On the 31st October hundred of entrants are expected to line the start of the 5th Botrivier van der Stel Pass Challenge. The 2009 race promises to be the biggest yet.So fasten your tekkies and head off to the historic Botrivier Station for the start – just ½hr drive from Somerset West. The race caters for all levels of fitness – starting from 5km walk/run or 15km mountain bike cycling to 21km running or 50km cycling. The race follows the scenic Van der Stel Pass. Be sure to look out for “Kyk in die Pot”, treintjies kloof, bobbejaanskloof and the painted appoloosa horses. More of the history when you get there.

The race is hosted by the Elgin Grabouw Athletic Club and presented by the Bot River Education Foundation a non profit organization and voluntary association that aims to motivate and assists students in Botrivier to study, engineering, charter accounting and in the medical field. This is done through a carefully constructed mentoring program.

Coca Cola and water will be served every 3km by friendly assistants -so do take a break for a drink and a smile. The most beautiful views of the Overberg ruins await the cyclists.

Photo’s available at the finish and video men will capture that special moment on the road for you. Live singing artists from the Overberg will be on stage while local food taints the air. And don’t forget to line the railway for the barrel race at 12h15 – promises to be great fun this year again.