The Bubbly Festival – Joburg’s celebration of South Africa’s finest Cap Classiques as well as others from around the world including Champagne – is set to take place in Hyde Park for three days in May.
Bubbly aficionados, epicureans and those who love the good things in life can spend the weekend of Friday, May 18 through to Sunday, May 20, popping corks, filling flutes and sipping some of the best sparkles around while snacking on fine foods and listening to live music.
The Bubbly Festival will be held at The Park House of Events on 7, which is located in the Hyde Park Shopping Centre (in the space previously occupied by the Imax theatre), and will feature some of South Africa’s finest Methodé Cap Classiques as well as some French Champagnes.
Local MCC producers at this year’s event include Anthonij Rupert Wines who will present the L’Ormarins Brut Classique N/V, L’Ormarins Brut Vintage Rosé 2013, L’Ormarins Blanc de Blanc 2012 and L’Ormarins Brut Classique Rosé N/V; Bon Courage who will show the Jacques Bruére 2011 Brut Reserve, 2011 Blanc de Blanc and 2011 Cuveé Rosé Brut; Genevieve MCC (a boutique Blanc de Blanc, harvested from a small block of Chardonnay in Botriver, Overburg); Pierre Jourdan Brut and Belle Rose from Haute Cabrière; Spier with both their Secret Sparkling – Non Vintage and the 2015 Signature MCC as well as bubbles from Krone.There’s also Silverthorn which is among only a handful of producers that have dedicated their expertise solely to the production of premium MCCs and who will show The Green Man 2015, The Genie Rose NV and The Jewel Box 2014. The last is a new vintage from this estate and festivalgoers will be among the first to taste this bubbly.
Also, in the line-up is the Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel (the Brut, Brut Rose, Demi-Sec and Cuvee Royale) which was the first South African wine made according to the traditional method, known in South Africa, as Méthode Cap Classique and Tanzanite, made by one of South Africa’s first female sparkling wine specialists Melanie van der Merwe. Also at the festival are Graham Beck and Villiera.
Champagne houses – including Nicolas Feuillatte, Taittinger and Luc Belaire – will also be taking part, although they will not be offering tastings or accepting coupons but will do sales by the glass or bottle. Italy will be represented by Da Luca Prosecco.
To add to the occasion there will also be a selection of fabulous foods as well as live music – details of which will be announced closer to the date.
Tickets cost R380 per person and include a glass and 10 tasting tickets. Bookings can be made via www.webtickets.co.za or at the door on the day. Bubbly by the glass and bottle as well as food will be for sale.
Says organiser Darielle Robertson, who is also responsible for the Western Cape’s very popular annual Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival: “The Bubbly Festival will allow Gautengers the opportunity to sample some of South Africa’s best Cap Classiques, all in an elegant yet relaxed atmosphere.”