Constantia Valley. Photo courtesy Robert Wallace

While summer feels like it is well and truly here, there are still rumours of a slight chill expected before the official arrival of summer in November. What then is one to do with October? One could call it the brief and fleeting spring season; where the itch to remove the winter layers and revel in the sun is equally matched by the need to cuddle up by the fire during bouts of rain and wind.

Luckily, there is an event that caters for either eventuality.

“Spring It On” Constantia is a 10-day celebration designed to coax the residents of Cape Town out of their winter slumber. Capetonians are blessed to have some of the most beautiful winelands in the world right in their backyard, all within kilometres of the city centre, and from October 15 to 24, 2010, “Cape Town’s Vineyard” is inviting locals to come enjoy warm hospitality, fine wines, exceptional food and good old fashioned fun at participating Constantia Valley wine farms.

With food and wine pairings, vineyard safaris, movies under the stars, crazy fun runs and charity events, “Spring It On” Constantia is the local’s chance to experience the beauty and heritage of the region before tourists descend in full force. Wine farms participating in this event include Groot Constantia, Steenberg Vineyards, Constantia Glen, Klein Constantia, Eagle’s Nest, Buitenverwachting, and Constantia Uitsig.

The Constantia Valley, the cradle of the Cape wine industry, is nestled in the centre of the Cape Peninsula. Many have waxed lyrical about this Cape treasure over the last few centuries, including one English officer, Robert Percival, who arrived in the Cape in 1796: “Every stranger who arrives at the Cape … makes a point of visiting the Village of Constantia and those famous wine plantations; for these with the Table Mountain are looked upon as the great and first objects of curiosity of the Cape.”

As quaint as his words might sound by modern standards, they still ring true for visitors and locals alike; Constantia Valley complements our mountain, and speaks of the great splendour the Cape has to offer.

For more information, contact Jooles or Karen on +27 (0)21 794 0542.