De Hoop special weekend of wine, whales and music

The Cape has two treasures: one widely renowned and the other not nearly renowned enough. 

Never a year goes by that the province doesn''t produce magnificent wines and never a year goes by that hundreds of Southern Right whales don''t come to the breeding waters off the coast of the De Hoop nature and marine reserve, to calve, offering spectacular viewing for tourists on a daily basis.

The first whales of the year have already arrived off De Hoop and in the coming months, this reserve will host spectacular displays as more than 40% of the world''s Southern Right whales come into the bay to mate, calve and see their young through their first few, vulnerable months.

The management of De Hoop has ingenuously combined these two Cape treasures into an unusual, indulgent and insightful Wine, Whales and Music weekend.  Together with Malané Hofmeyr-Burger and her string and flute ensemble, friends from the JPO who will be performing the Whale Time Serenade. In this repertoire will be pieces by Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Donizetti and Purcell , with some more contemporary pieces by Gardel, Mango Groove, amongst others. 

Hosts from Cape Agulhas region wine estates Black Oyster Catcher,  Creation, Jean Daneel,  Quoin Rock, The Berrio,  Zoetendal, Lomond,  Brunia Strandveld/First Sighting and Lands Endwill offer guests several opportunities for tasting and interaction.

On Sunday morning, an interpretative marine walk at low tide to visit the whales is scheduled, with our resident guides who have a rare passion and deep knowledge of the hidden rock pool life of this piece of pristine coastline.

De Hoop Wine, Whales and …. Music weekend Itinerary

27-29 July 2012

Friday 27 July 2012

14h00              Check in at de Hoop with a delicious afternoon tea and cake

18h00              Music Talk

19h00              SumptuousDinner in the Fig Tree Restaurant prepared by the De Hoop culinary team, with wine pairing.

Saturday 28 July 2012

08h00              Guided Bird walk - A wonderful walking experience with a qualified field guide, focusing on the identification of flowering fynbos and the behaviour of the birdlife found in De Hoop Nature Reserve.

11h30 – 15h00  

Wine Tasting.  Your hosts from Cape Agulhas region wine estates Black Oyster Catcher,  Creation, Jean Daneel,  Quoin Rock, The Berrio,  Zoetendal, Lomond,  Brunia Strandveld/First Sighting and Lands End will offer guests several opportunities for tasting and interaction. You are invited to sample the vineyard produce of the various estates under the shade of the century-old fig tree in the De Hoop estate courtyard.

13h00              Lunch:  This will be a picnic hamper at Koppie Alleen or Chefs Platters in the Fig Tree with a delicious assortment of local cheeses and a variety of locally cured meats.

18h00                          ‘Whale TimeSerenade’Part I in the Cloete Room- Music Performance with pieces by Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Donizetti and Purcell.

18h30              Interval – Canapéswith a Sherry in the Cloete Room

19h00              ‘Whale Time Serenade’Part II –more contemporary pieces such as Scent of a Woman by Carlos Gardel,  Lord of the Dance by Ronan Hardiman andSpecial Star by Mango Groove, amongst others

20h00              Dinner in the Fig Tree Restaurant

Sunday 29 July 2012

06h30              Whale meeting at Koppie Alleen at low tide - aninterpretative marine walk with our resident guides who have a rare passion for - and deep knowledge of - the hidden rock pool life of this piece of pristine coastline.  Whale viewing at this time of the year borders on the spectacular.  Our guides will take you on a walking trail exploring coastal rock pools and sandy beaches while a qualified guide points out interesting marine life forms.

09h00              Brunch in the Fig Tree Restaurant