Once again, Stanford’s warm heart and deep care of others motivates the Village event this week. On Saturday, 26th November, from 3pm to sunset, will be our first ever Stanford Stumble. Great fun is to be had, and the profit will go to the Abigail Hoogbaard fund. (Abigail is a little girl from Stanford who suffers from CHARGE syndrome, and needs financial assistance for specialist schooling).
A 5km run or 2km walk through the vineyards at Stanford Hills. Teams will be dressed up, with prizes for best dressed. The traditional water tables will be replaced by wine tables, hence the name Stanford Stumble! The race will end on the front lawn at Stanford Hills, where there will be live music by Jazz band SWAY. And of course, excellent local wine and beer! Children are welcome, and the African Horse Company will be offering pony rides. A jumping castle and free use of the swimming pool should keep the young ones entertained!
Great prizes to be won. R50 per team of 2 to enter, and 2km should be a walk in the park for most (excuse the pun!)

There will be cool drinks, water and mini-picnic baskets on sale, as well as Boerewors rolls. Leg massages available at race end, sponsored by La Femme, and all in aid of charity. Please contact Steph at the Stanford Tourism office for entry forms ask@stanfordinfo.co.za or 028 341 0340

The 21st of June is the shortest day of the year; the Winter solstice, the official middle of winter. And to celebrate the day, and the fact that summer has to follow a long wet winter, the brave (mad) people of Stanford will be leaping into the icy Klein River in a community driven fund-raising initiative called the Penguin Plunge.

Around the world, people rise to the challenge to immerse themselves in the winter waters. In Canada, this ritual is held on New Year’s Day. In the United States, it’s called the Polar Plunge.

Springfontein Wine Estate will contribute the wine and Hennie’s Pub has volunteered to make a comforting Gluhwein to thaw out the frozen braves.

A donation covers the entry fee, and the proceeds will go to deserving local charities. Sign up with the editor of Stanford River Talk: ed@stanfordrivertalk.co.za

The Whale Coast Route is a treat for the weekend traveler. The route meanders from its start in Gordon’s Bay, through Rooiels, past the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, through the sleepy town of Kleinmond and on to Hermanus, the Whale capital, and host to the annual Whale festival every September. Beautiful views await one at every  curve of the road; mountains towering above, clear aqua seas below.

During the winter months, there is the added bonus of being able to observe the visiting whales, very close to the shore. At many points along the route, and in particular along the cliff path of Hermanus, it is possible to watch as they lazily perform  for us, waving their massive tails, sailing, spyhopping or lobtailing - or while they summon up energy to launch their 40 ton bodies out of the water for an impressive display of breaching.

Driving away from Hermanus, hugging the lagoon edge, the road takes one to the delightful Victorian village of Stanford. No whales in the quiet Klein River that flows through undisturbed, but otters and owls, welcoming country kitchens and an award winning wine route. Stop here for a day or two and fill your picnic basket with the local cheese, superb wine and freshly baked pane di mare and take a river cruise on the Platanna to enjoy the fantastic bird life and stunning views of the mountains. Book into one of the delightful cottages dotted through the quaint village, and soak in the village atmosphere while taking a stroll along the Wandelpad.

Continue the next day along the coastal route to the quiet settlement of De Kelders, where the rocky cliffs offer a perfect viewpoint of the whales down below. Listen to their eerie calls echoing in the cliff-side caves as they talk to each other. Every year, these wonderful mammals come into our protected bays to breed and calve and nurse their young in the relatively warmer waters of the Walker Bay whale sanctuary. After a brisk walk along the cliffs, or to the caves below on the Duiwelsgat trail, pop into Coffee on the Rocks for their mouthwatering chocolate cake.

Press on to Gansbaai for an adrenaline boost. Board a boat and head out to sea to get close to Great White Shark while safely ensconced in a cage that has been  lowered into the chilly ocean. Cruise around the famed Dyer Island, situated 8.5 Km off the coast from Kleinbaai harbour to watch the penguin colony.

All of this in a short weekend. Pack the binoculars, fill up the car and head over to the Whale Coast.

This quiet little village of Stanford, tucked away alongside the meandering Klein River as one drives between Hermanus and Gansbaai, sure knows how to throw a party!

At the recent STANFORD OESFEES CHALLENGE on the 19 March at Sir Robert Stanford Estate, 200 participants successfully competed in the first Stanford Oesfees Challenge. The 10km trail run and mountain bike ride was presented by Hermanus Adventures. They generously donated R1, 000.00 of their entry fees to Hospice Overstrand.

The Stanford Canoe Race was staged during the morning with over 100 canoeists participating. The 20km circular race was won by Lance King of the Milnerton Canoe Club.

The  Summer Concert audience  enjoyed the music by Sterling EQ, while tucking into their picnic hampers. There could not have been a more spectacular venue enhanced by an amazing Harvest Moon.  Stanford’s wine farms are hard to beat for setting, scenery and good old fashioned hospitality.

Put this date in your diaries for next year folks! Stanford is the place to be during the harvest.

As the weather cools and the leaves change their hue, the vines generously offer their harvest. Driving through the Overberg at this time is a visual delight.

The local wine producers have some unusual solutions to their daily challenges. At the end of a long hard year at Stanford Hills Estate, workers announced the coming harvest in a unique and novel way - with vuvuzelas! During the season, they had used the noisy trumpets to scare off baboons and birds. This year will be the first year of production of Shiraz, and the small harvest will be stomped by foot. Talk about putting your foot down!

On the other side of Stanford, driving along the R326 in the early hours of the morning, you may be startled to see a strange contraption with lights ablaze in the vineyards. This was Raka Wines innovative solution to their harvest schedule. They had to pick earlier than usual, because of the warm summer, and dry season.  They wanted to get the grapes to the cellar while still cool, so they made a plan to pick at night. The young Dreyers mounted a generator and light bulbs on tuna-poles on the arms of one of the farm’s tractor-drawn sprayers, creating a ‘lightbug’ with which to harvest.

We look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labours. Let’s raise a glass to the Stanford wine producers!