On the weekend of the 4th and 5th of March, we congregate to celebrate the taste and flavours of all that is Italian. From extravagant and classy cars to fantastic food and wine that tastes like culture and tradition, this Italian Festival at Idiom is the ultimate experience to spoil the senses with what life in Italy feels like without leaving the South African borders.
Guests can partake in Italian wine tastings, sign up for the informative masterclasses showcasing the best of Vinotria (imported Italian wine), enjoy authentic Italian food and wood-fired pizza, stock up on delicious speciality deli products made the Italian way, and explore the fun activities devised for children and adults alike.
All this and more, as you absorb the Italian ambience, panoramic views of False Bay and the mountains complemented by live music.
Food and Drink
Take a peaceful stroll through the Festival Village, where vendors and stalls hand out delicious samples of regional Italian gourmet dishes and goods to entice the tastebuds whilst deciding which items you want to stock up on for your cooking experience at home or to indulge in at the festival for a delicious lunch/dinner.
Spoil your senses with an array of Italian goods such as spices and curated meats, pastries, wood-fired pizzas made in the authentic Napoletana style, regional pasta dishes, and for dessert, Gelato.
An array of wines, spritzes and Italian coffees complement the authentic meals available. The Prosecco tent is a favourite amongst lovers of bubbles, or the Almare Spritz to cool the tempers on a hot day. For the inquisitive, there are workshops and teachings regarding Vinotria’s Italian Wine the indigenous grape varieties of the regions and the wines they produce. As the host of the event, Idiom offers their selection of Italian Varietal Wines to remind the visitors that they can always come back for more.
From the Campania region, the festival presents the taste of the Ancient Distillery, Petrone, with the classic and delicious Limoncello Liqueur. The drink can be enjoyed as a pallet cleanser or to help with digestion in the form of a spritz or neat.
Workshops and Activities at the Italian Festival
This year the Italian Festival at Idiom focuses on products from the beautiful Campania region, which includes Naples, Pompeii, the gorgeous Amalfi Coast and the beautiful islands of Capri and Ischia.
Enjoy the showcasing of all things Campanian, from cars and goods to wood-fired ‘pizza Napoletana’, as Idiom collaborates with Gambero Rosso and award-winning chef Enrico di Giambattista. Or, watch the show-cooking sessions hosted by Masterchef Claudio Uccello from Naples, via FUMO restaurant, as he prepares special plates from Campania.
One of the special events occurring over the weekend is a not-to-be-missed sunset tasting of the Campania Aperitivo from 6pm to 8pm on Saturday. During the event, the outgoing Italian Consul in Cape Town, Emanuele Pollio, who also hails from Sorrento, will share information about the secrets of the region’s culture and history. (An extra ticket is required to attend the Aperitivo Evening).
Another workshop on offer allows participants to learn about the famous Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, Aglianico and Taurasi wines. Benchmark Campanian wine producer Feudi Di San Gregorio from Irpinia, near the slopes of the dormant volcano Mt. Vesuvius, will be represented by export manager Francesca Festa.
To add to all the entertainment and workshops available, The Italian Festival at Idiom set aside some extra fun activities for the little ones with mosaicing and mask making, face painting, football penalty shootout competitions and pizza-making classes.
Grab a drink, indulge in the food, and enjoy the scenery of the beautiful Idiom estate and the mountain views backdrop, as the little ones run off and have fun. Partake in the Lucky Draw Prizes if you feel an itch in the palms, or simply sit back and enjoy the live music performed by Francesca Biancoli as he sings Neapolitan songs to soothe the soul.
How to book your ticket
Red Ticket R330: Includes 12 wine tastings, a bottle of San Pellegrino or Aqua Panna water and a branded wine glass.
White Ticket R220: Includes live entertainment, and a bottle of San Pellegrino or Aqua Panna water. (Excludes wine tasting)
Green Ticket R110: Entry for children under 16. Children’s activities will be available.
Tickets can be purchased via Webtickets
See here for more information on the tickets.
When: 4th and 5th March| Sat: 11 am – 6pm | Sun: 11am – 6pm
Where: Idiom, Sir Lowrys Pass Rd, Somerset West, Cape Town
Website: idiom.co.za
Email: online@idiom.co.za
Tel: 021 858 1088
Instagram: @idiom_wines
Facebook: @IdiomWines