Polo Club Restaurant

Cape Town - South Africa’s passionate and glamorous polo community will be able to witness one of the world’s most iconic polo nations in action when India tour the country in February as part of the BMW International Polo Series.

On Saturday, February 26, the lush polo fields of the Val de Vie Estate in the magnificent Paarl Franschhoek Valley will host a classic encounter between India and South Africa.

A day of elegance between man and beast will be matched by a host of celebrities and VIPs reveling in the finest Val de Vie wines, gourmet food, and a display of the latest BMW vehicles.

“Polo is an exciting sport, and we are proud to be associated with a sport that so epitomises excellence and with which we have a long and successful relationship with. People marvel at the ability of man and horse to achieve such perfect unity, and BMW shares this drive for creating perfect partnerships in the pursuit of a passion,” said Guy Kilfoil, General Manager: Communications and Public Affairs at BMW South Africa.

India will bring with them a rich legacy in the sport dating back to medieval times, and which has earned the country the status of being the cradle of modern polo.

“The prestige of this particular contest is highlighted by the fact that India rarely tours South Africa, having done so on only a handful of occasions in the past 20 years,” said Clive Peddle, the Executive Director of the South African Polo Association.

“But equally important will be overall enjoyment of a wonderful event. India are a very hospitable nation and the South Africans were treated with five star luxury on their recent trip. We aim to reciprocate by providing the Indian team with a wonderful time matched by exciting polo.”

Now in its third year, the BMW International Polo at Val de Vie has become one of the most keenly anticipated events on the Cape Town social calendar. It is arguably one of the most sleek, glamorous and sought-after tickets in town.

Chile was the first to tour South Africa as part of this series. Last year the series was highlighted by a 14 to 5 goal victory over Italy, watched by the likes of Ryk Neethling, Ard Matthews, Lee-Ann Liebenberg, Vanessa Haywood and a host of other celebrities.

“The BMW International Polo at Val de Vie is an elegant affair where Cape Town’s elite will enjoy an exclusive, elegant and relaxing day of Polo,” said Michelle van Eyden of SAIL, the Executive Promoter of the BMW International Polo at Val de Vie as well as the highly successful L’Ormarins Queens Plate held recently.

“The gates open at 14:00 and tickets are on sale at Web Ticket and at Val de Vie Estate on the day. The cost is only R50 per ticket, excluding food and drink, and we offer a variety of hospitality packages.”

The hospitality packages available from SAIL include the Chukka Club package (www.webticket.co.za) and the Champions Pavilion package (www.sail.co.za).

At R360 per person, guests of the Chukka Club will be granted access to a private area next to the Val de Vie Pavilion, where they can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, and a limited cocktail style menu. The venue makes for an exclusive environment providing a superb view of the match.

For those seeking an even greater level of elegance and sophistication combined with unrivalled networking and socializing, the Champions Pavilion offers all of this at a cost of R1 400 per person, excluding VAT. Here guests will be able to enjoy an Indian style cocktail menu and a complimentary local bar.

From its ancient roots as the chosen sport of the Sultans of India to the polo fields of Val de Vie Estate, this will be a memorable encounter between two great polo nations.

The Val de Vie New Years Polo Tournament took place in Cape Town this week. 

The Val de Vie Polo Tournaments are fast growing into a very popular attraction in the Cape Town entertainment scene and the excited crowd enjoyed spectacular polo while sipping champagne on the stoop of the Polo Club restaurant.

The matches were fought out by the four teams over three days with Cape Town Polo Club, ultimately winning the tournament. Congratulations to them.

The Teams were:

• Val de Vie
• Quattro Snaith
• Cape Town Polo Club
• Cape Hunt Polo Club

The Val de Vie Polo Club is now preparing in all earnest for the BMW International in which India will be playing South Africa. An exciting 6-8 Goal tournament is being planned for just after the International.

We hope to see you there!

VDV Team, Rolf Thielen, Kevin Rixon, Alessandro Balestri, Martin Hartman

I’m not a particularly huge fan of Crowded House, but one thing is for sure:  you always take the weather with you. We, unlike our vines, can move to the seaside where it’s cooler, or to the river where you have plenty of water, or put on a nice round hat and sunscreen, almost as if you were at the cricket. All of these factors (minus the cricket) have a great influence on what quality of wine year we’re going to have.

This has been quite an erratic wine growing season, with sporadic showers one day and dry-out-the-spit-in-your-mouth heat the next. There is absolutely nothing that we as wine growers and makers can do about it. And so the weather has been strange all over the show. All of a sudden there’s rain in Beaufort West and the three big dams in the Vaal area have exceeded their capacity! That is something that hasn’t happened in quite a while! The wind has been strange too – never just a fresh breath of air. It's either kite surfing weather, or it feels like an asthmatic mouse blowing at you through a straw – nonexistent. So you either have a drying effect, or a heating effect.

But if I put my mindless barking at the moon aside, and think about it, this has actually been a great year for wine, apart from the lack of cold units (I won’t bore you with science and details). We have had rain at the right times, we are having a warm ripening period, and thus far we are disease-free (touch wood!). So if you are into gambling but you’re tired of horses, cards, roulette, or even betting on who’s going to win the Oscar, just start making wine. The only difference is that with gambling you may have skills that could influence your outcome, like counting cards or injecting horses with steroids. With wine, there’s nothing you can do about it. All you can do is let nature take its course. And we believe that is the way wine should be made, Au Natural!

Have you ever tried cheating the weather?

Whether you're in the mood for a delectable meal in gorgeous surroundings or simply feel like sipping cocktails at sunset, Sabrage is one of the hottest venues in the winelands. Be sure to visit the slick new Sabrage website which showcases what our favourite bar and lounge has on offer. Host a range of events at Sabrage, such as product launches, year end functions or ladies' nights, or simply join us for a relaxed but sophisticated dining experience.

For more information about Sabrage, kindly call 021 863 6192 or email info@sabragect.co.za

Here's how to celebrate the end of 2009 in style! Sabrage is set to host a glamorous new years eve party, complete with a three course dinner and plenty of Moët & Chandon. Click on the image above to view all the details for this sophisticated event.

We're delighted that the restaurant at Sabrage is open! With the chic decor of Sabrage creating the perfect setting, the restaurant offers a delectable Mediterranean-inspired menu that includes a range of pizzas and pastas, as well as some smaller tasting options and desserts. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely meal, perhaps while watching an exhilarating polo match at the same time...

The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10h30-15h00, and 18h00-20h00. On Sundays it is open for lunch from 10h30-15h30.

For more information, kindly call +27 863 6174.

For fabulous entertainment in the winelands, there's no place like Sabrage. Our chic venue plays hosts to an exciting line-up of events, such as the popular Sundowner Sessions which are hosted in summer. Patrons enjoy live music on the expansive terrace as they sip on drinks, relax and take in the beauty of the estate. For more information about upcoming events, kindly contact 021 863 6128.

Image cortesy of Flickr

We cannot wait for next Friday's Tribute to the 60s, an exciting event at Sabrage that will capture the spirit of this sensational decade. Expect a great band, exciting new talent and the chance to be taken back to the “good old days”. Tickets cost R100.00 per person, or R180.oo per couple, and this includes delicious snacks. The dress code is semi-formal and the show starts at 8pm. Call 021 870 1408 to make a reservation, or email marie@winecountry.co.za.

So put on your dancing shoes, grab your partner and join us next Friday for a night to remember!

Join us for the launch of Sabrage Bar, an exclusive new venue at the Val de Vie Pavilion! Taking place from 19:30 on 5 or 6 June, it promises to be a sophisticated occasion.

Kindly click on the image for more details.

Val de Vie is thrilled to announce Sabrage Lounge Bar, a sophisticated new addition to the estate. Set to be launched in May 2009, Sabrage is housed in the Val de Vie Pavilion and will offer guests the chance to savour fine wines and drinks in a truly chic setting. Watch this space...