Solms-Delta Bastille Day Celebrations
Historically, Bastille Day has very little to do with South Africa or Franschhoek. The 400 French Huguenot men, women and children who came to the Cape in search of religious freedom arrived a century before the French Revolution had even begun, and most of them were from conservative rather than radical backgrounds.
While today we certainly celebrate these Huguenots and their descendants, because of the way our nation, and especially the Cape wine industry, was so indelibly shaped by their efforts, our local celebration of Bastille Day has now come to recognise other peoples and their struggles for freedom as well. From our earliest forebears, the indigenous nomads who first inhabited this region, the slaves who laboured here against their will, and all those that suffered so much under Apartheid - all have had a special role to play in winning the freedoms we so greatly enjoy in South Africa today.
For Solms-Delta, the Bastille Day parade of 2007 was a particularly memorable day. It was the first time the community of this valley used the occasion to inclusively celebrated its freedom from slavery, religious persecution and apartheid, and it was perhaps the first time that we all came together as a complete community. It is especially through music that we are united, and every year since then, Solms-Delta participates in the Bastille Day parade through the streets of Franschhoek, with an ever increasing passion and exuberance for the musical and other precious traditions of the rural Cape.
Bastille Festival 17 & 18 July 2010
Make your way to Franschhoek over the weekend of 17th and 18th July for the annual Bastille Festival. As part of the celebrations on Saturday 17 July, starting at 11.30am, the Delta Valley Entertainers will lead the people of Solms-Delta down the main road of Franschhoek. This newly formed marching band is currently the proud flagship of the Music van de Caab project and was formed when the Delta Bluestars (previously the project’s largest musical ensemble) merged with the Pniel Brass Band. Follow in their footsteps to the Food and Wine Marquee and enjoy a Shiraz-themed tasting of Cape Jazz Shiraz, Hiervandaan, Africana and of course the new Gemoedsrus (for R25 for a glass), at the Solms-Delta stand. Head Chef Shaun from Fyndraai will also be there pairing with snoek and pepperdew twister as well as smoked beef and biltong. Come and join in the fun and festivities as Franschhoek celebrates Liberty, Equality and Fraternity in our Winelands, our country and world wide.
We welcome you to come on our cellar tour and learn about our experimental range, only available at the estate, and also enjoy a tasting of Solms-Delta wines. If you would like to be kept informed about our ‘experiments’ follow us on Twitter.
