The 2003 SA Cheese Festival is a must for cheese makers and cheese lovers alike. This daddy of festivals - dedicated to curd and whey - will be held over four days from 25 to 28 April next year, on the historical Boland farm, Bien Donné.

At the 2002 SA Cheese Festival, managed by Agri-Expo, cheese makers set 14 000
mouths drooling with the crème de la crème of traditional Gouda, Cheddar, Camembert and Brie, to new types of cow's, goat's, sheep milk and organic cheese.

According to Agri-Expo's general manager, Johan Ehlers, everything will be in place to repeat this year's successful event and to give thousands of festival goers the opportunity to experience the dynamics of the full range of cheeses, from the unique ones crafted by farm cheese makers to the more generally available cheeses made by bigger producers.

"The 2003 SA Cheese Festival promises to be a wonderful voyage of discovery for each visitor. The entire cheese spectrum - from the animal in the field right through to the processed product in an exotic dish - will be shared with the public during the festival," Ehlers said.

The SA Cheese Festival is held shortly after the 2003 National Dairy Championships and Qualité Awards. Cheese lovers at the festival will therefore be able to taste the recently crowned SA champion cheeses and top notch products judged to be worthy of the coveted Qualité seal of excellence.

Bien Donné - on the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek - is once again home to this unique cheese jollification. This exquisite farm lies in the heart of the Winelands and the historic manor house, green lawns, gigantic oaks, pergolas and ample parking makes it the perfect venue for the Big Nibble.
Gates to the festive gathering will be open between 10:00 and 18:00 on Friday 25 April, Saturday 26 April and Sunday 27 April, and from 10:00 to 16:00 on Monday 28 April.

Agri-Expo extends a big, hearty welcome to all cheese makers - from the tiniest boutique operators to the country's most notable dairy producers - to become part of the cheeriest cheese event of the year.

Contact Memory Kallis at Agri-Expo on (021) 975 4440/1/2/3 or by fax on (021) 975 4446 or by e-mail [email protected] for more details.