Calitzdorp Expressed

Calitzdorp Expressed is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Klein Karoo calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Calitzdorp in Western Cape, in the heart of one of South Africa's most distinctive wine areas. It is an annual event with an established local audience and a consistent place in the regional calendar. Port capital of South Africa. Festival of food, wine, art and culture in the Klein Karoo. Wine festivals across Europe typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, live music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy directly from producers at cellar prices. Many events run across multiple days or weekends, allowing visitors to sample different parts of the programme according to interest, and combine well with the area's wider tourism offer. The event is organised by Local organising committee, Calitzdorp, which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year. The Klein Karoo is a semi-arid inland region known for its fortified wines, with a long-established muscadel and port-style tradition. The Calitzdorp district has been called 'South Africa's port capital', with producers like De Krans and Boplaas making traditional-style fortified wines from Portuguese varieties (Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barocca, Souzão). The region also produces increasingly serious table wines, with Tritsenium, Joubert-Tradauw and TMV (Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards) leading the modern movement. The dramatic Klein Karoo landscape — high plains, ostrich farms, the Cango Caves — makes it one of South Africa's most scenically striking wine areas. The 2026 edition is scheduled for 12-14 June 2026. Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at sa-venues.com. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date. The Klein Karoo is reached most easily via the N12 from Cape Town (5 hours by car) or via George airport (90 minutes by car from George to Oudtshoorn or Calitzdorp). The Cango Caves, the ostrich farms of Oudtshoorn (the world's ostrich capital), and the dramatic mountain passes including the Swartberg Pass make the region one of South Africa's most distinctive driving destinations. Klein Karoo cuisine pairs the wines with ostrich (carpaccio, fillet, biltong), Karoo lamb (grass-fed and famously aromatic), and the area's preserved fruit and rusk traditions.