Simonsberg shines as wine festival returns bigger and better

The RMB Simonsberg Wine Festival returned this past weekend for its second edition, firmly establishing its place as one of the Cape Winelands’ most exciting collaborative wine experiences.

Hosted at the iconic Plaisir Wine Estate, the festival brought together producers from across the Simonsberg region, showcasing the diversity, character and quality that define this celebrated stretch of vineyards between Stellenbosch and Paarl. Compared to its inaugural year, the 2026 edition was noticeably bigger, with increased attendance, more participating farms and a broader range of wines on offer.

“Importantly, the growth translated into meaningful results for producers,” says CN&CO founder Carel Nolte, who partners in the venture with Plaisir owner and festival founder Rose Jordaan. “Farms reported strong wine sales across the weekend, while visitors embraced the opportunity to explore multiple estates in one setting, discovering new favourites and gaining a deeper appreciation for the region as a whole. In starting this festival, Rose was clear – we want the whole region and all our visitors to have a superb experience. Quality and generosity of spirit must be tangible.””

The RMB Plaisir Run4Rivers trail run formed part of the broader weekend programme, adding an active outdoor element raising money for the Bankhoek conservancy, with the focus remaining hospitality and regional collaboration.

Llewellyn du Plessis, head of CN&CO Events and organiser of the festival, said the success of the weekend reflected both teamwork and a shared vision for what regional events can achieve.

“The Simonsberg Wine Festival shows what happens when passionate producers, a committed venue team and experienced event organisers work together,” he said. “The team at Plaisir is exceptional, and the region itself provides an incredible canvas. At CN&CO Events we pride ourselves on delivering a wide range of experiences, from corporate gatherings to large public festivals like this one. This weekend demonstrated how powerful well-curated events can be in bringing people and brands together.”

While Plaisir provides a striking home for the festival, the broader ambition has always been to showcase the Simonsberg region rather than a single estate.

Carel emphasised the importance of collective storytelling.

“Plaisir is an iconic venue, but the real magic lies in the Simonsberg itself,” he said. “This festival exists to give every producer around the mountain an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder and tell their story. The soils, slopes and microclimates here create remarkable diversity in wine styles, and visitors experienced that variety in one place. Our goal is to continue growing awareness of the region as a destination in its own right.”

Title sponsor RMB once again played a central role in the festival’s success. The partnership reflects a shared belief in supporting local industry, meaningful experiences and long-term regional growth. Festivalgoers can expect to see RMB again later this month at Starlight Classics in Cape Town, another example of the bank’s ongoing investment in premium lifestyle and business platforms. As we know at CN&CO, an exceptional brand doing the business of good, extremely well.

With two successful editions now complete, attention already turns to the future. Plans are under way for the 2027 Simonsberg Wine Festival, which organisers expect will be even larger, bringing more producers, more experiences and an expanded celebration of everything the region has to offer.

For information about the 2027 festival or partnership opportunities, interested parties are invited to get in touch with carel@cnandco.com.

What they said

“Seeing the region come together to promote its wines was heartening. The Simonsberg is a majestic and viticulturally important mountain: its granite slopes give our wines their distinctive focused, mineral flavour. I’m delighted that the visitors were able to experience and better understand where our wines are grown and made.” – Kristopher Tillery, Noble Hill wine estate (participating estate)

“Great wine options, stunning live music and the beautiful Cape sunshine made networking easy and fun. Conversation flowed with ease and we were able to connect with each other on a human level, regardless of our industries or seniority. The team left feeling rejuvenated and inspired. Massive shout out to all those who worked behind the scenes in bringing this event to life.” – Cara-Jean Petersen, Feenix (attendee)

“We had a great time at the festival. The Simonsberg is our new home for our brand so it was really lovely to be there to show our wines and stories and all in just a beautiful venue at Plaisir!” – Alexandra McFarlane, McFarlane Wines (participating estate)

“I loved all the new wines I got to experience at the RMB Simonsberg Wine Festival and will be putting some of them on my list of wine farms to visit this winter. Overall the Festival was amazing! I met so many people and loved all the dancing and music.” – Blake Dyason, CN&CO (attendee)

“The event was well organised and well attended with a good mix of winos from all parts of the world, as well as locals of course. People were engaging and a lot of wine stories and memories were shared. Thank you to RMB and the organisers.” – Pieter Swanepoel, Glen Carlou Vineyards (participating estate)

“What a brilliant afternoon at the RMB Simonsberg wine event hosted at Plaisir,  exceptional wines, meaningful networking, and a great atmosphere all around. It was also encouraging to meet international investors who have backed South Africa and continue to show confidence in our market. See you next year!” – Kurt Solomon, Gage Car Hire (guest)