The Sandbar Brunch

A morning by the water, a harvest table brunch, and time with tour winemaker at the boathouse.Once a year we open a morning on the estate that we think of as a privilege rather than an event. Sunday, 11 October 2026, 09:00 - 13:00Our lagoon has been cut open to the sea, as it has to be every few years for the estuary to survive. One of our winemakers will walk it with you and show you what that means: the salt returning, the flats that were open water a month ago, the waders and terns that have arrived to work them, and what all of it does to vines farmed on the edge of a Ramsar-listed wetland in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Then a harvest table brunch and a private wine tasting with the winemaker at the boathouse, working through the vintages.Numbers are deliberately small. Wine club members book first. What's included in the Sandbar Brunch Event? A winemaker-led walk of the lagoon Decadent harvest table brunch Wine tasting and vintage discussion Duration: four hours, 09:00 - 13:00 Not guaranteed Pontoon crossing on Lady Bonnie. Subject to lagoon water levels and sea conditions following the opening of the estuary mouth. Not part of the ticket price. If conditions allow, we will run crossings at no additional charge and will confirm with all guests in the week before the event. FAQ Why has the lagoon been opened to the sea? Because it has to be. Our estuary mouth is managed under a formal maintenance plan, with CapeNature as the responsible authority and Overstrand Municipality handling operations. The mouth rarely opens on its own any more, and if it stayed shut the estuary would gradually turn fresh, which would be the end of most of the fish that depend on it. When the water behind the bar rises high enough, it is deliberately cut open. Our winemaker will take you through exactly what that means on the day. Will the Lady Bonnie crossing run? We do not know yet, and we would rather tell you that. Opening the mouth drops the lagoon level by around three metres, so the water is outside our control. The crossing is not included in your ticket and is not reflected in the price. If levels and sea conditions allow on the day, we will run crossings at no extra charge and confirm with every guest in the week before. So, what am I paying for? The winemaker-led walk, the harvest table brunch, and the private wine tasting. All of it goes ahead regardless of the water levels. What if Benguela Cove cancels the event? You will be offered a transfer or a full refund. Our cancellation and refund policy sets out the terms, including cancellations by guests. What should I wear? Flat, comfortable shoes and a layer for the wind. We are walking an estuary in October.