New venue, bigger wine and food line-up at Sugar Rush Park on 3 October
 The Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival has a new home this spring. On Saturday, 3 October, its celebration of wine, food and music moves to Sugar Rush Park in Ballito, with a fresh line-up, new interactive experiences and a clear aim: to show that wine is for everyone, not just the experts.
Running from 12h00 to 18h00, the festival features nearly 50 tasting stands pouring a variety of South African wines, wine- based cocktails and craft beer, alongside live entertainment and gourmet food.
Wine has long carried a reputation for specialist jargon and formal tasting rituals, which can leave newcomers feeling they need to be experts before they can join in. The festival is designed to change that. Guests can taste small samples, compare styles and speak directly to winemakers in a relaxed setting, with no pressure to know the “right” terminology. Trial and curiosity matter more than wine knowledge.
The approach reflects a shift in South African wine culture. Younger and more diverse consumers are discovering wine through friends, social media, festivals and food experiences rather than formal wine education, and they are looking for authenticity, connection and experiences over tradition.
“Wine is at its most approachable when it is part of a shared experience,” says Gavin Ievers from Pick n Pay. “As a food retailer, we see wine as one element of a much bigger occasion that brings people together around food, conversation and celebration. Through initiatives such as the Pick n Pay Tasting Room, we’re helping consumers discover wines they love, learn simple food-pairing ideas and gain the confidence to recreate those experiences at home using products that are all available from Pick n Pay, whether in-store or through Pick n Pay asap! delivery.”
The Pick n Pay Tasting Room, flavoured by Robertsons, is a signature experience of the day. Guests can book tutored tasting sessions hosted by a winemaker and a chef, where guest-favourite wines are matched with carefully chosen dishes made from ingredients available at Pick n Pay. The sessions are interactive and practical, showing how food and wine work together and giving guests ideas to recreate at home.
At the Gourmet Deli Experience, cheese and charcuterie take centre stage. Guests can taste, learn and build their own gourmet boards from a curated selection of Pick n Pay products. The Pick n Pay Mixology Theatre presented by Diageo adds cocktail creativity with live demonstrations and tastings throughout the day, and the Pick n Pay Wine Shop lets guests buy any new favourites they discover.
The Food Lane serves grilled lamb souvlaki flatbreads, crispy chicken tacos, loaded truffle-mayo fries, fire-grilled chicken bowls and a cheese-and-charcuterie box. The Burger Truck brings the Pick n Pay Cheeseburger, the Livewell Corn & Chickpea Burger and a Peri-Peri Chicken Prego Roll, while the Pizza Trailer offers Bacon & Feta, Club, Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken and Margherita pizzas. Sushi and West Coast oysters add a fresh seafood option, and Bomb Squad and Lamb Champs bring South African tradition with boerewors rolls and spit-roasted lamb rolls served with tomato salsa, chilli oil and minted yoghurt.
New event MC, Dave Guselli will host the entertainment line-up, with music throughout the afternoon and Stones & Bones the headline act taking the stage once tastings close at 16h30. Sugar Rush Park’s setting offers play areas, walking trails and public seating for guests who want to enjoy the day at their own pace, and pre-sold picnic bags for two, packed with Pick n Pay cheese, charcuterie and snacks, are ready to enjoy on the lawns.
“Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival is all about bringing people together over the things that make a great day memorable: delicious food, good wine, music and shared experiences. Our move to Sugar Rush Park in Ballito gives us an exciting new setting in which to welcome festival-goers, while our expanded wine and food offering and interactive experiences give guests even more to discover. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast, a foodie or simply looking for a wonderful afternoon with friends and family, we look forward to sharing the festival with KwaZulu-Natal this spring,” says Ievers.
Pick n Pay Wine & Food Festival details
- Venue: Sugar Rush Park, Ballito
- Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
- Early access: 12h00 for Pick n Pay Wine Club members
- General access: 13h00
- Tastings: Until 16h30
- Wine and food sales: Until 17h30
- Event closes: 18h00
Every ticket includes a branded festival glass and 20 tasting tokens.
Tickets
- General Access and Pick n Pay Wine Club Early Access: R350
- Tasting Room add-on: R150
- Mixology Theatre add-on: R150
- Picnic Bag add-on: R350 (serves two; pre-sold and ready to enjoy on the lawns)
- Designated Driver ticket: R200, including a voucher redeemable for cooldrinks
