Blusher, porcini, boletus, pine rings… Mother Nature’s elusive delicacies are waiting to be unearthed at the legendary Delheim Wine Estate, when it opens its private forest to avid fungi foragers during its annual Wild Mushroom Hunts on 16 & 17 June and 1 & 2 July. These ex-cep-tional excursions are led by Delheim’s Nora Sperling-Thiel and seasoned field expert Gary Goldman, aka the Mushroom Fundi, and will see intimate groups honing their foraging feelers in search of these ‘wild wonders’.

With mushrooms able to deliver both death and delirium, Gary will give the group some important guidelines and pointers to follow before they trot off into the woods for the ‘silent hunt’.

After an invigorating morning in the forest, a content group will head for the estate’s Garden Restaurant where the chopping boards will come out for a 3-course feast by Chef Bruce Von Pressentin, featuring mushrooms in all their finery.

There are only 40 spots available per day as Delheim treasures a delicate balance between sharing their ‘family passion’ and protecting their natural habitat.

The Delheim Wild Mushroom Hunts start at 10h00 in the Vat Cellar and tickets cost R650 per person. A ticket includes a Delheim bottle of wine and two glasses to take home; the insightful lecture on mushroom identification over a cup of coffee and rusks; the forest forage, as well as the mushroom-inspired lunch and a glass of Delheim wine. All you need to bring is a sharp pair of eyes, comfortable walking shoes and a warm jacket!

Advance bookings are essential and given the intimate nature of these hunts, no group bookings are allowed. Book your tickets on Computicket. For more information contact the restaurant via email.

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