Category Archives: Winelands

Cape Town voted 2023 ‘The Greatest City on Earth’ by The Telegraph Readers

Yesterday we reported that South Africa was named by The Telegraph as the 2023 World’s Best Holiday Destination. Now it has been revealed that the UK publication has named Cape Town as The Greatest City on Earth’.

A total of about 27000 The Telegraph readers participated in the survey. The 2023 Top 10 Cities in the World are the following:

1. Cape Town

2. Venice

3. Seville

4. Vancouver

5. Rome

6. Florence

7. Rio de Janeiro

8. Sydney

9. Kyoto

10. Dubrovnik

Cape Town is described as ‘a remarkable city gleaming at the continent’s edge’. It is praised for its location at the foot of Table Mountain, its beaches, the scenery of the Cape Peninsula, and the nearby Winelands and wine regions. The favourable exchange rate, the quality restaurants and hotels, and its long summer days are further Cape Town assets.

Cape Town has topped the Greatest City in the World list in the past ten years, excluding 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323

Twitter:@Ulmenstein

Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide

Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide @campsbayclean

South Africa voted Best Holiday Destination in the World by The Telegraph Readers 2023

South Africa has been voted as the Best Holiday Destination in the world in 2023 by The Telegraph readers. Our country has moved up the ladder gradually, having made third rank in 2017, second place in 2018, and now top of the pops in 2023.

The Top 5 ranked Holiday Destinations in 2023 are the following:

1. South Africa

2. New Zealand

3. Maldives

4. Japan

5. Australia.

Italy, Kenya, India, and Costa Rica follow in the footsteps of the Top 5.

It is evident from the motivation for South Africa’s number one ranking that it is Cape Town and the Cape which largely contributes to our country’s holiday destination attractiveness, with the mention of Cape Town, Table Mountain, the Garden Route, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

‘Your reward for 12 hours in the air is a place of true beauty – Cape Town is the super model at the foot of Table Mountain, the Garden Route a ribbon of road-trip nirvana, the wineries of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch crafting fine vintages ….’

Johannesburg, the Drakensberg range, Motlatse Canyon, and Kruger National Park, all located in other parts of our country, are also mentioned in the motivation.

Overall the availability of direct flights between the UK and Cape Town and Johannesburg in almost identical time zones means that visitors do not experience jet lag when travelling to our country. Whilst not mentioned, the favourable exchange rate of the Rand to the Pound must be an added incentive for UK holiday makers.

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog

Tel +27 082 55 11 323

Twitter:@Ulmenstein

Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Camps Bay Clean

Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide @campsbayclean

New Restaurants open in Cape Town and the Winelands: January 2023 update!

 

The Cape Town and the Winelands restaurant opening boom continues, with new openings late last year and new restaurants announced for 2023.

The biggest restaurant opening extravaganza is that of JAN Franschhoek, the third restaurant in the JAN Restaurant Collection, which opened n December at La Motte in Franschhoek. La Motte is undergoing a major renovation and changes at its wine estate, with a Bread-related Café & Deli opening  in the La Motte Manor House in February 2023. Chef Chris Erasmus is working with La Continue reading →

Gratitude for a fabulous 2022 !

 

Grateful for a fabulous year 2022 ❤️:

*. Getting my cataracts removed and hence able to pass my driver’s license renewal

*. Getting my passport renewed, after a very long wait, having the freedom to travel this year

*. For buying a house, my passport to freedom from sharing a property with AirBnB renters, despite the noise disturbances having reduced vastly in the past few months and the first Trustee having sold her apartment…. two more to go… And for asserting Continue reading →

Cape Town and Winelands see host of new restaurant openings: December 2020 update!

 

Cape Town and the Winelands is experiencing a restaurant boom, with new openings currently as well as openings announced for 2023.

The biggest restaurant opening extravaganza is that of JAN Franschhoek, the third restaurant in the JAN Restaurant Collection, opening at La Motte in Franschhoek. La Motte is undergoing a major renovation and changes at its wine estate, with a Bread-related Café & Deli opening  in the La Motte Manor House in February 2023. Chef Chris Erasmus is working with La Motte as a consultant, until February. He is going overseas thereafter. Chef Peter Tempelhoff opens his third restaurant next week, a Japanese Street Food restaurant Ramenhead. Chef David Higgs has announced opening Continue reading →

Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide 2023 Awards 5 stars to 196 wines!

 

The 43rd edition of Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has announced its 2023 list of 196 wines in 28 categories that were awarded 5 stars this year. A total of 8000 wines by 900 producers was evaluated this year.

Red and White Blends as well as Chenin Blanc are the biggest 5 star classes, with 28, 27 and 28 individual labels, respectively. The Chardonnay, Shiraz/Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon wine categories also performed well, with 22, 16, and 12 brands, respectively.

The Top Performing Winery of the Year goes to the winery that achieves the most five-star ratings after the annual final tasting round, it being Mullineux this year, with 8 five-star wines. It is the Swartland- Continue reading →