This past weekend the Highcliffe Food and Arts Festival was held, the emphasis being on the Food, with Beverages, and gins in particular, of the New Forest area. Highcliffe is a small town down the road from Chewton Glen, the hotel at which my son works in the New Forest in southern England, an area well-known for its heathland, forest trails, and native ponies. And it surprised me at the variety of craft beverages and craft foods that were on offer to buy, in full size or as a tasting portion. Continue reading →
Tag Archives: Champagne
Carrol Boyes adds fine Chocolate Collection, ‘inspired by her art’, to its vast range of ‘embracing conversation’ artisanal products!
Yesterday I visited the Carrol Boyes head office in Paarden Eiland, and was shown around its extensive and impressive Showroom, and Chocolate and Sugar Confectionery production facility by its CEO Craig Ludwig. Continue reading →
Le Lude sparkles with its MCC, focused Cap Classique Cellar!
Last week a special friend and I visited the Cap Classique Cellar Le Lude in Franschhoek, having become dedicated drinkers of this sparkling wine. Continue reading →
Grande Provence Champagne Dinner introduces Franschhoek Champagne Festival, disappoints!
Champagne is a noble drink, and when one is able to experience a dinner paired with a Grande Provence sparkling wine, as well as four champagnes, expectations are high. Sadly these were not met last night. It is the second year that the Champagne pairing dinner has been held on the eve of the Franschhoek Champagne Festival, which takes place at the Huguenot Monument today and tomorrow from 12h00 – 17h00.
Graham Beck uses stemware in its goal to be best sparkling wine brand in the world!
Yesterday I attended a presentation by Graham Beck winemaker of 27 years, Pieter ‘Bubbles’ Ferreira, at the colourful The Stack, sharing with us what a difference stemware makes in the tasting experience and enjoyment of Graham Beck sparkling wines. Continue reading →
Chefs who Share Young Chef Award 2016 Finalists announced!
The seven talented Young Chef Award 2016 Finalists have been announced for Chefs who Share – the ART of Giving, the winner being announced at the Chefs who Share Gala Dinner in Johannesburg on 24 September. Continue reading →
Graham Beck Wines consolidates its brand portfolio to focus on MCC only!
A surprise announcement yesterday was that Graham Beck Wines will consolidate all the wine interests in its Graham Beck brand portfolio in its Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) range. The Graham Beck MCC focus will be supported by a ‘substantial financial investment‘, its CEO Chris du Toit has announced. Continue reading →
Orangerie Restaurant at Le Lude Cap Classique Cellar sparkling addition to Franschhoek!
I was recently invited by Le Lude PR consultant Ann Ferreira to visit the Le Lude Cap Classique Cellar, and to enjoy lunch with her and cellarmaster Paul Gerber at the Orangerie Restaurant. Le Lude 
is the first cellar in our country to produce Agrafe Cap Classique, fermenting its wine under cork instead of crown cap. Continue reading →
Food and Wine Tourism new tourism marketing focus for Western Cape!
Wesgro has announced that it is focusing on Wine and Food Tourism as ‘strategic priority’ in its 2015 – 2019 implementation plan Judy Lain, Wesgro Chief Marketing Officer, has announced. Globally Food Tourism generates $150 billion estimates the World Food Travel Association. As many as 88% of destinations in the world see Food Tourism as an important differentiating factor in defining the image of brands and destinations, and assists in fighting Seasonality and in creating jobs.
At the recent General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation it was Continue reading →
Graham Beck Wines celebrates 25 year Silver Jubilee with ‘Bubbles’!
Yesterday 30 or so writers, mostly from Cape Town, dedicated a full 10 hour day to travel to Graham Beck Wines in Robertson, to celebrate its 25 year Silver Jubilee with a vertical tasting of more than 25 Cap Classiques and base wines which go into the making of the Graham Beck range of MCCs. The event was also a salute to Pieter
‘Bubbles’ Ferreira, in having worked at Graham Beck for 25 years already.
Always organised, PR consultant Nicolette Waterford had organised a Le Quartier Français snack pack with water and juice for us for the two-hour bus trip. We arrived to a misty day in Robertson, but the day became sunny and warm. We were welcomed by the Graham Beck staff, and by Pieter with his trademark bubbly shirt in particular, and it felt a lot like Pieter’s ‘birthday’ party (he did recently celebrate a special milestone birthday). Continue reading →