Last Monday I attended The Sommeliers Selection 2018 tasting of the top-scoring wines at Tokara Delicatessen, driving through from Cape Town on a rainy day. My two favorites I tasted were Arra Shiraz 2015, as well as Trizanne Reserve Syrah 2017. The top wines in the tasting were selected by top Sommelier members of the South African SOmmeliers Association, and the Black Cellar Club. (more…)
Entries tagged with “La Motte”.
Mon 13 Aug 2018
The Sommeliers Selection 2018 simplifies wine selection by quality and value for money!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Beer, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Stellenbosch, WhaleTales Blog, Wine news
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Thu 3 Nov 2016
Tokara named 2016 Best Wine Tourism Restaurant in SA, reflects trend to local cuisine!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under accommodation, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, conferences, Food news, Restaurant news, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Sustainability, Tourism news, WhaleTales Blog, Wine news
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At the conclusion of The Business of Wine & Food Tourism Conference held at Spier over the past two days, the seven South African winners of the 2016 Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards were announced. (more…)
Tue 1 Nov 2016
Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2017 awards record number of 5 star wines!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Events, WhaleTales Blog, Wine news
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A number of records were broken last night when 94 wines and one brandy were awarded 5 star status at the launch of the Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide 2017 at the Table Bay Hotel, a new venue, the event having been held at the Mount Nelson for years. The colour of the 2017 Platter’s Guide is Harvest Green. (more…)
Fri 5 Feb 2016
Franschhoek goes white, pink, and bubbly for Franschhoek Summer Wines 2016!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Chris von Ulmenstein, Events, Food news, Franschhoek, Restaurant news, WhaleTales Blog, Wine news
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Franschhoek is celebrating the best of its white wines, Rosés, and MCCs at Franschhoek Summer Wines, to be held at Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards tomorrow (Saturday 6 February) from 12h00 – 17h00. (more…)
Wed 27 Jan 2016
Restaurant Review: Seafood at The Plettenberg not 5-star Relais & Chateux standard!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under accommodation, Cape Town, Food news, Plettenberg Bay, Restaurant news, Tourism news, WhaleTales Blog
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I have been to The Plettenberg hotel a number of times to eat at its former Sand and now renamed Seafood restaurant. Given that the hotel is five-star graded, a Relais & Chateux property, and under the supervision (long distance) of Eat Out Top 10 Chef Peter Tempelhoff, my expectations are high of the restaurant in being the best in Plett, yet sadly are (more…)
Wed 18 Nov 2015
Conflict of interest: La Motte Culinary Director reviews Franschhoek restaurants for Eat Out
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Food news, Franschhoek, Restaurant news, Stellenbosch, WhaleTales Blog, Winelands
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Earlier this year I was shocked to see that the La Motte Culinary Director (and wife of its red wine maker Edmund Terblanche) as well as Kokkedoor judge Hetta van Deventer had reviewed De Warenmarkt for Eat Out. Now it appears from the new Eat Out 2016 magazine that she reviewed a number of Franschhoek and other Boland restaurants (many on wine farms too) that are in direct competition with Pierneef à la Motte restaurant!
At the time that I saw the De Warenmarkt review by Van Deventer I (more…)
Mon 16 Nov 2015
Eat Out Restaurant Awards 2015: Restaurant Oscars, luckiest Friday 13th ‘disaster’!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Beer, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, Events, Food news, Johannesburg, Restaurant news, Service news, Stellenbosch, WhaleTales Blog, Wine news
[2] Comments
It could have been a disaster, changing the venue from the Mistico Equestrian Centre outside Paarl to the SunEvents Centre at GrandWest two days prior to the 17th Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards 2015 today. It turned out to be the best Friday the 13th disaster for New Media Publishing, organizers of the Eat Out Awards, described by many as the best Eat Out Awards ever! (more…)
Fri 13 Nov 2015
Delaire Graff Restaurant Best Winelands Restaurant!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under accommodation, Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, design, Food news, Restaurant news, South Africa, Tourism news, WhaleTales Blog, Wine news, Winelands
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Chef Michael Deg of Delaire Graff Restaurant must be a happy man, with the news that the restaurant has been named the Best Winelands Restaurant in our country, in the 2016 Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards!
The news must be even more joyous for Chef Michael, given that he was excluded from the Eat Out Top 20 Restaurant (more…)
Fri 14 Aug 2015
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 14 August
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Cape Town, Chris von Ulmenstein, design, Food news, Tourism news, Transport, Whale Cottage Portfolio, Winelands
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Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* DA Leader Mmusi Maimane has challenged President Jacob Zuma to ‘show leadership’ by repealing the visa regulations, which are costing the country in Tourism arrival declines. Maimane said that an inter-Ministerial committee meeting will take too long to show results.
* The City of Cape Town has been accused of waiting more than three years before it brought a review application about the proposed (more…)
Wed 12 Aug 2015
Restaurant Review: Vicky Cristina’s adds passion to Camps Bay!
Posted by Chris von Ulmenstein under Camps Bay, Cape Town, Food news, Restaurant news, Tourism news, Whale Cottage Portfolio
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Vicky Cristina’s is the name of a movie made by Woody Allen. Now a Spanish style restaurant with the name of the movie has opened in Camps Bay. Vicky Cristina’s tapas bar y restaurante españo is inexpensive, has an upmarket interior, and good service.
Vicky Cristina’s took over the space from Sofia’s on the upper level of the Camps Bay Promenade, above Pick ‘n Pay, a few months ago. It has sister restaurants in Johannesburg and Durban. The owner of the (more…)