Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The fourth largest game reserve, the 120000 ha Central Escarpment Reserve in Mpumalanga is to be developed, and stocked with the Big 5.

*   Steenberg has launched its first Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, which its winemaker JD Pretorius describes as follows: ‘This is made to be fun, fruity & fresh. The nose bursts with aromas of passion fruit, litchi, guava, pineapple, mango & green apples. The palate is fresh & fizzy with a fruit explosion. Sweet fruits linger on the aftertaste with a refreshing finish, perfect for a hot summer’s day’.   (Received via e-mail from Steenberg) 

*   Airlines will soon be able to obtain immediate on-board feedback from their passengers about their level of satisfaction, perhaps helping to prevent unhappy passengers from complaining via Social Media.

*   ‘The Sound of Music‘, a childhood memory for many, is coming to Artscape from 19 February. (received via e-mail from The Theatre on the Bay)

*   Sounding like an article that may be relevant to South Africa too, James Conaway has written an article entitled ‘The War over Wine’, and praises the role of wine bloggers in selling wine and informing its buyers, in a way that is more relevant than Parker scores.

*   Delheim is offering daily Green Picnics, to tie in with its environmentally sustainable wine production, until the end of April, under the oaks at the Klip River on the wine estate. Eco-friendly bamboo packaging is used for picnic items such as pickled pumpkin, cream cheese salmon rolls, ostrich steak salad, pork rillettes, and farm bread.  Delheim was one of the first wine farms to become a Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) member, and has since achieved BWI Championship status.  The picnic cost is R149 per person, and includes a bottle of Delheim Heerenwijn or Delheim Pinotage Rosé per couple.  (received via media release from Random Hat Communications)

*   Holden Manz is hosting a Winemaker Dinner on 26 October, in conjunction with La Bri and Glenwood wines, at R350 per head. (received via e-mail from Holden Manz)

*   Three Ships is running a unique auction on Facebook, in which one must comment on the auction post, and pledge the number of days one is prepared to keep the Three Ships image on one’s profile page.  A bottle of limited-edition Three Ships 10 year old single malt whisky will go the winner having the image on the Facebook page for longest.  The promotion is hosted on Tuesday and Thursdays until 7 November.   Additional prizes will be awarded too.  (received via media release from De Kock Communications)

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Twitter: @WhaleCottage