Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The number of Indian tourists is likely to grow further, as the Rand weakens further, says Hanneli Slabber, the SA Tourism Country Manager in India, reports the Southern African Tourism Update.
* South Africa is advanced in embracing online tourism sales and marketing, says an international online consultant.
* Simonsig is hosting a Vintage Wine Day on 24 August, showcasing a selection of older signature wines which were held back for release at optimal maturity, some vintages dating back to the early 1990’s. Cellarmaster Johan Malan will offer Simonsig flagships such as the Bordeaux style Tiara, the Cape blend, Frans Malan Reserve, the award winning Redhill Pinotage and Merindol Syrah. Rare vintages of Simonsig Pinotage, Simonsig Cabernet Sauvignon and Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Méthode Cap Classiques will also be available to taste, and will be available at special prices for the day only. Johan will offer master classes free of charge, being interactive vertical wine tastings. Tickets cost R150 (information received from GC Communications).
* Bad news for tourism to Cape Town is the report by Travel Mole that bookings with online travel agencies have dropped by 20% due to the heatwave in the UK.
* SAA has been internationally rated as one of the most on-time airlines, with a 90% punctuality rate.
* Caroline’s Red Wine Review is showcasing 60 wineries that have consistently achieved the highest accolades in top competitive platforms. Each selected winery is invited to show just one red wine for tasting, being their flagship wine, and is shown by the winemaker personally. Vilafonte, Mullineux, Raats, Stark-Conde, Kanonkop, De Toren, and Chamonix are some of the wine estates that will be present. 31 July at The Table Bay Hotel, 17h00 until 21h00, R150 entrance fee (received via Caroline’s own media release).
* Four finalist teams have been selected after a marathon tasting of 101 blends, for the 30th Annual Blaauwklippen Blending Competition, being the Natalia Wine Society from Durban, the Oude Molen Wynkring from Potchefstroom, the Web Wine Society from Port Elizabeth, and the Winemag.co.za wine club from the Western Cape. The winning blending team will be announced on 13 September. The winning blend will be bottled under the Blaauwklippen Barouche label and recognition will be given to the successful wine club on the back label. The wine is sold in Magnum bottles from selected retail outlets, and from the tasting centre on the farm. ‘The entrants received a selection of four barrel matured wines: Merlot 2012, Malbec 2011, Cabernet Franc 2011 and Shiraz 2010. All four these wines had to be used in creating the submitted blend and the Shiraz component had to be limited to a maximum of 20% of the total blend. The challenge to the clubs was to produce a complex, serious dry red blend with subtle tannin structure and good balance – a wine with finesse and freshness which can be enjoyed soon, but also allows potential for cellaring‘, according to the media release received from Waterford Communications. The judging panel consisted of Albert Basson (Blaauwklippen assistant winemaker), Clive Torr (Cape Wine Master and winemaker), Samarie Smith (wine judge and journalist), Jonathan Snashall (journalist), and Elona Hesseling (wine judge and journalist).
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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