Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* MailOnline has written a flattering article about Franschhoek in the main, entitled ‘Touring South Africa… one sip at a time. Discover a wine taster’s paradise on a trip to Cape Town and Franschhoek‘. The writer shares her experience on the hop-on hop-off Franschhoek Wine Tram, sampling the wines of Mont Rochelle, La Couronne, and Môreson, eating at The Tasting Room, lunching at La Petite Ferme, and visiting Delaire Graff with its diamond boutique and Tretchikoff’s ‘Chinese Girl‘ (which she defines as being in Franschhoek too!). In Cape Town she stayed at both the Cape Grace and Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, went up Table Mountain and to Robben Island, lunched at Baia in the V&A Waterfront, had afternoon tea at the Mount Nelson, bought art at Ebony, and dined at The Pot Luck Club.
* The Top 12 Shiraz wines have been announced in the 2014 Shiraz Challenge, organised by Shiraz SA, an association which promotes the image of our local Shiraz, and its blending potential. A total of 191 Shiraz wines was evaluated, and the process audited. The Top 12 Shiraz list is Black Elephant Vintners Amistad Syrah 2012, Boschkloof Louis 57 Syrah 2012 and its Syrah 2012, Cederberg Shiraz 2011, Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2011, Hartenberg Shiraz 2010, Jordan The Prospector Syrah 2012, KWV Abraham Perold Insignis 2012 and The Mentors Shiraz 2012, Oldenburg Shiraz 2011, Rickety Bridge Shiraz 2011, and Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2012. The Top 4 Shiraz blends are Boschendal 1685 S&M 2012, Eikendal Charisma 2012, Guardian Peak Summit 2012, and Rickety Bridge The Foundation Stone 2012. The Shiraz Showcase will be held on 1 August at the Vineyard Hotel. Entrance costs R120.
* The Tourism Business Council of South Africa has welcomed President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address, and has requested that his government pays attention to inter-government/business relationships, referring to the recent Immigration Regulation changes and the damage they have already caused, and that it creates ‘an enabling environment for the travel and tourism trade’. It expressed thanks for the President’s ‘consistent profiling of travel and tourism in his speeches’.
* Peter-Allan Finlayson has been appointed as the winemaker of Gabrielskloof, and will use their cellars to make his own wines under the Crystallum label.
* The Cellars-Hohenhort’s The Greenhouse Chef Gerald van der Walt is joining Le Quartier Français’ The Tasting Room as Head Chef. Executive Chef Margot Janse insists that she is not leaving the Top 10 restaurant.
* Premier Helen Zille threatened to take the Department of Home Affairs to court for the damage its new Immigration Regulations is doing to the Western Cape tourism and film industries in her State of the Province Address last week, reports the Cape Times. Business investments by foreigners are also under threat, she said, saying that a high-level delegation has requested a meeting with the Department.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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