Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*    The City of Cape Town is calling for more public comments about the draft Liquor By Law: Control of Undertakings that sell Liquor to the Public, 2013, requesting input from 1 October, for a month.  Retail outlets will be able to apply for Sunday trading (again), operating no later than 20h00.

*   The price of petrol is set to drop by 20 cents at midnight on Tuesday, according to Kfm news.

*   Could Slum Tourism be the new trend?  Is it ethical?

*   Michael Fridjhon sings the praises of Hein Koegelenberg of La Motte and Leopard’s Leap, in how he has transformed La Motte, and the success he has achieved in the marketing of his wine brands.

*   The 2013 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc wines were announced at Blaauwklippen on Friday, the competition held under the auspices of the Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group of South Africa, and attracted 207 entries. The competition was started in 2007, promoting innovation and excellence in the production of Sauvignon Blanc.  The 2013 FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc competition winners are:

• Alexanderfontein Chip Off The Old Block 2013
• Boschendal Reserve Collection 2013
• Cape of Good Hope Altima 2013
• Cape Point Vineyards Reserve 2012
• Cape Point Vineyards Woolworths 2012
• Franschoek Cellar Statue de Femme 2013
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2012
• Nederburg Private Bin D234 2012
• Phizante Kraal 2013
• Thelema 2013

(received via media release from Marlene Truter Communications)

*   The tragic drowning of two learners on Camps Bay beach on Wednesday afternoon could have been prevented had the City of Cape Town signed the renewal contract with Lifesaving Western Province  to patrol beaches during school holidays!

*   French authorities are wanting to ban all forms of promotion of alcohol, even via Twitter, and are planning to decree health warnings on wine bottles, appearing to be at a similar stage to South Africa in its proposed banning of all marketing of South African wines!

*   India is the eighth largest source market for South Africa, says SA Tourism Country Manager Hannelie Slabber.

*   White wines from the Swartland are praised in San Francisco.

*   Sam Taylor of Pomegranate Days blog won the Pick ‘n Pay Freshly Blogged competition, with Anel Potgieter (Life is a Zoo Biscuit blog) and Lara Johnson (How to cook an Elephant blog!) as runners-up.  Forty bloggers competed in eleven challenges.  Freshly Blogged is South Africa’s first online cooking competition.  Taylor thanked Pick ‘n Pay for organising the competition which recognised food blogging.

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