Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Research has shown that the moderate drinking of wine reduces the likelihood of depression amongst 55 – 80 year olds significantly!
* About 4000 UK pubs are expected to close next year, being old and outdated and serving ‘indifferent’ food, the 2014 Good Pub Guide predicts. However 1000 new pubs are expected to open next year.
* Is there a future for blogging? It appears so, and having a blog may become as commonplace as ‘having a smartphone or an e-mail address‘.
* The 8th annual South African Food & Wine Festival will be held at Grayhaven Winery in Gum Spring, Virginia in the USA, on 14 and 15 September. Tastings of 30 wines from Anwilke, MAN Vintners, Ernie Els, Fairview Estates, AA Badenhorst, Kanonkop, as well as Grayhaven Winery’s wines will be offered. The Festival allows wine and food lovers to learn more about South Africa and its culture, food, wine and music. The Festival is sponsored by SAA, which will be giving away two round trip tickets to South Africa at the event.
* Reyneke has been named as a Wine Enthusiast New World Winery of the Year finalist and Stellenbosch a Wine Region of the Year finalist in their 2013 Wine Star Awards.
* South African wine tasting in Chapel Hill, USA, on Thursday 5 September, including Glenelly, Ken Forrester, Kanonkop, and Buitenverwachting.
* The ABSA Top 10 Pinotage 2013 list has been announced: Anura Reserve 2011, Diemersdal 2012, L’Avenir 2011, Lyngrove Platinum 2012, Manley 2011, The Back Roads 2012 (Black Elephant Vintners), Rijk’s Reserve 2009, Rooiberg Reserve 2012, Springfontein Jonathan’s Ridge 2010, and Wildekrans 2011.
* Africa receives about 1 million tourists from China a year (of its total of 83 million tourists), more of them coming to Mauritius, Kenya, and South Africa than to other African countries.
* Pick ‘n Pay is retrenching 400 staff, after a 30% decline in profit.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage