Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The South African 2013 grape wine harvest is the largest ever, reports Cape Business News, and excellent quality wines are expected to result from this harvest. 

*   The Test Kitchen has introduced a new Gourmand menu inspired by Africa, and has promoted Ivor Jones to Head Chef. (via media release from Manley Communications)

*   French wines dominated the USA Global Traveler Wines on the Wing Airline Wine Competition.

*   SA Tourism is presenting our country at the Singapore tourism fair this month, for the first time in that country.

*   South Africa and Argentina held a bilateral Commission meeting on Thursday and declared the relationship between the two countries, including Tourism, to be sound: ‘The two delegations expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral relations and agreed that the relationship between the two countries could be described as one based on strategic co-operation through higher diplomatic convergence’.

*   The Kovensky Group is opening a 13 bedroom boutique hotel in Camps Bay, in The Promenade, above Paranga.

*   Almost two-thirds of Capetonians support some type of commercial activity at the Cape Town Stadium, as long as it does not affect the Green Point Urban Park. A small number would like to see the facility demolished.

*   Americans are drinking more wine and less soda (carbonated soft drinks).

*   MyCiTi Bus introduces discounts from tomorrow, basing its charges on distance traveled, and not on the number of stops as in the past, as well as offering discounts in off-peak times in the morning and afternoon.

*   President Zuma’s favourite dish is top secret, while that of former President Nelson Mandela is not!

*   South Africa’s bulk wine exports are expected to grow by 25 % relative to last year, due to the exchange rate, and the drought experienced in France, Italy, and Spain, which reduced these countries’ wine production.  While it has income benefits, it may be bad for the image of our wine industry!

*   The Shiraz Showcase 2013 will be held at The Vineyard Hotel on 22 August.

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