Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Franschhoek Wine Valley has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Barossa Valley, having similar wine tourism goals and characteristics. Both wine regions have excellent wines, top restaurants, and good accommodation. Tourism and wine industry expertise will be shared between the regions, and programs planned include exchanges for chefs, winemakers, sommeliers, and cellar assistants. Experience of festivals, customer service benchmarking, sustainable wine-making, and wine tourism practices will be shared. (received via media release from Smart Communications & Events)
* A hard-hitting video from USA asks ‘How much has really changed on South Africa’s wine farms?‘ since the protests in De Doorns two years ago, critical not only of some farm owners but also of the government.
* The FIFA World Cup, which kicks off next week, will generate $4 billion for the soccer federation, 66% up from the revenue it earned from the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
* Noble Hill wine estate on the outskirts of Franschhoek has brought the Japanese Hitachino Nest beer range to our country, made by Kiuchi brewery in Ibaraki. The microbrewery opened 18 years ago and uses indigenous hops and barley, and the beers in its range are called Nipponia, White Ale, Red Rice Ale, and Ginger Ale. The beers are available for sale at the winery, at its Cosecha restaurant, and at select retailers. (received via media release from Noble Hill)
* Great praise for our country’s fine dining comes from Sydney Morning Herald, for Babel at Babylonstoren and Fyndraai at Solms-Delta, for their produce served ‘from the seed to the plate’.
* The South African Ambassador to Italy, Nomatemba Tambo, will host a special celebration dinner for our country’s 20th anniversary of its democracy in Malta next Friday, at which Thandy Ndlazi will perform. A master chef class will also be held on the island, organised by TV host Jeremy Maggs, at which ‘celebrity chef‘ Jade Sullaphen from the InterContinental Johannesburg at OR Thambo and Chef Vusi Ndlovu from Singita will participate, with a braai planned too. At both events South African ‘ingredients, foods, and rubs’ will be used, and South African wines offered. A TV program of the Malta visit by the chefs will be aired on South African TV.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
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