Category Archives: Brandy

Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide 2023 Awards 5 stars to 196 wines!

 

The 43rd edition of Platter’s by Diners Club Wine Guide has announced its 2023 list of 196 wines in 28 categories that were awarded 5 stars this year. A total of 8000 wines by 900 producers was evaluated this year.

Red and White Blends as well as Chenin Blanc are the biggest 5 star classes, with 28, 27 and 28 individual labels, respectively. The Chardonnay, Shiraz/Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon wine categories also performed well, with 22, 16, and 12 brands, respectively.

The Top Performing Winery of the Year goes to the winery that achieves the most five-star ratings after the annual final tasting round, it being Mullineux this year, with 8 five-star wines. It is the Swartland- Continue reading →

Platter’s announces 2022 award-winning wineries, and cultivar winners!

 

At an event in Stellenbosch on Friday, the new 2022 black-and-gold cover design and a refreshed corporate logo for the Platter’s by Diner’s Club 2022 South African Wine Guide  was presented, the three Award-winning wineries announced, and the Wines of the Year Awards in 28 categories were presented.

This 42nd edition of  the Wine Guide features more than 900 wine producers, merchants, and brands, including 36 new ones, more than 8000 locally produced wines, as well as brandies, husk spirits, and sherry-style wines.

For the first time in eight years the Platter’s Awards were not presented by its Publisher JP Rossouw, who left the publication earlier this year.

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Mynhardt’s Restaurant brings Charity Christmas cheer with Festive Fruitcakes!

 

For the second year running I have been lucky to have received a delivery of a Festive Parcel from Chef Mynhardt Joubert’s Mynhardt Restaurant in Paarl. The aim of the delivery is to help publicise the good work Chef Mynhardt is doing in baking and selling the Christmas Fruitcakes, proceeds of which will go to support two charities: Butterfly House and Helpende Handjies.

In addition to sending a fully baked Christmas fruit cake, the festive parcel contained a host of ingredients as well as a recipe, so that recipients can bake one too. In addition, a Christmas wreath decorated the parcel delivered to my home, serving me well as an Advent wreath. A warm message from Chef Mynhardt accompanied the gift box. Continue reading →

Corona Virus: Lockdown Journey Journal, Day 18 of Level1, 18 October 2021

 

Monday 18 October 2021, Day 18 of Level 1 😷

Corona Gratitude 🙏

#grateful for a lovely 18C sunny day, despite it being a windy evening; for an amazing close to 9 hour sleep last night, with no interruption; for having Henry back at work again, after he took last week off for exam and study leave, the cats being happy to see him too; for a day of EbbTide victory, getting approval for a balustrade extension on my side of the building after a 2 year battle, getting three Yes votes 🙏; for a midday walk to Bakoven and a late afternoon one to the Tidal Pool; for a Camps Bay Continue reading →