Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
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* The on-going visa regulation drama can have a further dire consequence, Continue reading →
Last night I went to see ‘Semi-Soet‘, a locally produced romantic comedy which opened at 70 cinemas country-wide on Friday. It was predominantly shot on Vrede en Lust wine estate at the entrance to Franschhoek, and I did not expect to enjoy the movie and laugh so much. The movie can be expected to see hordes of locals descending on Franschhoek generally, and to Vrede en Lust specifically.
‘Semi-Soet’ was produced by James and Anel (who doubles up as the lead actress) Alexander’s Scramble Productions, using a cast of well-known television actors, Nico Panagio being one of the best known actors in the cast, being a Top Billing presenter, but the other actors are known from series such as 7de Laan, Binnelanders, and the movie Liefling, also produced by the Alexanders. The story line takes two advertising agency teams from Johannesburg to the Franschhoek wine estate, to be evaluated by Vrede en Lust owner ‘Andries Buys’ for the advertising account. The teams are tested on the farm, in having to walk the ‘Vryersvoetpad’, a lover’s lane with challenges, not least of all being a pig! They also have to pick grapes and stomp them in barrels, before doing a presentation to win the account.
How Vrede en Lust got to be involved in the movie is not known, with a choice of hundreds of wine estates in the Winelands. Vrede en Lust owner Dana Buys writes on their website that they evaluated the past work of the Alexanders. They realised that a poor movie could badly affect their brand image, but the past work of the Alexanders (especially the movie ‘Discreet’) made them realise that the chances of the movie not being successful were small enough to make it worth their while to participate in the movie. “We had high hopes for Semi-Soet, but I suspect the movie will do much better than our wildest expectations”. There is copious branding for Vrede en Lust in the movie, not only in mentioning its name repeatedly throughout the movie, but also via a wine tasting of the flagship Boet Erasmus, wine bottles, and branded banners and a lectern.
The movie has received good reviews, and while some of the humour borders on slapstick, it is seen to be one of the best Afrikaans and local movies made to date. English sub-titles make the movie accessible to all South Africans.
The movie presents Vrede en Lust, and Franschhoek with it, in its glorious beauty,
mainly with the Simonsberg as a backdrop, but also the Paarl mountains on the other side. Aerial shots over the farm and the Franschhoek wine valley, as well as the action filming in the vineyards, at the slave bell, and in the Manor House can only boost visitor numbers to Vrede en Lust, a wine estate that was established in 1688. Vrede en Lust is one of the two best-known and largest wedding venues in Franschhoek, and the movie ends off with a wedding of two of the movie characters, marketing this aspect of the wine estate too. The storyline positions Vrede en Lust as a wine estate with family values, passion, hard work, and a vision, which no doubt pertains to the real Vrede en Lust too. Interesting is that the farm owner pleads for non-pretentious descriptions of the wines tasted in the movie.
Funding for the film was received from the Industrial Development Corporation, and product placements were paid for in cash or as trade exchanges. Brands seen in the movie, and acknowledged on the movie’s website, include Avis, 1Time, Alpha Pharm, Rhapsody’s restaurant, and many more. The movie is good in encouraging wine-drinking, with an agency account win celebrated with sparkling wine, and the movie opening with wine-related illustrations, of wine glasses, bunches of grapes, and vine leaves.
Vrede en Lust has launched a Vryersvoetpad 2008 Merlot-dominant Bordeaux-style blend in honour of the movie, as a limited release of 1450 bottles. Each bottle is numbered, and can be bought at Makro, eStore, and on the wine farm.
POSTSCRIPT 21/2: I called Dana Buys after writing the blogpost, and he told me that they were approached by the producers to use his farm as the location. No cash exchanged hands, but they provided the location and the accommodation on the farm, not accepting any wedding bookings during the filming period. For the movie premieres around the country they had to provide the wine, and pay for the popcorn and colddrinks. From a brand awareness perspective, the movie will be excellent, especially when it goes to DVD and TV, he said. The movie was shot in April/May last year, and the first sign of autumn is visible in the vineyards. The grapes picked in the Merlot block were not real ones, he said, as they had long harvested at that time.
Vrede en Lust, R45, Franschhoek. Tel (021) 874-1611 www.vnl.co.za Twitter: @DJBuys
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter:@WhaleCottage
During the first sharp winter spell earlier this week, questions were asked on Twitter about restaurants with fireplaces in Franschhoek. As a service to the Franschhoek visitor, I have compiled a list of warm and cosy restaurants and wine tasting rooms with fireplaces:
Restaurants with fireplaces
Allora Restaurant: Italian style menu with pizza, pasta and other Italian dishes Tel (021) 876-4375
Bistro Allée Bleue: cosy atmosphere in this blue-decor bistro at the entrance to the wine estate. Tel (021) 874-1886
Café BonBon: Very cosy room, home-cooked style food (right). Tel (021) 876-3936
Common Room: Tapas style restaurant at Le Quartier Français. Tel (021) 876-2151
Country Kitchen: Second restaurant at winetasting center of Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyards Tel (021) 876-3000
Dieu Donné: Large fireplace for the large restaurant with a view, menu varied style Tel (021) 876-3384
Dish: Restaurant at Le Franschhoek Hotel. Tel (021) 876-8900
Dutch East: multi-style menu. Tel (021) 876-3547
Elephant & Barrel: pub tucked behind French Connection, good spot for sports match broadcasts. Tel (021) 876-4127
Franschhoek Kitchen: two rooms, one with a large fireplace, good fresh cooking from Chef Bjorn Dingemans. Tel (0-21) 876-2738
Franschhoek Station Pub & Grill: with its 1915 fireplaces (above), must be Franschhoek’s oldest. Tel (021) 876-3938
French Connection: French style menu Tel (021) 876-4056
Grande Provence Restaurant: smallish fireplace but warm restaurant with excellent fine dining menu. Tel (021) 876-8600
Grillroom: steakhouse that also sells meat. Tel (021) 876-2548
Haute Cabrière Cellar Restaurant: cosy eating in a cave-like cellar restaurant. Tel (021) 876-3688
Kalfi’s Restaurant: the fireplace caused a fire in the restaurant, closing it down for two days earlier this week. tel (021) 876-2520
La Petite Ferme: this long-established restaurant with a view, located at the foot of the Franschhoek Pass, has a fireplace in the entrance room of the extended restaurant space. Tel (021) 876-3016
Le Bon Vivant: highly creative chef Pierre, but disappointing service, tucked away one block from main road, behind ABSA. Tel (021) 876-2717
Le Coq: Two fireplaces, one each for the Grill and Light Meal sections of the new restaurant on the main road. Tel (021) 876-4404
L’Ermitage Restaurant: restaurant at L’Ermitage Hotel, at foot of Franschhoek Pass. Tel (021) 876-9200
Mange Tout: fine dining restaurant inside Mont Rochelle Hotel. Tel (021) 876-2770
Monneaux: multi-style menu, located within Franschhoek Country House. Tel (021) 876-3386
Pierneef à La Motte: soon-to-be award winning restaurant with creative chef Chris Erasmus, Cape cooking with a modern twist. Tel (021) 876-8800
Reuben’s Restaurant: large fireplace in this well-known fine-dining restaurant (right). Tel (021) 876-3772
Rickety Bridge Restaurant in the Vines: hot and hearty meals served include curry and casseroles. Tel (021) 876-2016
Winetasting Rooms with a fireplace
Boekenhoutskloof: Home of highly regarded Boekenhoutskloof wines, as well as of Chocolate Block, The Wolftrap and Porcupine Ridge. Tel (021) 876- 3320
Glenwood: Cellar tours at 11h00 daily. Chardonnay Vignerons Selection is flagship wine. Tel (021) 876-2044
Grande Provence: Both Grande Provence and Angel Tears wines sold. Tel (021) 876-8600
Haute Cabriere: Cabriere Pinot Noir and Pierre Jourdan sparkling wines. Cellar tour and Sabrage on Saturdays at 11h00. Tel (021) 876-8500
La Bri: Its labels are inspired by colourful flowers. Tel (021) 876-2593
La Chataigne: Three wines are made – a Sauvignon Blanc, the Kastanje white blend and Marron red blend. Tel (021) 876-3220
La Petite Ferme: Cellar tour and tasting offered. Tel (021) 876-3016
Le Manoir de Brendel: Produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz wines. Tel (021) 876-4525
Maison: excellent Chenin Blanc and Shiraz with very friendly wine-tasting in Weylandts-interior cottage (left). No charge for the tasting, and blue cheese and biltong are served with the wine tasting. Tel (021) 876-2116
Mont Rochelle Mountain Vineyards: Miko is the flagship wine, named after the late owner of the estate. Cellar tours three times a day. Gourmet food and wine tasting. Tel (021) 876-3000
Rickety Bridge Winery: Cellar tours by appointment. R15 tasting fee for five wines, but waived if wine is bought. Tel (021) 876-2129
Topiary Wines: First Platter 5-star for their sparkling wine in 2010. Tel (021) 867-0258
Vrede en Lust: No tasting fee is charged at this wine estate at the entrance to Franschhoek, in Simondium. Known for Boet Erasmus, Mocholate Malbec, Marguerite Chardonnay, and more. Tel (021) 874-1611
It was interesting to note that a number of restaurants and wine estates called said that they were waiting for the delivery of their wood, and would only have their fireplaces blazing from next week onward.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage