A trip down the Garden Route is a Capetonian favorite, taking one to the popular coastal towns of Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Wilderness, Mossel Bay and more.
Now TimeOut has included it in its list of 11 ‘most breathtakingly beautiful road trips around the world’, a fantastic accolade for tourism in the Cape. Continue reading →
The winners of the South African leg of the 2022 Great Wine Capitals have just been announced by Wesgro. Two wine estates won in two categories each.
Added to the local Awards are Tourism Ambassador Awards, not an official category in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network annual awards, but added to the South African awards only.
South Africa is one of 11 wine-producing regions of the Great Wine Capitals network. The regions are Adelaide in Australia, Bilbao and Rioja in Spain, Bordeaux in France, Cape Town and Cape Winelands in South Africa, Lausanne in Switzerland, Mainz and Rheinhessen in Germany, Mendoza in Argentina, Porto in Portugal, San Francisco and Napa Valley in the USA, Valparaiso and Casablanca Valley in Chile, and Verona in Italy. Awards are presented annually in a number of categories pertaining to Best of Wine Tourism.
The 2022 winners of the South African Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards are the following:
# Accommodation: Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch – the accommodation offers opulence, views of the Banhoek Valley, a relaxing stay, a private patio, and a pillow menu.
#. Wine Tourism Restaurants : Creation in Hermanus – wine is paired to food, instead of the other way around at Creation, its latest pairing being a Canapé Pairing Menu. It also offers a Brunch Pairing, a Wine and Chocolate Pairing as well as an aromatic tea and food pairing.
#. Architecture & Landscape: Vergelegen in Somerset West – recognised for its Octagonal
Garden, the Camphor Forest, the Reflection Garden, the Sundial Garden, and the Fynbos Garden.
#. Arts & Culture : La Motte in Franschhoek – recognised for its history and curated art shows, and Cape Dutch architecture.
# Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences : Babylonstoren in Franschhoek – recognised for its wine tasting offered to visitors arriving with the Franschhoek Wine Tram, going on a cellar tour, and visit the new wine tunnel, representing centuries of wine making and storage.
#. Wine Tourism Services : Creation in Hermanus – recognised for their Voormanhuis accommodation, local art, commitment to sustainability, and sourcing locally.
# Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices : Vergelegen in Somerset West – recognised for the 20 year journey of its commitment to sustainability and rehabilitation, presented as an Environmental Tour to visitors. It is self-sufficient in water, and the meat and seafood used in its restaurants are locally sourced and ethically raised.
# Ambassador Awards, celebrating ongoing Transformation: AA Badenhorst, Paardenkloof Estate, and Dewetshof Estate.
Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide
Wednesday 20 October 2021, Day 20 of Level 1 😷
Corona Gratitude 🙏
#grateful for a beautiful 29C summer day, without any wind; for an early Bakoven walk to avoid the heat of the day; for 2 Discovery Gameboard plays, allowing me to cash in on a Woolworths R100 shopping voucher; for getting my work done in preparation of the Status meetings today; for bumping into Leslie Back at Woolworths Piazza da Luz, she recognizing me, Facebook friends but we have never met ❤️; for excellent meetings at newkings boutique hotel and at Zest; for meeting two Zest diners, Rui of Portuguese descent and Marcello of Chilean descent, Rui most impressed that I Continue reading →
In my ‘career’ as a writer I have been called many things by not so nice persons in the restaurant industry. It has been a wonderful experience to have new descriptors added to the collection describing me: ‘indomitable’, meaning impossible to subdue or defeat, and ‘most experienced restaurant reviewer’, both accolades by the new IconicZA digital magazine in an article in its October issue.
For readers who have not seen the article, and would like to learn more about me, warts and all, I am sharing the content of the article: Continue reading →