Tag Archives: cork

Nederburg Rare South African Wine Auction 2015 raises R6,2 million, very stylish event!

imageThe 41st Nederburg Rare South African Wine Auction raised a record R6,2 million over the past two days, in what is one of the highlights of the wine industry events calendar. A total of 67 wineries, four being new (Anura, Axe Hill, Bloemendal, Pella) this year, participated in the Auction.

The second highest average price per liter was achieved this year, says Nederburg Auction Manager Dalene Steyn. The trend of last year to achieving premium price continued this year, the largest number of private buyers ever creating strong competitive bidding, with an average price per liter of R576. Record price per liter was achieved for the Fortified, Cap Classique, Port, and Dry White wine categories. UK wine judge Tim Atkin said that our local wines are still undervalued, especially Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 2 April

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   ‘Madiba’s Journey’ is a new GPS-enabled App which allows one to follow in the footsteps of the late Nelson Mandela, directing one to sites associated with one of our country’s greatest leaders.  The App was designed for SA Tourism and the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

*   An Australian blind tasting of red wines under screw cap and cork by international wine judges has ‘voted in favour of the expressions aged under screwcap, a particularly impactful result to occur on Italian soil, where this closure was until recently banned from use in many of the country’s most prestigious wines such as Brunello di Montalcino, and still remains controversial’.  Australian winemakers are increasingly using screwcaps on their wine Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 27 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Loadshedding has returned with a vengeance, starting with Schedule 1, and switching to Schedule 2 during the course of yesterday afternoon, due to ‘unforeseen technical problems’, according to Eskom.

*    A Scottish B&B owning couple is taking TripAdvisor to court for refusing to divulge who is posting ‘bogus’ reviews about their establishment, so that they can sue for defamation.  The review company says that it must be sued in the USA, where the company’s headquarters are.

*   New FlySafair airline is lowering its prices due to lower fuel costs.  Between February and July 20000 seats will be made Continue reading →

Influential UK wine writer Jancis Robinson praises SA white wines, deserve more international attention!

Jancis Robinson Delaire GraffUK wine judge and writer Jancis Robinson spent most of this past week in the Cape Winelands, after a seven-year absence.  She spoke kindly about our industry, and offered insights into the UK and USA markets.  She wrote from Delaire Graff, where she had attended a Chenin Blanc tasting and stayed over: ‘South African wine is in full ferment. It deserves far more international attention than it is currently getting‘!

Unable to attend two public meetings addressed by Ms Robinson, I have looked for information aboutJancis Robinson her talks, admired by some, and slated by a few.

A detailed summary about Ms Robinson’s (with her husband Nick Lander) talk at #RootstockSA, held at Alleé Bleue, was written by Judy Bouwer of wine.co.za.   Key points she summarised were:

*   SA wine estates should target UK restaurants, which have far more reasonable mark-ups.  Young British people spend their money on food and wine, not being able to afford to buy Continue reading →