Tag Archives: Drostdy Hof

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 19 August

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

 *  Cape Town’s hosting of World Design Capital 2014 has benefited only a few Capetonians, says mega-moaner ANC City Councillor Tony Ehrenreich, while Grant Haskin, African Christian Democratic Party caucus leader, agrees.  Mayoral Committee member for Tourism, Events, and Marketing Garreth Bloor disputes this, many of the 450 design projects initiated this year having a longer-term legacy.  The City of Cape Town is spending R40 million on the project this year. 

*   Despite there being no cases of Ebola in South Africa, some tour groups from Asia have cancelled their trips to our country, for fear of the West Africa cases spreading to our country.

*   Artist Aleta Michaletos from Pretoria will exhibit 32 of her works at De Oude Drostdy, the home of Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 10 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   New York has the best wine lists in the world, ahead of those of London. San Francisco, and Chicago, according to the UK World of Fine Wine.   Rust en Vrede won best winelist in Africa.  The wine list at Palais Coburg Residenz was judged to be the best in the world.

*   Germany’s record 7-1 win over Brazil in the Soccer World Cup semi-final on Tuesday set new records on Twitter, with 35,6 million Tweets being the highest ever for a sports match.  When Sami Khedira scored the fifth goal for Germany in the first half, Twitter reached a new record of 580166 Tweets per minute!    

*   The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has introduced 30 minutes of free wifi at its nine airports.  After the half an hour usage, one can use the service on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis.

*   The Pot Luck Club is offering ‘Edible Entertainment’ this winter. New Bloody Mary recipes have been concocted, containing Continue reading →

Wine Fundis guide TOPS at SPAR customers in buying consumer-friendly wines!

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Wine customers of TOPS at SPAR now have a panel of six wine experts to guide them in buying wines at the liquor outlets linked to SPAR supermarkets, as full page advertisements in major newspapers informed on 22 August.  The ‘Wine Fundis’ also assist TOPS at SPAR in offering a more customer orientated wine range at its more than 500 outlets.

The Wine Fundi project was the brainchild of Tinus van Niekerk, a wine consultant, in conjunction with Mark Robinson, SPAR Liquor Executive.  ‘Regardless of where wine is sold, making a reliable choice amongst the plethora of labels is often a daunting task that can very easily result in “wrong” or “unwise” buying.  Therefore, objective wine recommendations will surely always be generally valuable to all consumers wherever wine selections are done and wine purchases are made‘, Mr van Niekerk explained.

The panel of Wine Fundis is the following, and their credentials are detailed in the advertisement. Mr van Niekerk emphasised the panelists’ impartiality, passion for wines,  and credentials:

*   Neil Pendock, described as ‘international wine blogger, wine judge, commentator & author of several books‘, and now minute gallery owner!

*   Samarie Smith, ‘wine judge, food writer and critic. Seasoned travel journalist’.

*   Tinus van Niekerk, ‘International wine consultant, wine maker, wine writer & wine judge’

*   Melvyn Minnaar, ‘Wine, food and art critic, writes for several local and international publications’

*   Ntsiki Biyela, ‘S.A.’s first black female winemaker, Woman Winemaker of Continue reading →

Cheers: Excellent week for Spier award-winning wines!

A number of wine competition results announced last week were recorded on www.wine.co.za on Thursday, and South Africa’s good performance in these, and that of Spier in particular, was noted.  Spier was the only local wine estate to have won Gold medal awards in each of the four competitions.

In London, the International Wine Challenge 2011 results were announced at the London International Wine Fair.  South Africa won 13 out of 406 Gold Medals (3%), and two of these went to Spier, for its Creative Block 3 2009 and Landmark 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2009.   The other Gold medal winners were Backsberg Family Reserve White 2009, Edgebaston Berry Box 2009, Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2005, Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Semillon 2010 and its Unfiltered Viognier 2010, Groot Constantia Grand Constance 2008 and its Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Kaapzicht Steytler Pentagon 2007, Nederburg Winemasters Reserve Noble Late Harvest 2010, Oldenburg Chenin Blanc 2010, and Tokara Reserve Collection Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2009.  

The Decanter World Wine Awards 2011 were also announced at the London International Wine Fair, and attracted 12252 entries.   South Africa won 26 out of 237 Gold Medals awarded (11%), and these included Spier Mitchells Pass Malbec 2010.  Other gold medal winning producers were Asda, Beaumont, Cape Point Vineyards (Chardonnay 2009, Isliedh 2010), Dieu Donné, Drostdy Hof, Fleur du Cap, Holden Manz, Jordan, Kleine Zalze, KWV, Lomond, Longridge (Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Chenin Blanc 2010), Nederburg (Private Bin Edelkeur 2007, Winemasters Reserve Chenin Blanc 2009),  Quoin Rock, Rickety Bridge, Rijk’s, Saronsberg, Saxenburg, Steenberg, Stellenzicht, Thelema, and Waterkloof.  KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2008 was the category winner for ‘South African Red Bordeaux Varietal over £10’, while Klein Constantia Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 won the ‘South African Red Bordeaux Varietal under £10’.

The Syrah du Monde 2011 evaluated 383 Syrah/Shiraz wines from 24 countries, and South Africa won 6 gold medals out of a total of 34 (18%).  Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2008 won a Gold medal, as did Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Shiraz 2008, Franschhoek Cellar Baker Station Shiraz 2009, Groot Constantia Shiraz 2008, Number One Constitution Road Shiraz 2008, and Oldenburg Vineyards Shiraz 2008.

At the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2011 7386 wines from 49 countries were evaluated, and South Africa won 45 out of 683 gold medals (6%).  Spier Private Collection Shiraz 2008 was one of only three South African wines to be awarded the highest honour, the Grand Gold Medal, as were The Grande Provence 2006, and Dieu Donné Cabernet Sauvignon 2008.  Gold medals went to Spier’s Creative Block 3 2009, Creative Block 3 2008, and Creative Block 5 2009. 

Our congratulations go to all the award winners, and a special toast to Spier for winning gold in each of the four competitions, a unique achievement.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Twitter: @WhaleCottage