Tag Archives: Flagstone

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 17 March

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Lufthansa is now allowing unlimited use of electronics by its passengers.

*   SAA has received delivery of six A320 aircraft this year, benefiting the airline on African routes and in being more environmentally friendly.

*   TripAdvisor is once again under suspicion, with its China website causing concern about false reviews by prolific reviewers, a KwikChex analysis has found.

*   French air traffic controllers are reported to be on a 24 hour strike tomorrow, affecting air traffic across Europe.

*   Accolade Wines has redesigned the packaging of its Kumala brand, ‘most loved South African export Continue reading →

Saronsberg wines: celebrating 10 years of consistency, fruit-driven elegance!

Saronsberg Tasting sheet Whale Cottage PortfolioFor the first time in the ten years of wine production, Saronsberg invited a group of wine writers to a tasting of its wines, followed by lunch at the Cape Grace Hotel.   Saronsberg, with Rijks, is synonymous with Tulbagh.

Saronsberg was bought by Nick van Huyssteen in 2002, previously being the Twee Jonge Gezellen farms, which they renamed after the mountain in the area.  A year later a large part of the then fruit Saronsberg Nick van Huyssteen Whale Cottage Portfoliofarm was destroyed by a fire, making them start from scratch and planting vineyards on 51 hectare of the farm, making Nick’s dream of a wine farm come true, necessitating the building of a cellar.  The day-time heat in Tulbagh was taken into consideration in the design of the cellar, we were told, to cool things down. Two years later they made the first wines.

It was the wedding of a niece three years ago that brought me to spend a Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines:5/6 October

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  A production first for New Media Publishing, synonymous with contract publishing, is an amazing video shot on the Franschhoek Pass for its client Mercedes Benz, called Silver Slipstream, in which Man (notorious skateboarder Decio Lourenco, who made headlines when he skated down Kloofnek Road) challenges Machine (Mercedes A 45 AMG) down the Pass, Man winning!

*   It was a wine weekend of note, with the fantastic 47% increase in sales income at R8,4 million at the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at Spier, and the Veritas Awards ceremony held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.  The top Veritas performers, out of 1792 wines and brandies entered, are:

+  KWV, with 4 double gold and 13 gold medals, and named Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 6/7 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   M-Net’s channel location will change on 5 August, as Cape TV will be broadcasting from it. Multichoice is paying for installers to visit each affected Cape Town subscriber for the decoder to be adjusted, at its expense.

*   If membership of FEDHASA Cape is an indicator, then the hospitality business is going through tough times, their membership numbers declining due to businesses closing down or changing ownership, reports Travel News Weekly?

*   South Africa loves its Scotch, having imported R1,7 billion of whisky, reports the Financial Mail.

*   Are Celebrity wines worth their endorsement?  James Molesworth rates the wines of Ernie Els, Brangelina, Sting, and other celebs on THV. Continue reading →