Yesterday I attended two tastings of the Robertson-based Springfield Estate wines at OpenWine Pair Shop on Wale Street, a central tasting facility offering a selection of South African wines. I was impressed with the personality of co-owner Jeanette Bruwer, which came through in the evening tasting in particular! She introduced her wines in a consumer-friendly fun and natural manner. Continue reading →
Tag Archives: Francois Rautenbach
Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2015: Chenin Blanc has ‘come of age’, a ‘national treasure’!
Yesterday the second Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge was held at the Cape Grace, with the Top 10 Chenin Blancs selected out of a total of 145 wines entered. The banner in the pre-lunch venue summarized the stature of Chenin Blanc, with the pay-off line ‘A South African National Treasure‘!
Canapés of pastry cases with salmon and hollandaise sauce were served with Sparklehorse Chenin Blanc MCC made by Ken Forrester Wines. Ken Forrester is the Chairman of the Continue reading →
Entry open for Standard Bank/Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2015!
The 2015 Standard Bank/Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge is open for entries, to be evaluated as the most prestigious Chenin Blancs in our country.
Entries close on 3 July. The panel of judges is UK wine writer Jamie Goode, wine consultant and sommelier Higgo Jacobs, Singita wine sourcer Francois Rautenbach, Master of Wine Cathy van Zyl, and associate judges Jaap-Henk Koelewijn of Tokara and Tongai Joseph Dhafava of La Colombe. Continue reading →
WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 23 July
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* South Africa has two of CNN Travel Top 10 golf courses in Africa: The Gary Player Country Club at Sun City, and the Fancourt Links course.
* All Gold is South African’s best loved brand, and the top 10 brand list includes nine FMCG household brands and the Clicks Club Card. No beverages other than Coca Cola feature on the Top 10 list, and no wine nor beer brands feature on the Top 30 list, in a study conducted about 8000 brands amongst 15000 South Africans.
* Durbanville Hills is offering a tasting on 22 August of Sauvignon Blancs and Merlots, from Durbanville Hills, Chile, France, New Zealand and Australia, led by cellar master Martin Moore. The tasting will be followed by a Thai green curry dinner. (via De Kock Communications)
* Madame Zingara’s ‘The Miracle Tour’ is extending its run in the V&A Waterfront to include the rest of winter, the company has announced by e-mail today. Continue reading →