Tag Archives: Frans Smit

Platter’s announces 2022 award-winning wineries, and cultivar winners!

 

At an event in Stellenbosch on Friday, the new 2022 black-and-gold cover design and a refreshed corporate logo for the Platter’s by Diner’s Club 2022 South African Wine Guide  was presented, the three Award-winning wineries announced, and the Wines of the Year Awards in 28 categories were presented.

This 42nd edition of  the Wine Guide features more than 900 wine producers, merchants, and brands, including 36 new ones, more than 8000 locally produced wines, as well as brandies, husk spirits, and sherry-style wines.

For the first time in eight years the Platter’s Awards were not presented by its Publisher JP Rossouw, who left the publication earlier this year.

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WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 7/8 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  SABMiller has announced that it is selling its 40% stake in Tsogo Sun Holdings, worth R11,7 billion, writes the New York Times.  The company is the second largest beer brewer in the world.  Tsogo Sun Holdings owns 90 hotels, 14 casinos and resorts, and a number of restaurants and cinemas.

*   The Cape Winemakers’ Guild members have done well in the recent Decanter Awards, winning a total of eight trophies, four international trophies and four regional ones:  Frans Smit of Spier Wines won an International Trophy for Best Rhone Varietal under £15 for the Creative Block 3, and regional trophies for Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2012 as best local Chenin Blanc, and for Spier 21 Gables Pinotage 2011, Best local Single Varietal Red over £15.   Carl Schultz of Hartenberg won the International Trophy for Best Bordeaux Varietal under £15 for his Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2010; Gary Jordan of Jordan Wines won the International Trophy for Best Chardonnay for his Chardonnay 2013; and Andries Burger of Paul Cluver Estate won best International Trophy for his Sauvignon Blanc 2013.   David Nieuwoudt of Cederberg won the regional trophy for Best local Red Rhône Varietal over £15 for his Shiraz 2011, and Miles Mossop won a regional trophy for Best local Sauvignon Blanc over £15 for his Tokara Reserve Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2013. (received via media release from GC Communications)

*   Muratie is hosting a Mini Port Festival in conjunction with Juvenal Corks on 27 July, the top 10 local port producers offering Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 23 September

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Durban is setting itself a goal to become the top beach destination in Africa by 2030, which would be at the expense of Cape Town!   The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Michael Mabuyakhulu, launched his province’s Tourism Master Plan in Durban last week. ‘By 2030, KZN will be globally renowned as Africa’s top beach destination with a unique blend of wildlife, scenic and heritage experiences for all visitors‘, he said!

*   Hotels and Facebook users are the two largest sources of credit card fraud says the Airline Information Group.  Staff at hotels, especially those at the front desk, have access to guest card details and tend to use these to buy airline tickets for themselves!

*   Interesting (and surprising) is a proposed ‘Fly South African‘ policy to be implemented for travel by government officials or government-funded travel.  The officials appear to not Continue reading →