Tag Archives: Hazell PR and Wine Consultants

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: 4 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   More than 7000 film permits were issued in 2013, demonstrating Cape Town’s popularity as a film destination. New City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee member for Tourism, Events, and Marketing Garreth Bloor says that the film industry contributes R 5 billion to our economy, and created 35000 jobs in the past three years.  The fourth season of the American TV series ‘Homeland‘ is being filmed in Cape Town at the moment, while Sean Penn’s ‘The Last Face’ will be filmed in the next few months, starring Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem.  In the past year 11500 locations and 12000 shooting sites were booked.  Some of the most popular locations for filming are the City’s Darling Street bank building, Artscape Theatre, and the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

*   Brent Perremore from Orphanage Cocktail Emporium has won the Diageo Reserve 2014 World Class National Final as best mixologist in South Africa, held at The Marly in Camps Bay yesterday. He will represent South Africa in the International Championships in Scotland.  Haroon Haffajee of Harry’s Bar in Durban came second and Marson Strydom of Buena Vista Social Café came third.

*   Fleur du Cap achieved good scores in the Tim Atkin 2014 South African Wine Report, released on Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 28/29 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The price of petrol is to increase by 29 cents a litre on Wednesday 2 July.

*  Fox recommends seven things to do in Cape Town that will make you feel like a local: understanding the struggle by visiting Robben Island; meet the people of Cape Town in the townships; get to know the Cape Malay culture and cuisine in Bo-Kaap; shop at the V&A Waterfront, Chandler House, Merchants on Long, Olive Green Cat, the Woodstock Exchange, and Old Biscuit Mill; chill at the beach in Camps Bay or Hout Bay, and eat there; do a wine tour in Franschhoek, including La Petite Ferme, Haute Cabriere, and Môreson; and eat out at The Test Kitchen, the Pot Luck Club, Bizerca, and Charly’s Bakery.

*   Bruwer Raats wines have scored well in the Tim Atkin Report, due to be launched on 1 July:  the MR de Compostella 2012 scored 95 out of 100; Raats Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2012 and Family Cabernet Franc 2012 scored 93; Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2012 and Family Red Jasper 2012 scored 92; and Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2012 scored 91. (received via media release from Peridot Communications) Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 26 June

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Constantia Glen was recognised as Wine Producer of the Year at the recent SA Wine Index (SAWi) 2014 awards, and Beyers Truter of Beyerskloof was named the Wine Legend of the Year, recognised as a pioneer of the South African wine industry. DeMorgenzon won White Wine Producer of the Year, and Kanonkop Red Wine Producer of the Year. Best South African Brandy Producer went to KWV.  Top scoring wines, at 99 out of 100, were Hamilton Russell Chardonnay, Saronsberg Full Circle, Rijks Pinotage, and Kanonkop Paul Sauer.   The event was held at Grootbos, which is exclusively offering the full range of SAWi Grand Wines Collection scoring 93+ points out of 1oo.

*   The Local Grill in Parktown in Johannesburg has won the Wolftrap Steakhouse Championship 2014 for the second year running, with The Godfather from Centurion in Pretoria taking second place, beating 140 steakhouses around the country, and then a shortlist of five, which included two steakhouses in Cape Town.   The judges selected the Local Grill on the basis of its expertise in ‘meat, consistent service, and accurate grilling‘.   The steakhouse opened a branch in Woodstock a few months ago.  Chefs Pete Goffe-Wood, Reuben Robertsons Pop-Up and Pop-In Riffel, and Arnold Tanzer were the judges, all associated with MasterChef SA Season 3. (received via media release from Hazell PR and Wine Consultants).

*   Jordan Estate Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2013 won the Decanter International Chardonnay Trophy, having won the same Continue reading →