Tag Archives: Newton Johnson

Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa holds first ever Wine Car Boot sale!

imageYesterday was the first time that I experienced Journey’s End Vineyards, not having heard of it before. It was the home of the first ever Wine Car Boot sale of the members of the Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA), eleven of the thirteen members offering their wines to taste and buy from the boots of unusual and largely vintage vehicles yesterday! Mulderbosch animaged Newton Johnson did not participate.

PIWOSA is a collective of like-minded, premium, independent wine producers from across the diverse wine regions of the Western Cape, says its website. It was started in January 2013, and is endorsed by Wines of South Africa (WOSA), Wine & Agriculture Ethical Trading Association (WIETA), and Independent Producers of Wine (IPW). Its goal is to jointly promote premium South African wines internationally.

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WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 17/18 December

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*    The price of petrol could drop by as much as R1.07 per litre on Wednesday 7 January, its largest drop ever, predicts the Automobile Association.  The price of diesel is expected to drop by 85 cents a litre.

*   Well-known UK wine writer and judge Jamie Goode has selected his top 10 South African wines:   Sadie Family Pofadder Cinsault 2012, Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2013, Rall White 2012, Iona Chardonnay 2013, Savage Red 2012, Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Mullineux Semillon Gris 2013, Testalonga El Bandito Skin Contact 2011, De Morgenzon DMZ Reserve Syrah 2012, Beeslar Pinotage 2012, and Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2008.

*   The Western Province Rugby Union is likely to announce today that it is not moving to the Cape Town Stadium, and that Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 13/14 December

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Newton Johnson Cellarmaster Gordon Newton Johnson has been admitted to the Cape Winemakers’ Guild as its 46th member.  It recognises his achievements as winemaker of Pinot Noir in particular, and winning this year’s Platter’s Red Wine of The Year.  Membership is by invitation only. (received via media release from GC Communications)

*   ‘Festive Franschhoek’ runs until Tuesday, and is intended to attract Capetonians and tourists to come and do their Christmas shopping in Franschhoek rather than in manic Cape Town.  Shops such as Peacock Blue, Indian Summer, Masquerade Antiques & Things, and Troll Beads will stay open until 20h00, misleadingly marketed as ‘late night shopping’!  Misleading too is the invitation to ‘Enjoy a five-star meal at Reuben’s...’, the restaurant only having made a 4-star rating in the Diners Club Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide this year, irresponsible overmarketing by Mariette du Toit-Helmbold of Destinate, running the promotion!   One suspects that all participants had to pay her company for the promotion!

*   Miss South Africa, Rolene Strauss, has won Miss World 2014, a wonderful marketing opportunity for our country!

*   Wesgro and Happy Snappy are jointly developing a mobile campaign to inform visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape Continue reading →

‘Platter’s by Diners Club 2015 South Africa Wine Guide’ launched with a number of changes!

PLATTERS 2015 Guide CoverThe 2015 Platter’s Wine Guide was launched at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel last night, in a Beaujolais Ferment colour, with a number of changes in terms of its methodology to evaluate the 5 star wines,  as well as in the content of the Wine Guide. Out of 6000 wines submitted for evaluation, a total of 50 wines and one brandy received the highly desired 5 star rating. The Platter’s Winery of the Year is Sadie Family Wines, the second time that Eben Sadie has received this accolade.   DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2013 was named the White Wine of the Year, Platter's JP Rossouw Whale Cottageand De Trafford Blueprint Syrah 2012 was named the Red Wine of the Year.

The first Platter’s change is that JP Rossouw has been the new publisher for the past year, looking confident last night, relative to his first more restrained presentation a year ago.  It was nice to see former publisher Andrew McDowell Continue reading →