New restaurant openings continue, many working behind the scenes, and not revealing information about their new establishments prior to opening. We update information about newly opened and closed restaurants continuously.
Restaurant Openings
* Giulio’s Café has opened where My Basaar was located (photograph).
* My Sugar has opened in Sea Point.
* Chef Julia Hattingh has opened her own restaurant Reverie Social Table in Observatory. Continue reading →
This weekend the sixteen Elgin Valley wine producers have launched a new Wine Route, which they have called ‘Elegantly Elgin’, to market the ‘superior and complex structured wines synonymous with this district’, says its media release.
Almenkerk, Arumdale, Elgin Ridge, Elgin Vintners, Hannay & Catherine Marshall Wines, Highlands Road Wines, Iona Vineyards, Lothian Wines, Mofam Wines, Oak Valley Wines, Oude Molen Brandy Distillery, Paul Cluver Wines, Shannon Vineyards, Spioenkop Wine, South Hill Wines, and Winters Drift make up the ‘Elegantly Elgin’ Wine Route. The vines in the Elgin area ‘benefit from diverse soils and cool maritime breezes which ensure perfect conditions for slow ripening. This allows the grapes to develop their intense flavours, great natural acidity, complexity and strong core of elegance’. The wines of this region are fruity, and Sauvignon Blanc, Rhine Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz wines perform well in Elgin.
To attract visitors to the new wine route, ‘Elegantly Elgin’ has arranged ‘Open Wine Weekends’, held on the first weekend of every month, from 10h00 – 17h00, starting this weekend with the theme ‘Celebration of Cool Climate Wines’. All sixteen wine estates will open their doors on these weekends, in addition to their normal operating hours, focusing on the
designated theme for the open weekend. Further themes which have been planned are the following:
3-4 and 10-11 November: A Sauvignon Blanc Celebration
1-2 December: A Chardonnay Celebration
5-6 January: Elegantly Elgin Whites
‘Elegantly Elgin Wine Route’. www.elginwine.co.za Twitter: @ElegantlyElgin
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
Three wine brands are the star wines this year, having each achieved three sought-after 5-stars in the 2012 Platter’s South African Wine Guide, announced yesterday. Only 45 wines were awarded 5-stars, down from the record list of 58 last year, out of a record total of 7000 wines evaluated.
Nederburg, the 2011 Platter’s Winery of the Year, was awarded 5 stars for its Edelkeur 2010, Eminence 2010, and Ingenuity White 2010. Boekenhoutskloof won 5-stars for its Syrah 2009, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, and Noble Late Harvest 2008. Mullineux Family Wines was awarded 5-stars for its Syrah 2009, 
White Blend 2010, and Straw Wine 2010. The highest ever number of Franschhoek five-stars (9) went to Boekenhoutskloof (as above), Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV, Topiary Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009, La Motte Pierneef Shiraz-Viognier 2009, Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run 2011 and Graham Beck Chalkboard #3 2007, and Chamonix Reserve Pinot Noir 2010. First time 5-star winners include Mont Destin, Colmant, Fable, Glenelly Cellars, Badsberg, Miles Mossop Wines, and Oak Valley Wines.
The full list of 2012 5-star Platter’s wines follows, according to Food24:
Cabernet Franc
• Warwick 2008
Cabernet Sauvignon
• Boekenhoutskloof 2009
• Graham Beck Chalkboard #3 2007
• Stark-Condé Three Pines 2009
Pinot Noir
• Cape Chamonix Reserve 2010
• Newton Johnson Domaine 2010
• Oak Valley 2009
Shiraz/Syrah
• Boekenhoutskloof Syrah 2009
• Fairview The Beacon 2008
• Mont Destin Destiny 2007
• Mullineux Family Syrah 2009
• Saxenburg Select 2007
Red Blends
• Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2010
• De Toren Fusion V 2009
• Glenelly Lady May 2009
• La Motte Pierneef Shiraz-Viognier 2009
• Meerlust Rubicon 2007
• Miles Mossop Max 2008
• Sadie Family Columella 2009
Chardonnay
• De Wetshof The Site 2009
• Jordan CWG Auction Reserve 2010
Chenin Blanc
• Beaumont Hope Marguerite 2010
• Diemersfontein Carpe Diem 2010
• Vins d’Orrance Kama 2010
Grenache Blanc
• KWV Mentors 2010
Sauvignon Blanc
• Graham Beck Pheasants’ Run 2011
• Hermanuspietersfontein No 5 2010
• Kleine Zalze Family Reserve 2010
• Steenberg CWG Auction Reserve The Magus 2010
• Strandveld 2010
White Blends
• Fable Jackal Bird 2010
• Flagstone CWG Auction Reserve Happy Hour 2009
• Mullineux White Blend 2010
• Nederburg Ingenuity 2010
• Tokara Director’s Reserve 2010
Méthode Cap Classique Sparkling
• Colmant Brut Chardonnay NV
• Topiary Blanc de Blancs Brut 2009
Natural Sweet
• Badsberg Badslese 2009
Dessert Wine Unfortified
• Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest 2008
• Fleur du Cap Noble Late Harvest 2010
• Mullineux Family Straw Wine 2010
• Nederburg Edelkeur 2010
• Nederburg Eminence 2010
Port
• Boplaas Family Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
• De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2009
Platter’s South African Wine Guide: www.wineonaplatter.com
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage