Tag Archives: Shanghai

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

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Chardonnay 2012 has been selected as one of the world’s Top 10 wines in the 2014 Chardonnay du Monde, achieving this accolade against 794 wines from forty countries.  Cellarmaster Martin Moore attributes the rolling of the barrels to the complexity and success of the wine.   He also says that he does not allow the wine to be overpowered by wood.  Minimal rain during the 2012 summer season also contributed to the wine’s success. (received via media release from De Kock Communications)

*   Düsseldorf is the new international wine capital of the world, after its successful hosting of ProWein 2014, which was attended by 48000 delegates from Sunday until yesterday.   ProWine China will be held for the second time, in Shanghai, from 12 – 14 November.

*   SAA has warned passengers to ignore any e-mails purporting to come from the airline and seeking personal and/or banking details via links, requesting passengers to delete any such e-mails.

*   Helena Rizzo from Mani in São Paulo in Brazil has been named the Veuve Clicquot World’s Best Female Chef in the Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 29 October

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  Cape Town has been named third best city in the world by Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014 Top Cities listing. It was beaten by Paris and Trinidad, but was ranked ahead of Riga (capital of Latvia), Zurich, Shanghai, Vancouver, Chicago, Adelaide, and Auckland.  Top 10 countries in the world are Brazil, Antarctic (unusual to call this a country!), Scotland (is it not part of the UK?), Sweden, Malawi, Mexico, Seychelles, Belgium, Macedonia, and Malaysia.  The rationale for Cape Town’s ranking was: ‘Expect sculpture-lined green spaces, sustainable projects that are more than just a pretty face, and further regeneration of former industrial districts.  2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of South African democracy – honour it by exploring the city’s history,’ encourages the travel guide.

Cape Town was crowned with first place in the category Top 10 Cities in Africa and the Middle East and ranked eleventh in the Top 25 Cities in the World by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.  The city as also rated tops as Africa’s Leading Destination and also as Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination by World Travel Awards. (received via e-mail from Rabbit in a Hat Communications)

*   Renowned Chef Raymond Blanc is redesigning the winter Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 27 September

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  It’s World Tourism Day, with a theme focused on water!

*   Klein Constantia has received excellent in-depth coverage on Nederburg Auction 2013 American key-note speaker Joe Roberts’ 1 Wine Dude Blog.

*   The American State Department has issued a world wide travel warning about potential terror attacks.

*   The first ProWein China will be held in Shanghai on 13 November, and all its 500 stands have been sold.

*   Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille is placing pressure on SAA to reinstate a direct route between Cape Town and the USA. and she is routing for Miami, just having returned from a trade visit to that city.  Such a direct route would be beneficial for tourism.

*   Noise is the most common complaint of hotel guests in 19 tourist destinations, but Cape Town hotels are an exception in not receiving complaints about noise.  Modernity, location, and service speed are the most common compliments.  Cape Town hotels also ranked top on GRI (Global Review Index), the average online reputation of hotels, followed by Melbourne, St Petersburg, Sydney, and Dublin.

*   Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir and Chardonnay will be paired with a 5 course dinner at Nobu at the One&Only Cape Town on 2 October, at a cost of R595. (received via newsletter from One&Only Cape Town)

*   Author E.L. James has launched a Fifty Shades of Grey wine Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 27/28 July

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  A beautiful and informative coffee table book about chocolate has been written by Di Burger, called ‘Chocolate’s African Odyssey‘,  reports WineStyle.

*   Eleven finalists of The Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Sommelier Cup, from a diversity of countries including China and Russia, have been shortlisted.

*   The Spur Corporation, which owns Spur Steak Ranches, Panarottis Pizza Pasta, and John Dory’s Fish & Grill, has grown sales by 16% in the past twelves months ending June, its advertising (by Haas) driving feet into their restaurants.

*   Chinese tourists are ‘smitten by the charms of Africa’.  Direct SAA flights between Johannesburg and Beijing as well as visa processing centres in Beijing and Shanghai have pushed China as a tourism source market for our country into fourth position! Continue reading →