Tag Archives: South African wines

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 16 February

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   South African wines need an international champion to market them overseas.  International companies with drinks interests, such as LVMH and Pernod Ricard, have no local wine interests, but do have in Australia.

*   Uber is increasingly utilising metered taxis as part of its operation, despite the Western Cape Metered Taxi Council calling for the shut-down of the transport service. Uber says it has created 2000 jobs in our country in the past two years, and could create a further Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 11/12 October

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Penny Ferry is to be reintroduced in the V&A Waterfront on 1 November, connecting the main shopping centre side to the more commercial and business side at the Clocktower. The ride will cost R5. The ferry stopped opening in 1997 when the swing bridge was constructed.  The Penny Ferry service was officially relaunched by Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom earlier this week.

*   The judging for the 2014 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year has been completed, and the winners of the 34th annual competition will be announced next month. In evaluating the nominees, it was ‘the heart and soul of the winemakers that stood out strongly‘, dominating the quality of the wines they made.  The Winemaker of the Year entered in this year’s theme category of White Blends, while the Young Winemaker of the Year was evaluated on any red wine. Judges included Dave Hughes (panel chairman), Beatriz Machado from Portugal, retailer Carrie Adams, Nomonde Kubheka (wine judge and educator), Christine Rudman (wine judge), Colin Frith (GM of Hazendal), and Margaret Fry (Director of Cape Wine Academy). (received via media release from African Sky Media)

*   At the International Spirit & Wine Competition held in London recently, five South African wines won Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 28 March

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Construction of the new tourist-friendly cruise terminal in the Cape Town port could begin at the end of this year, with tenders being sought.

*   The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is estimated to generate R520 million for the economy of the country this weekend, with 35000 jazz lovers attending two nights of local and international jazz, sold out two months ago already, reports The New Age.

*   OR Thambo International handled more international passenger arrivals (3,9 million out of 4,8 million) in 2013 than all other local airports combined, reports The New Age.  International arrivals at Cape Town International were reported to be 750000 in the past year.  While Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth are both designated as ‘International Airport’, they only handled 31 and 216 international passengers, respectively, in the past year!

*   The 20th anniversary of our country’s democracy will be celebrated in April with a month-long celebration of South African wines in Hong Kong.  On 16 April a South African Wine Festival will offer 150 wines to taste at Hotel ICON. South African Sommelier Association Chairman Neil Grant will lead a wine pairing dinner at Above & Beyond restaurant on 25 April.  The Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 18/19 January

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Lifeguard duty at most Cape Town beaches will be curtailed to weekends only now that schools have re-opened.  The lifeguard services will continue to be offered daily at the city’s Blue Flag beaches (including Camps Bay), from 10h00 – 18h00, until 31 March.

*   UK singer Cheryl Cole is said to be looking to buy a holiday home in Cape Town, and in Camps Bay specifically.

*   SAA has been given a 4-star rating of its service for the 12th year running by independent airline evaluation agency Skytrax.   More than 800 aspects of service are evaluated. SAA is the only African airline to achieve the 4-star rating.

*   Collecting shells on the beach whilst on holiday may be harmful to the environment, including to some animal and plant life.

*   The Winnipeg Free Press wine writer Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson vows in his New Year’s resolution to try more South African Continue reading →