Tag Archives: Terroirist

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 21 October

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   FlySafair took off for the first time last week, offering permanent low-cost flights between Johannesburg, Cape Town, George, and Port Elizabeth.  Extras are charged, including meals, luggage in addition to two pieces of hand luggage, pre-booked seats, travel insurance, and extra-space seats. Base airfares between Cape Town and Johannesburg cost R 499 per direction.

*   The City of Cape Town has launched a Mobile Transport TCT App.  Developed by ‘Where is my Transport’, it is unique in Africa, and will guide commuters as to which form of transport they can use to get to their destination, incorporating the MyCiTi Bus, Golden Arrow Bus, Jammie Shuttle bus, city sightseeing buses, and Metrorail trains.  In addition information relating to shops close by, and directions in getting there, is also provided.  The app can also guide users of private transport, providing travel times, as well as informing them about traffic hold-ups such as accidents, roadworks, and more.  Locals can use the app to report potholes, faulty traffic lights, and bad driving to the City.

*   Award-winning wine blog Terroirist sings the praises of the ‘Swartland‘ generally, and of the wines Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 12 February

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Red Savannah Gourmet South Africa has prepared an 8 day gourmet wine and dine package for American visitors to the Cape.  The tour includes a visit to Babylonstoren, where they stay over, and go on a tour of the vegetable garden, and do wine, cheese, olive, and chocolate tastings in the area.  In Cape Town they learn Cape Malay food preparation, and spend time with top chefs Luke Dale-Roberts and Bruce Robertson.

*   A tough year lies ahead for airlines, which have seen capacity increase, and reduced numbers of locals flying domestically, due to the airline rate increases driven by the weak Rand and fuel prices, says Comair CEO Erik Venter.

*   Wine blogs help create brand awareness and pack recognition, but their direct effect on sales cannot be measured, as is the case with any media coverage.   However, mentions of a wine brand on JancisRobinson.com, Vinography.com, BiggerthanyourHead.net, Terroirist.com, and even 1WineDude.com can show an immediate impact on wine sales.

*  The 24th anniversary of the release of the late Nelson Mandela from the former Victor Verster prison outside Paarl will be commemorated with an  Anglo-Zulu war exhibition at  The Castle, which opened yesterday. Continue reading →

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

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* La Residence in Franschhoek is the joint Best Hotel in the World, on the Conde Nast Top 100 Hotels as chosen by its readers, and Singita Sabi Sand and Bushmans Kloof Wilderness are in joint 3rd place. Lion Sands, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, and Singita Kruger have all made the Top 100 Hotel list.

*   Cape Town has been ranked joint 11th Best City in the World, out of 25, on the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, following San Miguel de Allende in first place, followed by Florence, Budapest, Salzburg, Charleston, San Sebastian, Vienna, Rome, Siena, and Quebec City.

* ‘All these must see lists are nonsense because they sell books, magazines and they push websites but there is no truth behind it. What makes sells a place is if you had a great experience there and that’s something only you can do’ writes Lonely Planet Guide writer Doug Lansky about Continue reading →

WOSA Sommelier World Cup clever way to market South African wines!

WOSA Sommelier Cup Will Predhomme Whale Cottage PortfolioYesterday I spent a most entertaining afternoon at the Grande Roche hotel in Paarl, to observe the last phase of the Wines of South Africa (WOSA) Sommelier World Cup competition, the announcement and evaluation of the Top 3, and the awarding of the prize to the winning sommelier Will Predhomme.

The invited guests were the twelve finalists for the Sommelier World Cup, media representatives from the USA (I sat next to Rebecca Canan from the Terroirist Blog), Sweden, and Belgium, local writers, the local and international sommelier judges, and WOSA staff from its international offices as well as from its head office in Stellenbosch.   After a welcome glass of wine, we sat down for lunch at Bosman’s, and it was clear to see why this Continue reading →