WhalTales | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Provincial Minister Alan Winde is seeking greater powers in terms of liquor trading control, with amendments to the Liquor Act of 2008 to be tabled to the provincial Parliament. Changes proposed include searching premises without a warrant; repealing the restriction (150 liters) on the storage of liquor by private individuals; amending requirements for the granting of temporary and special events licences; prohibiting persons younger than 18 years from entering the area selling alcohol to be drunk on premises; and to simplify and clarify the trading days and hours in municipal areas not having defined such. The public and trade will be allowed to comment on the planned changes to the Act, Minister Winde said. (received via media release from Minister Winde’s office)

* Jordan Wine Estate was named South African Wine Producer of the Year at the 2014 International Wine & Spirit Competition Annual Awards in London yesterday, a welcome celebration of the wine estate’s 30th anniversary of planting its first vines. Jordan also won the Blended Red Wine Trophy as well as the Chardonnay Trophy at the awards. (received via media release from Jordan Wine Estate)

* Babylonstoren offers its visitors guided tours of the estate, highlighting its heritage and produce, including wine and olives, and Continue reading →

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Distell has created a wine marketing subsidiary in the UK, called Distell Vineyards & Estates, which is also marketing its wines in Germany, Holland, and Finland. UK sales are £ 32 million. CEO Carina Gouws emphasised the importance of the UK market: ‘The UK remains the most important market globally in terms of positioning premium brands. Wines that perform well in there are noticed by the rest of the world’. The company is planning to aggressively increase its market share four fold, focusing more on independent retailers and the on-trade in the UK.

* A review of the MyCiTi Bus performance has shown that the service surpassed its target by over 2 million ‘passenger journeys‘, reaching 7,4 million in the past financial year. The recent introduction of the N2 Express to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain has boosted the passenger numbers to over 1 million per month. Changes to be made to routes include culling the Waterfront Silo extension from the Civic Centre on the Camps Bay route (which we criticised from the outset when launched a year ago). Route 113 along Ocean View Drive from Three Anchor Bay to Fresnaye will be cancelled on 6 October, due to low demand. One wonders why market research was not conducted to check demand for the service.

* World Travel Market Africa will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 15 – 17 April next year, Continue reading →