Wheel of Excellence | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* Newton Johnson Cellarmaster Gordon Newton Johnson has been admitted to the Cape Winemakers’ Guild as its 46th member. It recognises his achievements as winemaker of Pinot Noir in particular, and winning this year’s Platter’s Red Wine of The Year. Membership is by invitation only. (received via media release from GC Communications)

* ‘Festive Franschhoek’ runs until Tuesday, and is intended to attract Capetonians and tourists to come and do their Christmas shopping in Franschhoek rather than in manic Cape Town. Shops such as Peacock Blue, Indian Summer, Masquerade Antiques & Things, and Troll Beads will stay open until 20h00, misleadingly marketed as ‘late night shopping’! Misleading too is the invitation to ‘Enjoy a five-star meal at Reuben’s...’, the restaurant only having made a 4-star rating in the Diners Club Rossouw’s Restaurant Guide this year, irresponsible overmarketing by Mariette du Toit-Helmbold of Destinate, running the promotion! One suspects that all participants had to pay her company for the promotion!

* Miss South Africa, Rolene Strauss, has won Miss World 2014, a wonderful marketing opportunity for our country!

* Wesgro and Happy Snappy are jointly developing a mobile campaign to inform visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape Continue reading →

A wheel is to be erected in the V&A Waterfront at the beginning of June, prior to the start of the World Cup, and will operate for six months, reports the Weekend Argus.

The Wheel of Excellence, which also operates in London, Brisbane, Perth, Copenhagen, Kuala Lampur and the Niagra Falls, will be similar but smaller to those operating in London and Paris, with a 50m diameter. It has 36 enclosed airconditioned cabins taking eight persons each, and 288 persons can be taken on a ride at a time.

The wheel will be set up at the V&A’s Gateway Canal, coming in from Coen Steytler Avenue. Tickets for the ride are expected to cost R 70, and will allow 15 – 20 minutes’ panoramic view of Table Mountain, Robben Island, the Cape Town Stadium and Paarl mountains. A VIP cabin with leather seats and Champagne Bar will be offered. It will run from 10h00 – 22h00 every day.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com