Tag Archives: Young Winemaker of the Year

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: 28/29 August

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Mosaic Team South Africa participating in the World Blind Challenge on 18 October in Champagne against 22 other teams will consist of the winners of the South African Wine Tasting Championship 2014: wine writer Samarie Smith, Chris Groenewald, Lizé Oosthuizen, Ralph Reynolds, and Gavin Whittaker. (received via e-mail from Jean Vincent Ridon)

*   Nominations for the 34th Diners Club Winemaker of the Year (dry white blends) and 14th Young Winemaker of the Year (30 years or younger, producers of red blend) are now open, the winners receiving a flight to the USA for two as well as prize monies of R50000 and R25000, respectively. The winners will be announced in November. (received via media release from African Sky Media)

*   Guinness is targeting its (black) beer at Africa, via a multimedia campaign using artists and performers from Africa, which positions the brand as #madeofblack.

*   The 17 gold medal winners of the SA Olive Awards have been announced in three categories:  in the Delicate Continue reading →

Diners Club buys Platter’s South African Wines!

What was hinted at at the launch of the Platter’s South African Wines 2013 guide late last year has become reality, in that it was announced on Thursday that Diners Club has acquired the Platter’s Guide.

Diners Club has been expanding its involvement in wine, already a sponsor of the Diners Club Winelist Awards, Diners Club Winemaker of the Year as well as Young Winemaker of the Year, and the Diners Club Bartho Eksteen Wine Academy.

While the 2013 edition of Platter’s already carries the Diners Club logo, it is likely that the 2014 edition will be named the ‘Diners Club Platter’s South African Wines‘, although the Diners Club media statement about its acquisition does not mention any changes to the name, the editorial team, or the wine evaluation methodology.  The statement does however confirm that the 35 year old publication, of which 40000 copies are printed annually, will ‘be looking at ways to expand the digital offerings and viewership option.  In addition Diners Club will be reviewing options on ways to bring the guide to its cardholders through exciting new channels such as Diners Club Connoisseurs, a virtual meeting place where like-minded members can converse, learn, share and cultivate their passion for the finer things in life’, said Ebrahim Matthews, Managing Director of Diners Club South Africa.  Matthews added that both his company’s and the Platter’s brand would benefit from ‘wider exposure to each other’s markets and clients through co-branding and cross-marketing‘.

For the advertisers in Platter’s the acquisition by Diners Club is good news, in that it can only mean an even wider distribution of the publication, something every listed wine estate will be grateful for too.

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