Cape Weekly Digest | Wednesday, 25th November, 2020
Our wine tourism roundup of local news & events
Hello,
I don’t know about you, but the speed at which the Christmas party invitations are starting to come in, is freaking me out! It’s happening faster then I can change outfits!
The great news is that with the party season ramping up, everything else is slowing down. The dog days of summer are hurtling towards us and if anything, I’m looking forward to the city heating up again.
The start of December means all sorts of exciting events are about to happen, such as Local at Heritage Square that Liam Tomlin has been teasing us with over the last few months. Yes folks, it’s is finally coming to fruition and scheduled to open very soon. We can’t wait and neither can our taste buds!
- Shirley
News Roundup
Moodie Davitt Report - Congratulations to Four Pillars for being named the IWSC International Gin Producer of the Year for second year running. Four Pillars, an Australian distillery beat Kangaroo Island Spirits, Hernö Gin, and the Zamora Company. Read More...
Nine of the world's best Armagnac's to drink this winter - Cognac might be the more shiny illustrious brand but Armagnac has history on it's side. Find out more about this intoxicating spirit and get 9 of the best Armagnac's to drink this holiday season. Read more...
Bigger Than Your Head - reviews the wines from Maggy Hawk Vineyards. From the Chardonnay aged for 15 months in French barriques to the white Pinot Noir, Fredric Koeppel speaks about the Mendocino wines made on a wine farm named after a racehorse. Read More...
Wine, Exploring and The Agulhas Wine Routes - experienced by Honey, Mom of two and side-kick of Sometimes Grumpy Husband (aka SGH). It was a dark and stormy night… just kidding. But we did visit the place known as the legendary ‘Cape of Storms’. As I planned each activity and plotted each wine farm visit on our itinerary, I just knew this was going to be an extraordinary extended weekend. Read More…
Elon Musk - released the Tesla Tequila last week, two years after a prank announcement and it sold out in hours. Despite objections from the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT), the Tesla Tequila, is described as a small-batch, premium, 100% agave añejo expression, made from sustainably sourced highland and lowland agaves. Since selling out the US$250 “Teslaquila” has shown up for sale on Ebay for prices as high as $2,500. Read More…
This Weeks Wine Release
Restless River 2020: Vintage Release
Trizanne & Hogan: Vintage Release
Chateau Del Rei Sweet Red: Canned wine available through Norman Goodfellows
Recognition & Award
The 2020 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year was awarded to Johan Malan of Simonsig Wines for the Kaapse Vonkel 2015.
The esteemed Jancis Robinson MW mentioned our very own Samantha O’Keefe and Andrea Mullineux in her article about women making waves in the international wine industry.
The Veritas Vertex Award was won by KWV The Mentors Orchestra 2018 (a Bordeaux style blend). The scaled-down awards function was held at the Polo Club at Val de Vie Estate in Paarl. KWV senior winemaker Izelle van Blerk was there to accept the hand-crafted glass trophy.
Up & Coming Events
JAN is coming home with his long-time friend and confidante, Jackie Burger. Together they have created a decadent dinner experience that celebrates all the wonderful similarities between fashion and food. Find booking information at janonline.com
Every year in November Melkbos Cycles "Le Grange bicycle technicians" holds their annual ride and social. The day starts with a loop ride from the shop +- 30km through the farm lands surrounding Melkbos strand. At the shop afterwards there are a couple of cold ones and a boerrie braai. R100 payable on the day, before the ride.
The Pot Luck Club Pop-Up is open at the Saturday Neighbourgoods Market, carrying on the theme of re-invention of the brand, they have gone for a European market hall/ pavement bistro feel with tables dotted around the back of the market hall.
Musgrave & Schweppes Summer Sessions: Bring on that Summer feels. Join Beach Bar Hout Bay for the hottest new curated collaboration between Musgrave Spirits and Schweppes that is sure to make summer that much sweeter. Contact +27 (0) 21 180 2556 or info@thebeachbarhoutbay.co.za.
The R & S Wine Shop in Loop street will be holding a wine market and auction on the 26th November 2020 from 5pm till 8pm.
Fresh Air Market: Come and support local artists, get great Christmas gifts, listen to music and drink signature cocktails served from 11am, open bar all day, light meals, come chill out by the pool and just have some fun!!!
Thirsty Thursdays: The Cape Collectives will be hosting a complimentary tasting at The Village Idiot in Loop Street on the 26th November 2020 from 3pm.
Community Shout Out & Classifieds
Cape Fusion Tours conducts walking food tours around Cape Town showing off the wine and food culture that has made the city famous. Contact the six person team for more information on their Cape Peninsula Tours or Cape Town Foodie Tour. Read More...
Chris Groenewald from Pounding Grape Wines was awarded four and a half stars in the recently released Platters Wine Guide. Now we just need to find out where we can buy the wines so we can support Chris in his venture…
Zuri Wine Tasting provides professional wine services including wine tasting classes, tours, wine list consulting, education and small-to-large scale events for enthusiasts, corporate and non-profit clients. Read More…
With around 90% plastic pollution reaching the Oceans through Rivers, we have established our Litterboom technology across multiple River systems to tackle the problem upstream before reaching the Oceans. Read More…
Jenny Hu from Zhengjiu Machinery provides distilling equipment to alcohol manufacturers in South Africa and Europe. For more information about their products and factory, contact Jenny on email: jenny@hzzjjx.com or +86 180 7288 0323
Shout out to The Belmond Mount Nelson, an absolute icon of hospitality in Cape Town, that is reopening on the 10th December 2020 with a new line up of dining options lead by head Chef Rudi Liebenberg. Read More…
After months of gathering dust on the tracks, The Blue Train is opening with a holiday special, all bookings made from the 1st November 2020 till 31st March 2021 will cost R12, 715 per person sharing. The Blue Train runs routes between Cape Town to Pretoria, between Durban and Pretoria, between Pretoria and Hoedspruit and the Kruger National Park, Pretoria to Victoria Falls as well as circular charters, Read More…
Mondays are Mexican Nacho Pizza night at The Dogs Bollocks and the Pizza Warehouse is running a buy 1 get one free... Bookings required for 10ppl or more. Call them on 021 4618 134, Whatsapp or email yardct@gmail.com
Babylonstoren is offering Holiday Hampers with various themes from ‘A Taste of the Farm’ to the ‘Ultimate Spoils’. These hampers are available through the Babylonstoren website.
And Finally The Tweet of The Week…..
The Wine Tarte is a lifestyle Wine Tourism Directory featuring wine, travel and weddings in Cape Town and the surrounding areas. If you would like us to consider your establishment for entry into our directory, please feel free to drop us a line for further information.
Shout Outs, Classifieds and Directory Entries can be sent to admin@winetarte.com
*Update: I was recently told by Dane Raath of Raath's Promotions that Chris Groenewald's 4.5 star Platter's Wine, "Bring The Joy", is available through Wine Cellar: https://www.winecellar.co.za/bringingbackthejoy-sauvignonblanc-2019.html.