This weekend we are off to Elgin for what promises to be a fun, adventure-filled weekend exploring the area. We will be enjoying various activities, which are part of The Elgin Blossom Weekend. The festivities are taking place on Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th of October.
[Read more…]Winelands Chocolate Festival Out & About
If you are a chocolate lover, then this event is for you! The second Winelands Chocolate Festival, is happening this weekend, at Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. [Read more…]
Cavendish Square Beyond Words
Cavendish Square Beyond Words
Tomorrow the 20th June Cavendish Square launches their exciting Beyond Words Campaign!
You are invited to experience a day of celebrity-sized pampering tomorrow, 20th June, with a Marie Claire cover girl experience beyond words!
Visit the Cavendish Square BEYOND WORDS experience at the JB Rivers court on the First Floor, and choose your pamper of a mini make-over including make-up by Inglot, hair and nails by Carlton Hair, or a luxurious hand and shoulder massage by Rain. Clarins will be on hand to offer skin care advice or you could simply test out the exquisite fragrances from Crabtree & Evelyn, Azzara and Elie Saab.
Don’t forget to feast on delectable flavours offered by our restaurants, including Col’Cacchio, Gourmet India, Tribakery and Ocean Basket.
After you have been styled by Stuttafords and Edgars, capture your cover girl transformation experience, by having your photograph taken – by yourself or with your girlfriends! You will receive a copy of your front page Marie Claire cover to take home with you!
Be at the JB Rivers court tomorrow, Saturday 20th June, between 10am and 4pm, to be a part of this amazing Beyond Words Experience. All treatments are free of charge but space is limited and available on a first come basis only.
For more details or to connect visit the Cavendish Square Facebook Page.
Celebrate National Women’s Day at Kenilworth Racecourse
August 9 marks National Women’s Day, which celebrates the achievements of Women in all spheres of life.
Kick off and celebrate National Women’s Day in style at Kenilworth Racecourse, Kenilworth Racing is going all out for the ladies offering various activities and quality entertainment that is scheduled throughout the day.
We have fabulous prize giveaways not to be missed! Including a sparkling prize to be won: a diamond pendent to the value of R50 000, sponsored by eDiamonds.
Tickets to this year’s event cost R450 for every individual except in the event you book a table of 10 paying R400 per person, includes a 3 course meal.
The Peninsula Room will host the event and doors open at 11h00. The dress code is smart casual, this year’s theme, “Touch of Bling”.
At 4pm the gentleman are allowed to join in the festivities with the charity auction of a magnificent Filly will be held, courtesy of Mauritzfontein Stud and through the generosity of Jessica and Mary Slack.
Top trainer Dean Kannemeyer will be training the beautiful athletic specimen by champion racehorse, Noordhoek Flyer Filly by Prestic for free! Proceeds from this filly will go to Breast Cancer Association.
Last year the auction of the Jay Peg colt, so generously donated by Marsh Shirtliff, Lukas Theron and Hemel & Aarde Farm, and entire year’s free training by Brett Crawford, Zubbadabbadoo was auctioned for R130k to 12 ladies. “Zubbadabbadoo is now in full work and will have his first run in early Spring”.
Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of Women in our communities as well as raise awareness of issues women continue to face. Support this worthy cause and reserve your table contact Mandy/Jenna (021) 7001600 or email [email protected] or [email protected]
The Winter Food and Wine Festival
Calling all food and wine lovers in Jozi!!! I thought I would give you a heads up on The Winter Food and Wine Festival, hosted by Boucheron Wines, happening in Johannesburg later this month.
The festival will be held at a private lodge, just 10 minutes’ drive from Fourways, Johannesburg and will take place on the 26th of July from 11:00 am until 17:00pm.
You can expect a wide variety of artisanal foods, wine tasting from many premium wine estates plus lunch and dessert are included. You will also receive 2 free bottles of wine (including the white merlot) and a gift hamper full of delectable delights for just R365 per person.
You can bring the kids along, as there will be plenty of fun for them too! R50 per child under 12 years and R100 per child between 12 and 18 years of age (No alcohol served to under 18s). Puchase 10 or more tickets at once and enjoy a group discount of 10%.
Festival Details:
Date: 26th of July 2014
Venue Address: 132 MacGillvray Rd, Lone Hill
Times: 11:00 am – 17:00 pm
Pay by credit card or EFT. We’ll take your credit card payment over the phone:
CLICK HERE for tickets or call 011 708 3444!
No tickets available at the door!
Your ticket price of R365 per person includes:
• A gift hamper filled with goodies and a wine glass
• Delicious lunch and dessert included and served from 12:30 …
• Free bottle of White Merlot 2013
• Free bottle of ZenMaster 2013 (red blend)
• Meet your favourite winemakers
• Live Bands
• Kids Zone for under 12 years
• Taste foods from top artisanal producers
Disclosure Ranking: 2
South African Wine Index Awards 2014
I recently attended the South African Wine Index Awards 2014, which acknowledges South African wine excellence. The South African Wine Index{SAWi} gala awards were held at the luxurious Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Gansbaai.
Grootbos not only sponsored the event but also entered into a partnership with SAWi, to exclusively offer the complete range of the ‘SAWi Grand Wines Collection’ (wines scoring 93+ points through the unique SAWi Algorithm of Excellence) at this world renowned Reserve.
For those of you who are not familar with the SAWi wine judging Algorithm of Excellence (Arabic tenfold system), it is based on the combined results a wine has achieved over multi vintages, in any of 84 different multi-national wine competitions or reviews (each weighted according to the compilation of judging panels and the number of medals on offer).
Consistency in results, top 10 mentions and trophies won are also taken into account during these calculations. As such, a wine is not judged on one occasion only but its consistency is tracked over a period and built out to a 10 year quality window.
SAWi Platinum is the highest accolade that may be achieved by any single wine. A score of 95 or more, out of a possible 100, will secure this award. These wines are referred to as the ‘SAWI Ambassadors Club’ the top end of the ‘SAWi Grand Wines Collection’ which also include wines which received Grand Gold status for scoring 93 and 94. No score below this attracts any accolades, ensuring that SAWi decorations are aspirational and really the cream of the crop.
The day started off with a lovely lunch at the Forest Lodge, giving wine makers and invited guests the opportunity of socialising and getting to know one another.The rest of the afternoon was spent at leisure exploring the beauty of the reserve, indulging in the luxuries of the Grootbos Estate or watching a bit of rugby!
In the evening all the guests, producers and wine makers were treated to a tasting of the winning wines, before the presentation of the awards got under way. The event was a showcase of South African ‘Grand Wines’ – highlighting the value of the SAWi principles and methodology.
Constantia Glen took top honors on the night, receiving the SAWi Trophy for Wine Producer of the Year, with Justin van Wyk (Winemaker) and Ettiene Southey (Vineyard Manager) and his team acknowledged as top achievers for 2014.
De Morgenzon received the 2014 SAWi Trophy for White Wine Producer of the Year. The Trophy for the 2014 SAWi Red Wine Producer of the Year went to Kanonkop Estate, also from Stellenbosch.
The inaugural Trophy for Best South African Brandy Producer was awarded to KWV.
Chardonnay dominated, with 17 accolades, followed by Shiraz wines with 12, Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux Blends with 10 each, Pinotage 8, Pinot Noir 6 and Red Blends 5.
Hemel and Aarde Valley had 14 wine accolades, followed by Constantia with 10 and Tulbach with 7, whilst Elgin, Franshhoek, Paarl, Stellenbosch Kloof, Blaauwklippen and Idas Valley had 5 each. Wines from Stellenbosch West, , Blaauwklippen, Cederberg, Somerset West, Franshhoek and Durbanville made up the rest.
Once again, outlying wine pockets like Cederberg, Tulbach, and even Barrydale featured prominently.
Since the start of the SAWi Ratings four years ago, only 32 wines out of a total of 914 which were rated have scored 95+ points, with repeated good performances by the majority of these wines. This year another 13 wines were added to this category.
SAWi also welcomed a number of new wineries to its honors list in 2014, including Constantia Glen, De Morgenzon, De Grendel and Journeys End Vineyards.
What an amazing evening spent enjoying and celebrating some of the most accomplished wines offered in South Africa, in one of the most beautiful settings in the Cape!
AWARD HIGHLIGHTS
Top scoring wines
99 points – Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay, Saronsberg Cellar Full Circle, Rijks Private Cellar Pinotage and Kanonkop Estate Paul Sauer
98 points – Eagles’ Nest Shiraz and Stellenrust Wine Estate “48” Chenin Blanc
97 points – Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, Diemersdal Wine Estate Pinotage Reserve, Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir, Spier Wines Creative Block 3 Rhone Blend and KWV The Mentors Shiraz and Raats Mvemve Raats de Compostella Bordeaux Blend.
Top Wine Producers
Constantia Glen
Kanonkop Estate
Groot Constantia
Bouchard Finlayson
Saronsberg
De Morgenzon
Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Rustenburg Wines
De Grendel
Cederberg Private Cellar
Joubert Tradouw
Cape Chamonix
Eagles Nest
Raats Family Wines
Images: Event ~ [email protected], Grootbos Villa ©FAR Photography
Disclosure Ranking: 4