Suffering from lockdown blues? Now that we’re on Level 1 and allowed larger gatherings be sure to save the date for this year’s Franschhoek Uncorked Festival, which takes place over the weekend of 6 to 8 November. What better excuse to explore one of South Africa’s premier wine destinations, whilst uncovering a fine selection of wine gems from the Franschhoek Vignerons.
Chamonix Estate finds itself on top of the wine world after its Chamonix Chardonnay 2018 was named the Best Scoring wine at this year’s Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards. This wine not only won the Grand Prix Trophy for Best Scoring Wine, but also the Chardonnay Trophy for achieving the highest score from the 109 Chardonnays entered into this South Africa’s largest and most comprehensive wine show.
There has, for some time now, been a sense in the village that something is afoot at Franschhoek High School. This is indeed the case and the Franschhoek Tatler is delighted to be able to officially share the inside story of Train Camp – Franschhoek.
The South African asset management company Capitalworks and businessman Tim Hutchinson – long-time head of the liquor company DGB – have acquired DGB’s majority shareholding held by Brait, the JSE-listed independent investment company, for an undisclosed sum.
DGB is a leading SA producer and distributor of wine and spirits to the local and international markets.
With an impressive wine portfolio, the noblest in the Anthonij Rupert Wyne collection is the Cape of Good Hope range, which forms part of South Africa’s Old Vines Initiative.
Made from some of the oldest South African vines, the Cape of Good Hope range comprises terroir-specific wines created in celebration of South Africa’s 350-year-old vinous heritage. The first vintage was launched in 2011, which led to the establishment of the Old Vines Initiative, initiated in 2007 by Johann Rupert.
Mont Rochelle’s The Country Kitchen restaurant reopens its doors to guests from the beginning of August. Just in time for the start of spring and for those yearning to eat out, visitors will be able to take in the wrap-around views of the Franschhoek Valley with a two- or three-course menu specially created and made with the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Wednesday, 22 July 2020, was a perfect day for a protest; warm and sunny with nary a breeze. Ordinarily the village would be filled with visitors making the best of a wonderful winter’s day. Instead, it’s the locals who are out in force protesting Corona lockdown regulations that have choked off tourism – the valley’s economic lifeblood. Chef Patron Matthew Gordon of French Connection Bistro accurately captured the economic reality when he posted that “Our town is on life support”. So did the trending hashtag #jobssavelives.
After four months of lockdown, the hospitality industry in Franschhoek and the rest of South Africa is fighting desperately to survive. Wendy Alberts, CEO of the Restaurant Association of South Africa, said that about 400 000 jobs have been lost in the sector since the imposition of the lockdown, with more businesses folding every day. Margot Janse, chief judge of the Eat Out Awards, summed up what is needed in a Cape Talk interview: “The curfew needs to move to a more realistic time that is respectful to our industry. The alcohol ban needs to be relaxed for the hospitality industry… We should be allowed to act as adults… Let us get back on our feet!”
Stellenbosch Wine Routes and at least 300 wineries in South Africa, together with Visit Stellenbosch, are throwing their weight behind an official legal application requesting evidence from the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to explain the reintroduction of a blanket ban on the domestic sale and transportation of alcohol.
In an unprecedented show of industry unity, the broad-based wine industry coalition is demanding an explanation from the Minister and questioning the prohibition’s rationality. The wine industry value chain supports almost 300,000 people, is South Africa’s second-largest exporter of agricultural products and has made great strides in inclusive growth. The entire industry has now been put at risk by these seemingly irrational rulings.
GivenGain, the leading global fundraising platform for charity, has announced that all charities will now have access to all its Premium fundraising advantages – completely free of charge.
Marc Freudweiler, Executive Director of the GivenGain Foundation, says the online fundraising platform will no longer charge charities a usage fee – $5 per month per campaign – to gain access to advanced analytics, unlimited fundraising campaigns and unlimited users.
These and other Premium features are now free across the board.
Holden Manz Wine Estate is justifiably proud that its Proprietors’ Red Blend 2015 has been awarded Top 100 and Double Platinum status in the 2020 National Wine Challenge.
