As a grand finale to Valcare’s annual women’s month campaign, a stylish high tea event was hosted at Kronenburg Estate on Tuesday 27 August 2019. The chosen 15 Proteas of the Valley ladies, along with the previous two years’ Proteas and honourable guests from the valley, were spoiled with an afternoon of encouragement, entertainment, delicious eats and special treats.
Every year, millions of individuals around the world are diagnosed with cancer. In 2018, just fewer than 1.5 million new cases of blood cancer were recorded worldwide and according to a special report by Discovery Health released in 2018 cancer causes more deaths in South Africa than HIV/Aids, TB and malaria combined. Even more staggering is the fact detailed in the same report that leukaemia tops the list of top five cancers by cost at R281 455 per case on average. Whilst it is good to shine the spotlight on these statistics to raise awareness, The Sunflower Fund want to use bone marrow stem cell donation and leukaemia awareness month to remind South Africans that they actually can do something to change these statistics.
The Sunflower Fund initiated its annual Sunflower Day campaign 16 years ago to get individuals involved in the fight against blood diseases. The campaign, which is anchored by the sale of the Tube of Hope (TOPE), a multi-purpose accessory, is aimed at raising funds for the recruitment of blood stem cell donors to give the hope of cure to patients diagnosed with life-threatening blood diseases like leukaemia who are in need of a life-saving stem cell transplant.
In commemoration of Youth Month, Sisi, a safety wear brand for women within the BBF Safety Group, has partnered with the Stellenbosch Municipality and the Department of Education to donate reusable sanitary pads to 427 girls, across seven schools, in the greater Stellenbosch area.
Sisi has brought much needed awareness around the differences between the anatomy of men and women and the need for gender specific-personal protective equipment in the workforce, to improve productivity and comfort to working women. The brand wanted to address the issues surrounding absenteeism of young girls from school due to the unaffordability of sanitary hygiene products when menstruating.
According to a study by the Stellenbosch University’s Law Clinic, about 30% of girls in South Africa miss school when they are menstruating, because they cannot afford sanitary products. As such, a girl could lose about 90 days of schooling a year.
It was a good day for Mont Rochelle Mountain Vineyards when the awards were announced at the London Wine Competition 2019. Not only did three of their wines win awards, their Miko Red 2010 was the only South African wine to win a Gold Award at the competition.
Mont Rochell’s Miko White 2016 and Syrah 2015 each received Bronze Awards.
The awards are the ultimate seal of approval in the global wine industry. The judging panel consists of 11 Masters of Wine, including many senior sommeliers from some of London’s most accredited restaurants, buyers and traders.
Mont Rochelle’s winemaker dinners are the ultimate winter treat for wine lovers and foodies alike.
With relaxed and intimate, Miko, providing the perfect backdrop -the monthly “Winemaker Dinner” series, is fast becoming legendary in the Franschhoek Valley.
The Winemaker Dinners invite guests to interact with esteemed winemaker Dustin Osborne, alongside Estate Manager, James Basson who host these fun and informative evenings. The best selections of Mont Rochelle wines, as well as premium and museum wine ( including Gold Award Winner in the London Wine Competition- Miko Red 2010 – the only South African wine to receive this honour), are paired with a delicious 5-course menu prepared by Head Chef Shane Louw. Expect delicacies such as, a welcome Canapé of poached Saldanha Bay oyster with candied apple and caper berry foam; Cured Franschhoek trout, spiced tomato blatjang, smoked salmon cream and crispy kale ; Wild mushroom risotto with parmesan cream; Pan fried springbok loin with cranberry gel, sumac roasted carrots and creamed potatoes with a straw wine jus; Beef fillet, gorgonzola dauphinoise, roasted baby beets with a mulberry jus and for dessert Dark chocolate fondant with a mixed berry compote .
After an evening of indulgence, guests are encouraged to take up the ‘stay 3 nights for price of 2” offer on Mont Rochelle’s luxury accommodation special. Available for new bookings from 1 May – 30 September 2019, based on double occupancy including daily breakfast, a selection of drinks and snacks from the minibar, wireless internet and all taxes and local levies.
These one-of-a-kind Winemaker Dinner evenings are priced at R750 per person and take place on the last Thursday of every month. Spaces are limited and advance bookings are recommended.
enquiries@virginlimitededition.co.za
August is National Women’s Month and Valcare will once again be honouring the fierce females who make the Cape Winelands a better place. Those inspirational women who flourish and flower despite difficult, dry and harsh circumstances – just like proteas.
We’re talking about the hope carriers, the impact champions and the change agents. The grandmothers, mothers, wives and daughters. The business women, social workers, teachers, entrepreneurs, nurses, volunteers, teachers, administrators and creatives. Every woman who is flowering beautifully where she has been planted.
Between 3 June and 9 July 2019 community members are invited to identify and nominate these women that are somehow making a positive impact in the lives of others; from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek, Paarl and Wellington and all the areas in between.
To nominate, please go to www.valcare.org.za/proteas-of-the-valley to complete the online nomination form or collect a printed form from the Valcare office in 10 Verster Street, Paarl, during their office hours.
During February Franschhoek Wine Valley hosted four dynamic young women, who aptly referred to themselves as the Worldwine Women. This group of student friends– Alice, Louise, Alexandra and Atalante – have made it their mission to explore vineyards across the globe with the goal of analysing the emerging balance between tradition and innovation. In order to do so they work in vineyards in each of the countries that they visit so as to personally experience different production methods, traditional local skills as well as cultural environments.
Eager to experience what the valley has to offer in terms of wine production the group spent time with the women winemakers of Haut Espoir, La Bri, GlenWood Vineyards, My Wyn, Holden Manz and Anthonij Rupert Wyne.
There are only two months left of the Galileo Open Air Cinema’s current season. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are two screening in the Franschhoek Valley during March.
On Saturday, 2 March, La Paris Estate will host a screening of Pretty Woman and on Saturday, 16 March Anna Karenina will be screened at the Huguenot Museum.
Exquisite views, tranquil settings, interactive games, a fabulous selection of vino and gourmet market goodies are just a few of the “extras” you can look forward to when doors open at 17h00. Once you’ve drooled over the magnificent sunset and nestled up to your partner, friends, or even just your bottle of pinotage, the stars come out, and the movie begins.
Visit www.thegalileo.co.za to book your tickets, or to check out their full movie schedule which also includes weekly screenings around Cape Town.
Ticket prices:
Standard: R89
Warm: R97 (plus blanket)
Comfy: R105 (plus backrest)
Warm & comfy: R110 (plus blanket and backrest)
VIP: R175 (Reserved premium seating, blanket, backrest, popcorn, Coca-Cola and Frey chocolate)
Snuggle: R320 per couple (Reserved area with mattress, blankets x2, pillows x2 and Frey chocolate)
