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Valcare’s Amazing Race: NPO Networking Opportunity

Networking fun at the Valcare Amazing Race

Valcare organises many networking events throughout the year. Since 2018, it has hosted an annual ‘Amazing Race’ – an exciting event that brings non-profit organisations together to network more creatively and organically. By organising the event around a race, participants enjoy an immersive experience of Valcare’s member organisations, showcasing their work at each stop. This year’s Amazing Race took place on 12 May, welcoming members of over 100 non-profits who arrived to enjoy an eclectic programme at the beautiful Ashanti Estate in Paarl. As a result, the participating members of the non-profits felt welcome and ready to network!

FLF 2023 welcomes international authors from far and wide

This year’s Franschhoek Literary Festival has a notable selection of international and pan-African authors taking part in the programme’s 80 plus sessions.

Among the authors from across the continent who will be in Franschhoek during the weekend of Friday 19th – Sunday 21st May, is award-winning Zimbabwean author, Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu. Her bestselling novel, The Theory of Flight, won the 2019 Sunday Times Fiction Prize, followed by The History of Man (2020) and The Quality of Mercy (2022), which completed the trilogy. Ndlovu also won the prestigious Wingham Campbell Prize in 2022, administered by Yale University. Ndlovu will be in conversation with Pumla Dineo Gqola on 21 May in the session THE PRACTICE OF FLIGHT. She will also take part in PENS OF POWER (20 May) where she is joined by Sue Nyathi in a discussion with Joanne Joseph on whether storytelling can serve as a weapon of hope and change, within the context of the authors’ fictional visions of Zimbabwean history.

La Motte Chardonnay: Elegant, yet playful.

Opulent, yet refreshing. Smooth, yet intricate. Classic, yet modern.  A play of opposites marks the release of the 2022 vintage La Motte Chardonnay.

For those a bit more serious about wine, information about the growing season as well as vineyard and cellar practices might, however, be required.

About the vineyard: Franschhoek-based at an altitude of 200 metres above sea-level, against a southern and south-western slope. Growing in sandy soils of sandstone and granite origin, with the oldest and largest block planted in 1997. A natural low yield – usually between 5 and 6 tons per hectare. Sustainably farmed and managed for a perfect balance between leaf coverage and yield and also to enable harvesting on different dates – for optimum acidity and a variety of fruit profiles. Grapes were picked by hand.

FLF: Get Your Tickets!

The Franschhoek Literary Festival 2023 programme went live on 17 March, showcasing a compelling and content-rich programme that has been curated with a focus on books published in the last year. Tickets for several events are almost sold out, so don’t dally or you’ll miss out.

KRISJAN ROSSOUW | KRX | SELECT WORKS / 2013 – 2023

Over the last decade, South African fine art photographer Krisjan Rossouw has established himself globally for his unmistakably distinct approach to contemporary portraiture that celebrates the beauty, strength and resilience of Africa and her people.

Self-taught, with no formal art or photographic study, Rossouw developed his unique chiaroscurist photographic technique from continued experimentation with non-traditional light sources, mixing and layering luminance and temperature to capture his striking models from the African continent and diaspora.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Rossouw’s practice since his debut solo exhibition, Dark Paradise in 2013. His body of work has since grown to include eight photographic projects and collaborations, solo and group exhibitions and art fairs worldwide, and a growing collector’s base that includes The United States, Canada, The United Kingdom, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, Mauritius and across Africa.

KRX at The Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, is Rossouw’s third solo exhibition at the gallery. The select works on show represent a capsule retrospective of the artist’s practice over the last decade, along with some as yet un-exhibited works and a preview of his current ongoing 2023 project, Obscura.

Exhibition opens 19 February 2023

2023 FLF Dates and New Patron Membership Announced

Browsing for books at the FLF

Franschhoek will again be transformed into a literary hub from Friday 19th – Sunday 21st May 2023, when the Franschhoek Literary Festival celebrates its 16th year since inception.

Running for three days, a content-rich programme packed with informal discussions, lively debates, insightful conversations and inspired talks will bring together a cross-section of South African and international authors.

Now, festival-goers have even more time and space to fully embrace the spirit of the weekend. The Franschhoek Literary Festival is excited to announce a new patron package that has been added to the membership programme.

Patron members are eligible for a Gold Pass, giving them free access to all sessions, subject to availability. The programme is also sent to them two days before bookings open to patrons and members – which means that they have additional time to consider the programme carefully and build a unique Festival experience suited to their own interests. A concierge service removes all the fuss out of ticket arrangements, and members’ names are also added to the patron board on the FLF website.

Lots to bid for at this year’s Cape Wine Auction

One of the world’s most renowned charity wine auctions, The Cape Wine Auction, in partnership with Mastercard, is taking place on Saturday, February 18, at the luxurious Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch.

Regarded as one of the most significant international wine charity auctions, and one which unites the industry around a single goal of raising money for education, The Cape Wine Auction is a much sought-after ticket on the South African social events calendar.

Since its inception in 2014, the annual auction has created a benchmark in philanthropy, raising more than R117 million, with 100 percent of proceeds going to strategically elected beneficiaries, all of whom are leaders within the education landscape. These beneficiaries form part of a unique model of collaboration and best-practice, sharing to accelerate impact and efficiency. A board of trustees, with extensive corporate, philanthropic and entrepreneurial experience, work with a full-time trust facilitator to strategically monitor impact and needs.

Raymond Ndlovu, Chairman of The Cape Wine Auction Trust said, “We are thrilled that the Cape Wine Auction will be celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year, and we are determined to set record bidding amounts for our once-in-a-lifetime lots, thus continuing to help children in need.

“Thanks to the generosity of past attendees, donors and sponsors, thousands of children have had access to hot meals, caring teachers, emotional support and the courage to dream. Their extraordinary kindness has helped us deliver some of the best quality auction lots from around the world, which in turn has generated funds for where it matters most: edification through education,” he added.

Gabriel Swanepoel, Country Manager, Mastercard Southern Africa says, “At Mastercard, we recognise the value of supporting causes that contribute towards the wellbeing and benefit of communities.

“Over the past few years, we have made it our mission to create a world beyond cash where everyone thrives and this is evident through our long history of supporting initiatives not only through our own contributions but by empowering people to uplift and support the charities that they feel strongly about.

“This is why we are proud to partner with The Cape Wine Auction once again, to bring people an extraordinary experience that not only connects them to their passions but also enables them to give back when it matters most .”

The Cape Wine Auction lots are unique experiences that are not available for purchase and never repeated. They include rare wines, bespoke international adventures, stays in world-class accommodations and access to the inner sanctum of the South African wine industry.

“These opportunities come along once, for one auction only and never again, so what you bid for is truly exclusive and rare” says Darielle Robertson, Cape Wine Auction director.

Franschhoek Wine Tram Launches First Festival of Lights

This festive season, in support of the children in the Franschhoek community, The Franschhoek Wine Tram presents ‘Festival of Lights’ – a first for the Franschhoek Valley, with the hope of it becoming an annual magical Franschhoek festive affair!

Guests will arrive at the Franschhoek Terminal from 19h30, welcomed by festive music, delicious food and drink offerings, and general Christmas cheer. Departures via the double-decker tram will start from 20h00. Guests will hop onto the tram at their allocated booking time for a 20-minute journey, experiencing a specially choreographed festive light display on each side of the tram tracks.

JAN Franschhoek!

The rumours were true! La Motte Wine Estate has announced the imminent opening of JAN Franschhoek, an exceptional, seasonal food and wine experience presented from a charming 19th-century historic cottage, Veepos, right in the middle of the Franschhoek Valley’s most picturesque lavender fields. Based on the popular TV series, JAN RSVP, this culinary encounter shares a nostalgic story with food as told by South Africa’s first Michelin-starred chef, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen.

Amy Jones to Perform at Bubbly Festival

South African singing sensation Amy Jones is set to perform at this year’s Franschhoek Cap Classique & Champagne Festival which takes place at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek on Saturday December 3 and Sunday December 4.

With multiple chart-topping singles Jones is on the precipice of urban pop success on a global scale. Local and national radio loved her debut single Sunrise (2016) as well as her follow-up hits Burn and Forget the Day (2017), You and Me and Get a Little (2018), Dance on My Own (2020) and her latest release Waiting for Me which came out this year.

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