Socialites And Celebrities Destined To Hit Hermanus

The Cape Whale Coast calendar starts off bright and early in 2011 with a Celebrity Weekend from 7 - 9 January.

Joan-Anne Harris, marketing specialist from Southern Stroll Marketing, has put together a group of celebrities to visit the CWC and enjoy our 'champagne air' and world beating hospitality. Joining them for the entire weekend is a reporter and photographer from YOU Magazine, whilst an All Access TV crew will be filming Vanessa Marawa, winner of the first SA Survivor reality TV show.

Well known socialites confirmed for the weekend are:
Brigitte Williers - Swimsuit model and SA Survivor participant
Ard Matthews - Just Jinger lead singer
Tammy-Anne Fortuin - Presenter on All Access TV show
Edith Venter - Well-known socialite and charity fundraiser
Jared Orlin - YOU Magazine Entertainment Editor
Roderick Labuschagne - Boland rugby player and boyfriend of Brigitte
Landi Swanepoel - International model and Ard's wife

Local businesses in the CWC have been approached to get involved in this marketing campaign by sponsoring luxury transport, gourmet meals, exciting adventure activities and 5-star accommodation for the group.

"This is the perfect opportunity for local businesses to come onboard and showcase their establishment and reap the rewards of proactive marketing", says Joan-Anne.

Tourism Reaches Pre-recession Levels

Tourism worldwide is back on par with levels pre-economic recession and South Africa has seen positive growth in 2010 as expected with the hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup. This was the message from both SA Tourism and the National Department of Tourism (NDT) in a briefing yesterday.

The results of a survey by the NDT and South African Tourism (SAT) on the impact of the World Cup show that in addition to the 309 000 tourists arriving in South Africa for the primary purpose of attending the World Cup, a R3.6 billion injection went into economy in terms of spend.

“The results of this comprehensive study of the impact of the World Cup show us that more than 309 000 foreign tourists (309 554) arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of attending the World Cup. Of these arrivals, 38% were from our continent, followed by 24% from Europe, 13% from Central and South America and 11% from North America,” Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk announced.

He noted that in terms of land arrivals from within the continent, the top three source markets were Mozambique (24 483), Swaziland (19 593) and Botswana (16 387). In terms of air arrivals, the top three markets were Nigeria (4 324), Ghana (3 578) and Kenya (2 089). The top three European source markets were the UK (22 802), the Netherlands (8 741) and Germany (8 596).

The arrivals from the United States topped more than 30 000, and had more than 12 000 arrivals from Australia. In terms of Central and South America, the top three markets were Brazil (14 815), Mexico (9 680) and Argentina (8 757).

“The World Cup also attracted a large number of first time visitors to South Africa, particularly from the Americas (North, Central and South America). A total of 59% of arrivals to South Africa for the World Cup were first time visitors to this country,” Minister van Schalkwyk said.

Source: SA Tourism Update

SA Express Adds Durban - Cape Town

SA Express will be adding the Durban - Cape Town route to its network, from January 10, 2011. The announcement follows Comair’s announcement last week to increase flights on the route.

SA Express will operate a minimum of three flights a day on weekdays and twice a day at weekends.

In order to adequately accommodate customers who frequent this business and leisure route, SA Express has factored in frequency, availability and timing of flights in this addition to its schedule. The flights will initially be operated by a CRJ-200 aircraft.

Source: SA Tourism Update

Man Of The Moment

David Higgs not only earned Rust en Vrede first place in this year's Eat Out Awards Top 10, but also took home the trio of revered culinary titles, namely Restaurant of the Year, Service Excellence (his second one) and Chef of the Year.

“More so than in life, restaurants are about balance.”

Not only in food and wine, but also people. And thus our service is as important. What makes it even more of a challenge is when all this happens on a historic and award winning wine estate.
We have selected the right team and together we built from there, to create the finest dining experience at a world-class venue. By the time the doors opened we had selected the purveyors to provide the freshest ingredients and have personally selected the wines to compliment the menu.

The original cellar, a National Monument, has been converted and our kitchen is placed “front and centre”, thus creating an ambiance that is relaxed but vibey. We also have a proprietor/winemaker table in a private area between or cellars which can accommodate a maximum of 8 people. We take pride in the fact that time was taken with well known potter, David Walters, to create the crockery, handcrafted Riedel stemware was selected and Laguiole knives purchased, to give you an experience you won’t soon forget.

Cape Whale Coast Wines Receive 5 Star Status

We would like to congratulate Newton Johnson and Hermanuspietersfontein on receiving 5-Star Status in Platter’s Wine Guide 2011:



Pinot Noir • Newton Johnson Domaine 2009
White Blends • Hermanuspietersfontein Die Bartho 2009
Two other wines also created at Newton Johnson also won 5-Stars:
Chardonnay • Julien Schaal 2009 (Julien Schaal, French winemaker)
Merlot • Shannon Mount Bullet 2008 (partnership James Downes)

Bartho Eksteen puts Hermanus(pietersfontein) on the Diner’s Club wine map! Hermanuspietersfontein’s winemaker Bartho Eksteen has been named the 2010 Diners’ Club Winemaker of the Year. Eksteen’s, Die Bartho 2008 blend was awarded a 5-star 2011 Platter rating for the first time, however, it’s the 2009 Hermanuspietersfontein No.5 Sauvignon Blanc that won the Diner’s Club award, the wine produced for the first time exclusively from grapes from their own vineyard. Eksteen was a winemaker at Wildekrans Wines when he won SA Champion Young Wine in 1996.

Diners Club Announces Winemaker Of The Year

The winner of the 2010 Diners Club Winemaker of The Year Award went to Bartho Eksteen from Hermanuspietersfontein winery near Hermanus.

Bartho follows the winning footsteps of winemakers such as Günter Brözel, Sydney Back and Danie de Wet. All winemakers in this category had to submit Sauvignon Blanc wines. Dave Hughes, chairman of the judging panel, spoke of the wine: “No. 5 is a perfectly balanced wine with a 15% Sémillon component that adds a further layer to the combination of wood and fruit. It is a style proving increasingly popular with South African wine lovers.”

Great White Shark Activity In False Bay

The City of Cape Town and the Shark Spotting Programme have sent out an alert to beach users of recent and ongoing high Great White shark activity in the inshore area of False Bay, particularly in the Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Clovelly areas.

Shark Spotters have recorded consistent shark sightings throughout Monday at both Muizenberg and Fish Hoek beaches. The spotters have also noted the presence of more than one shark at any given time at both beaches. The sharks appear to be actively following Yellowtail fish that have been schooling in the area, and are among their preferred prey.
The city is thus issuing a general caution, which will remain in place until Shark Spotters confirm that shark activity has decreased. The high levels of activity are expected to subside once the Yellowtail move back into deeper water, which should be within the next day or two.

The city appeals to all water users to be extra vigilant at this time, to familiarise themselves with the recent shark activity in the area before entering the water, obey the shark siren and to take note of the Shark Spotters’ flags and signage for regular updates on shark sightings. The four-flag warning system works in the following manner:

• A red flag indicates a Shark Alert. This flag will be flown during periods of increased shark activity, after a shark has recently been spotted in the area and the beach cleared, or when conditions are conducive to high shark activity.

• A green flag means that the spotting conditions are good and no sharks have been seen.

• A black flag means that the spotting conditions are poor, but no sharks have been seen.

• A white flag with a black shark diagram means that a shark is currently near the beach, and beach users must get out of the water. A siren is sounded and the white flag is raised.