DURBANVILLE HILLS’ The Tangram White Blend 2018 has been awarded as one of the world’s 12 top-scoring wines at the 2021’s Global Sauvignon Blanc Masters hosted by The Drinks Business. With 200 Sauvignon Blancs from around the world tasted blind, Durbanville Hills’ cool climate excellence shares the Top 12 recognition along with the very best Sauvignon Blancs produced in France, Chile, New…
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New look for Cape Town Carnival on March 19, 2022

REUNITE with friends, family and our beautiful city at the reimagined Cape Town Carnival experience on 19 March, 2022, where Covid-19 safety is as important as showcasing the incredible creativity and talent of the people of Cape Town. New format, same creative spirit “We're driven by the fundamental belief in the power of creativity” says Professor Rachel Jafta, chairperson of the Cape…

New Tokara vintages of memorable wines that move mountains

WINES that capture the imagination with their profound sense of place are the bedrock of Tokara Wine and Olive Estate situated on the foothills of the majestic Simonsberg. The new standout vintages just released by this celebrated family owned Stellenbosch farm with Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon blanc as major focus varieties, show great consistency over more than 20 years. "It has taken two…
RAISE a glass and celebrate 363 years of South African wine heritage on 2 February 2022 at 8pm. This momentous day marks the start of our winemaking industry, and calls for everyone with a passion for South African wine to come together, wherever they are in the world, and join in the celebratory online event. This annual Wine Harvest Commemorative Event is free and open for all to attend and…
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Be enchanted this summer by Stellenbosch’s Street Soirées

EXPERIENCE Stellenbosch in all its good-living glory during the town’s annual Street Soirées, a series of relaxed food-and-wine tastings underway from the end of this month. The popular events have become a calendar highlight as the perfect way to see in the new year and enjoy balmy evenings in South Africa’s premier cultural destination. The Street Soirées are presented by Stellenbosch Wine…

Triggerfish’s third animated feature, Seal Team, makes a splash

SEAL TEAM, which launched on New Year’s Eve 2021 and immediately rocketed into the top 10 on Netflix, is the story of Quinn, a seal who spends his days relaxing in the sun, splashing in the beautiful waters off the coast of Cape Town, and swimming for his life from Great White Sharks. When he decides it’s time for the food chain to bite back, Quinn recruits a ragtag team of likeminded seals brave,…
National Pie Day - celebrated every year on January 23 in the US, and a good enough reason to try out some delicious pie recipes here in South Africa - was started in the mid '70s by Charlie Papazian, a nuclear engineer from Colorado in the US, who had such a passion for pies that he decided to celebrate the pleasurable pastry with its own day and chose his birth date on which to do it.…
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Taking bakes to sweet new heights with flavoured sugars

SO many treats are elevated by a  sprinkling of icing sugar, whether you like your popcorn with a good dose of sweetness, or you enjoy a Victoria sponge with a generous coating of powdery goodness. Now you can take that little dash of decadence to new heights with Cook 'n Bake's new range of flavoured sugars. I was sent a selection to try, and a taste of each on their own opened a world of…

Irvine Welsh adaptation leads January offerings on BritBox

ADAPTED by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh from his best-selling novel and directed by James Strong (Broadchurch, The Liar), the highly-anticipated BritBox Original, Crime, arrives fresh from the UK on January 20, and stars Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible 2, Batwoman) - pictured above - as DI Lennox, tasked with finding a missing Scottish schoolgirl while struggling with his own addictions.…
AGRI-EXPO, the oldest agricultural society in South Africa and Africa, celebrated its 190th anniversary last year, announcing new initiatives include an international agriculture-in-the-classroom project, a kykNET television series on cheese and a series of SA Cheese Festival Pop-up Picnics.  “Really good news is that the award-winning SA Cheese Festival returns after two years. Cheese and wine…
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Season 2 of Euphoria and other delights on Showmax in January

WHOA! How was that first episode of Euphoriaseason two (weekly episodes every Monday, day after the US)? No surprise that HBO said the premiere drew 2.4 million viewers across all its platforms on Sunday night, making it the strongest digital premiere performance of any HBO episode on HBO Max since the streaming service’s launch last May. The Guardian wasn't impressed though, headlining its…

Lean into the joy of Carmién Tea

ROOIBOS has come a long way, and Carmién Tea in particular has an incredible range of rooibos products from, yes, salad dressings to gin. Currently I am working my way through a selection of flavoured infusions which arrived just before Christmas. There's the good old "ordinary" organic rooibos, which is caffeine-free and an easy go-to any time of the day. It's part of the pyramid range, which…
THE commemorative Roodeberg 1949 red blend has been selected as one of Decanter’s 2022 Wines of the Year. A gold medallist with a score of 96/100, the maiden 2017 vintage also excelled in the London based 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards. Adding depth to the illustrious 70 year old Roodeberg brand legacy, this multi-faceted, ultra-premium blend embraces the revival of exciting French and Spanish…
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Irresistible al fresco treats to celebrate summer at Mount Nelson

A PICNIC in the garden, an afternoon lounging at the pool, a lavish harvest table lunch, sundowners on the terrace, or a relaxing treatment at the spa - it's all about summer indulgence at the Mount Nelson, a Belmond hotel. Choose one, or a combination of these luxurious treats, and aim even higher with an overnight stay. Afternoon tea at the Nellie is an institution. It's with a touch of…

Passion fruit and Sauvignon Blanc – the perfect pairing

PASSION fruit is a firm favourite South African flavour during summer. With these tropical fruits now in season, we have a fabulous tried-and-tested recipe by renowned executive chef Kerry Kilpin from Steenberg Wine Estate. Says Kerry of this mouthwatering recipe: "Over the years, passion fruit has featured as one of the components of many of my dishes. Passion fruit is one of my favourite …