Franschhoek Tatler - January 2016 by Franschhoek Tatler

January 2016

FRANSCHHOEK Scan the QR code to read the Tatler online

Prince Harry plays polo at Val de Vie

Best of wine tourism awards

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New accident response vehicle for Stellenbosch traffic law enforcers

Stellenbosch Municipality now has a high performance Mercedes A-class 200 CDI in the traffic lawenforcement fleet. This vehicle is sponsored by Mr Rob Brisley, owner of the Merriman Street BP service station and PicknPay Express store. With this vehicle officers, who have undergone specialist accident response training, will be able to quickly get to the scene FLTR: Quinton Smit (Mayco Member: Community Safety), of an accident and more Gerald Esau (Acting Director: Community Services), Alderman Conrad Sidego effectively act against those (Executive Mayor of Stellenbosch), Ms Hermien Swanepoel (Training, education who interfere at accident and accidents in the division: Traffic Law Enforcement), Mr Rob Brisley (owner of BP scenes. “It is of the utmost Merriman Street), Ms Lizelle Stroebel (Head: Traffic Law Enforcement), Mr Johan van Zyl importance that serious (Mercedes Benz, Eikestad) and Ms Janine Waldis (Manager: Traffic Services) with the new accident response vehicle. accident scenes remain “The new vehicle will help us to get to the accident untampered with for forensic purposes,” says Ms scene much faster than the older vehicles in our fleet,” says Hermien Swanepoel. “When officers arrive at the Stroebel. It will also help with crime prevention and make scene long after an accident had occurred, there is a Stellenbosch a safer place for all residents. The vehicle will risk that bystanders could have removed or interfered be operated by Supt Swanepoel who is a highly-qualified with evidence, such as skid marks, where the injured serious accident investigation officer. She has attended a were lying, position of vehicles, point of impact etc.” number of training courses, including high speed driving, Most municipalities have limited financial and human defensive driving and she has years of experience of resources and the sponsored vehicle is an example of the investigating serious accidents. ” private sector joining hands with the public sector. “Our Alderman Conrad Sidego, Executive Mayor officers are reliant on low performance vehicles with of Stellenbosch, says he is grateful for Brisley’s kilometre readings above 200 000 km. We need at least partnership with Stellenbosch Municipality and that another three high spec vehicles for our officers to be able it fits with the area’s overarching vision to be the to do their job effectively,” says Lizelle Stroebel, Head: Traffic innovation capital of South Africa. Law Enforcement.

Sponsorship boost for renewable energy teaching

AltGen Recruitment, a Stellenbosch-based executive search and recruitment firm focussing on the renewable energy and sustainability markets, is sponsoring renewable energy teaching in the valley’s schools up to the value of R20 000. The sponsorship will be used to enable valley teachers to attend the Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) Teacher Professional Development Programme. Marc Barrow, Head of Bridge House Prep, will lead the coordination with the heads of the schools in the valley. According to Sean Gibson, MD of AltGen, “We couldn’t think of a better programme to invest in

than training teachers, to train kids, especially those from schools with fewer resources, about renewable energy – and to help change our world and make it a better place for all.” The CRSES Renewable Energy Schools’ programme was initiated in 2008, to empower teachers to effectively facilitate learning about renewable energy and promote a different use of energy. This is achieved by training teachers about renewable energy and providing them with the appropriate subject materials to ensure they can implement these ideas effectively in classrooms. www.altgen.co.za | www.crses.sun.ac.za

Q&A Analjit Singh

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Franschhoek Tatler

January 2016

Prince Harry wows the crowds at Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup Figueras; commercial property developer and investor, Rupert Hackwill and trained aerospace engineer, Bill Ballhaus on the Royal Salute team. Although it was a close match, it was ultimately the Royal Salute team that won the game 8 to 7, after Bill Ballhaus scored the winning goal seconds before the end of the final chukker was signalled. This skilful move earned Ballhaus the title of ‘most valuable player.’ Comments Ryk Neethling, Marketing Director at Val de Vie Estate: “Hosting this prestigious charity event at Val de Vie was a dream come true for us. We are extremely honoured to have welcomed Prince Harry, Prince Seeiso and all other esteemed guests to our estate for an amazing cause.” Other guests in attendance included businessmen, Patrice Motsepe, Tokyo Sexwale and Sir Martin Sorrell; Olympic gold medallist, Cameron van der Burgh; former Proteas cricket captain, Graeme Smith; TV personality, Minnie Dlamini and UK actress, Laura Main.

All Black 7s at Huguenot Fine Chocolates

It was a real story of Christmas goodwill. Young Tariq Roux of Paarl is seriously ill. His ambition has always been to be an All Black Rugby player and he is a big fan of the team. So, hearing of this, Danver Windvogel and Denver Adonis of Huguenot Fine Chocolates organised the next best thing for him. With the co-operation of Dee J Forbes, the All Black sevens rugby captain, the team visited Franschhoek’s famous chocolaterie to meet with young Tariq and signed a rugby jersey for him. The team also presented him with a poster, full of personalised good wishes. Needless to say Tariq was ecstatic.

Nolan Hoffman clinches 2015 Stellenbosch Cycle Tour victory

Franschhoeker Nolan Hoffman from Team Alfa Body Works clinched the 9th Stellenbosch Cycle Tour title on Sunday, 29 November, in idyllic cycling racing conditions for the front runners, finishing the slightly longer 101km route in 02:20:10 and edging out Evan Carstens (Team Giant Durbanville) by half a tyre width. Team Africa Silks Bestmed’s Anriëtte Schoeman won her second Stellenbosch Cycle Tour title after pipping 2013 winner Jennie Stenerhag (Team Ascendis Health) at Stellenbosch Cycle Tour winners Anriëtte Schoeman and Nolan Hoffman the post to finish in a time “I'm thrilled to win, because I've just come back from of 02:33:54. a bit of a holiday. On any given day, going up against Hoffman was delighted to secure the top spot. “I Jennie is tough because she always brings her A-game. had a good day on the bike – when you're winning it's She was really strong in the race, but I expected that, always a good day! The weather played its part and so I just rode my own race and concentrated on wasn't too hot early on – perfect for riding. Traffic getting myself to the finish line.” services and organisation at this event is always Liberty – Own Your Life Rewards, the value added incredible. For us, the detour didn’t have a big impact services and rewards business for the Liberty Group, – I'm a local boy and I know the roads, so I'm familiar came on board as a sponsor of the event last year as with the route. I'm also used to longer distances so it’s a great way to promote their virtual cycling club, that played in my favour.” ProTouch, says MD Rebecca Elliot. Commenting on her second victory, Schoeman says,

Durable, luxurious

FLTR: Kevin Rixon, Adamu Atta, Malcolm Borwick and Prince Harry share the podium at the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup

Leeu house has opened its doors

Leeu House, an exclusive five-star 12-room boutique hotel in the heart of the village, now welcomes guests to indulge in the ultimate winelands experience, after opening its impressive doors on 1 December. At Leeu House, which is part of Analjit Singh and his team’s Leeu Collection portfolio, key pillars will define the guest experience. These include an impressive art collection of works by some of South Africa’s most celebrated artists; a South African and international style of architecture and design; manicured and detailed landscaping that reflects respect for the environment; superlative service with attention to the smallest detail; spectacular views of the region’s mountains and vineyards; and a world class wine portfolio. Says Hector de Galard, Leeu Collection The rooms at Leeu House are calming and easy on the eye Managing Director, “Quality is a hallmark of experiences steeped in passion and pleasure,” says Analjit. everything we do at Leeu Collection. It defines us.” This initiative has been welcomed by Western With a mantra of attention to detail, Leeu House Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities Alan applies this to every aspect, from cuisine and décor to Winde. “Tourism is one of the biggest job creators service. An attitude that nothing is too much trouble in the Western Cape. Wine tourism, in particular, is deeply ingrained in every staff member and service generates R6 billion nationally. This private sector is intuitive, attentive, discreet and efficient in an investment into the Winelands region speaks to Leeu elegantly refined yet relaxed environment. Collection’s confidence in the Western Cape as a This project started as a personal journey for Leeu business destination. Estates’ owner Analjit Singh (aka BAS), an international “High profile investment in the province drives investor of Indian origin. “Visiting Franschhoek for the economic growth, and confirms what savvy investors first time, the town and surrounding area immediately and travellers have always known – that South Africa held a gripping beauty for me and I felt an immense is an exceptional place that offers great value. We wish sense of place. It is in my DNA to build, to create, to Analjit Singh and Leeu Collection every success.” develop. Leeu Collection is the manifestation of my vision for sophisticated escapes and unique wine country www.leeucollection.com

Fair Donne begunstigdes aangekondig

Die begunstigdes van die Faire Donne mediumkoste behuisingskema in Reservoirstraat Oos is aan die einde van laasjaar aangewys. Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit het gedurende die eerste helfte van 2015 ‘n bemarkingsveldtog geloods om potensiële begunstigdes van die geleenthede by Faire Donne in te lig. Onder andere het artikels in die Franschhoek Tatler en Paarl Post verskyn en is alle munisipale amptenare via e-pos ingelig. Na afloop van hierdie veldtog was daar 136 aansoekers vir die 50 beskikbare erwe. Gedurende ‘n vergadering in die Franschhoek stadsaal op 30 Junie 2015 is die gewysigde kriteria vir potensiële begunstigdes, soos vervat in ‘n stadsraadsresolusie van 23 September 2014, aan die aanwesiges verduidelik. Die kriteria volgens die resolusie was as volg: • potensiële begunstigdes moet in die Franschhoekvallei woon of werk of vir ‘n periode van meer as 3 jaar in

wooden blinds

diens van Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit wees; • voorkeur behandeling sal aan eerste huiskopers gegee word; • voorkeur behandeling sal aan voorheen benadeeldes gegee word in die toewysingsproses; en • indien daar meer kwalifiserende aansoekers is as die aanbod van erwe, sal bogenoemde kriteria in ‘n puntestelsel omskep word ten einde die finale lys van begunstigdes saam te stel. Die lys van goedgekeurde begunstigdes is gedurende Desember 2015 versprei vir kennisname en kommentaar. Indien dit sou blyk dat enige van die goedgekeurde begunstigdes op die lys nie aan die kriteria voldoen nie, sal ‘n tweede keuringsrondte vir aansoeke plaasvind. Enige navrae i.v.m. die Faire Donne projek kan aan die projekbestuurder, Myra Francis, gerig word by: myra.francis@stellenbosch.gov.za of 021 808 8760.

enetian blinds in durable wood give your home that sophisticated look, viewed from inside or out. The timeless elegance will enhance any room or office, as it suits a wide range of decor styles. Only wood from renewable plantations in the Far East is used. Choose from a range of natural wood finishes, each with its distinctive colour – e.g. golden oak, mahogany and cherry – as well as a white lime-wash finish. We supply only products from Taylor, who has been manufacturing quality blinds since 1959. Today the name stands for superior products and excellent service at reasonable prices. We offer an extensive range of blinds and shutters in attractive colours and materials to fit your style and budget. Get the best quality – phone us for a free quotation!

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On Saturday, 28 November 2015, Val de Vie Estate had the privilege of hosting royalty – including Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho – and other honoured guests at the sixth Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup. This was the first time that the event was held on African soil, after being conceptualised by Prince Harry in 2010. This event – the largest one day charity polo event in the world – took place two days after the opening ceremony of Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre in Lesotho. Both events were conceptualised, coordinated and executed by Val de Vie Events (Pty) Ltd. Prince Harry teamed up with founder and CEO of Val de Vie, Martin Venter; Royal Salute ambassador, Malcolm Borwick – who scored the first goal of the match – and businessman, Adamu Atta on the ISPS Handa Sentebale team. They were up against polo enthusiast, Hannes Pickard; one of the world’s top 100 polo players and Sentebale ambassador, Nacho

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Yes, La Petite Ferme has been sold

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La Petite Ferme, listed by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the top 15 'Best Value' establishments in the world, has been the subject of ‘sale talk’ among local folk for some time. After a media luncheon on 25 November the Tatler can confirm that La Petite Ferme does indeed have new owners and new management. The new owners, The NEST Co., place considerable value on the history of La Petite Ferme and have every intention of honouring it. Changes will encompass the enhancing of certain features and the addition of others while preserving the essence of the place. Particular appreciation is afforded to staff who have worked there for the past 25 to 30 years; parents and their children counting among them. Riaan Kruger, sporting enviable hospitality credentials, is the new General Manager, while Purdon Rhode and Melissa McEwen manage the restaurant. In the kitchen work continues under Executive Chef Neethling du Toit and Sous Chef Tanya Rousseau. The new winemaker, Wikus Pretorius, is well known in the Winelands. An alfresco Tapas Bistro under umbrellas outside the cellar door is already drawing the easy eating and drinking crowd. The restaurant layout is to be

redesigned to optimise the view and the outdoor dining area will be enlarged. Fresh seasonal produce from the estate’s vegetable, fruit and herb garden will soon be part of the fare on offer. A further addition to the restaurant offerings is dinner from Thursdays to Sundays during the high season. Wikus is hard at work in the cellar and looking forward to the new bigger winery. He says this will double the farm’s capacity to produce award-winning wines. At the moment a relatively small amount of wine is exported while the rest is either enjoyed in the restaurant or purchased from the tasting room. The upgrades and expansions at La Petite Ferme are incorporated in a five year plan that interestingly includes a recording studio. (No word yet on which famous artists may come calling!) Tennis courts and the conversion of the historic farm cottages at the foot of the hill into luxury accommodation are also on the cards. The existing cellar will, in time, house guest suites with spa and gym facilities. The first of a number of planned La Petite Ferme community initiatives was held on 4 December 2015. A festive Christmas tree decorating day was arranged for a group of foundation phase learners. Children from the six Franschhoek primary schools C

CY CMY

The lawns at La Petite Ferme are ideal for admiring their famous views of the valley.

were invited to come and play at the estate. The little ones were given Christmas hats on arrival and spent their time having fun around the Christmas tree on the lawn. Cultural activities and interactive games kept them busy between the sit-down times

when they enjoyed the treats in their lunch boxes and gift packs. Changes are afoot, but the future seems bright for this Franschhoek icon. www.lapetiteferme.co.za | 021 876 3016

Grande Provence Harvest Festival Saturday, 20 February 2016 Come and join in the laughter and fun as we celebrate the 2016 grape harvest with a day of picking, stomping, tasting wines and enjoying delicious food. After morning coffee and fresh farm baked muffins we greet the day with a tractor ride into the vineyards to pick grapes, followed by a wine tasting and cellar tour hosted by our cellarmaster. Next up is the traditional harvest day grape stomping – your very own barrel of fun! We also have live entertainment and a few other surprises in store for you.

For reservations please contact T 021 876 8600 or E reservations@grandeprovence.co.za

To end the festivities, you can tuck into a lavish harvest buffet lunch expertly prepared by our Executive Chef. Date: Saturday, 20 February 2016 Time: 09h00 Price: R650 per person for adults R350 for children under 12 years Booking is essential. Contact Barbara at T 021-876 8600 or E reservations@grandeprovence.co.za We look forward to sharing our Harvest Festival fun with you.

Main Road Franschhoek PO Box 102 Franschhoek 7690 Western Cape South Africa www.grandeprovence.co.za

Franschhoek Tatler

January 2016

PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH “LES VIGNERONS DE FRANSCHHOEK”

La Couronne Wine Estate

Café Franschhoek’s

2014 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay

Ingredients: 1kg Fresh West Coast Mussels (cleaned) 1 onion finely chopped 1 clove garlic finely chopped 125ml fresh cream 2-3 fresh lemons olive oil handful fresh Italian parsley chopped Salt & pepper to taste 250ml La Couronne wooded Chardonnay

This wine shows outstanding oak and fruit integration with a full, rich, creamy mouth feel of almonds and vanilla with a lingering aftertaste of smoky peach and citrus. Made from 9-year-old vines situated high on the easterly slopes of the Franschhoek Valley where they deliver high yields of premium quality grapes. Cellar Price: R177 per bottle

Chef Herman’s Mussels in White Wine Broth Method: Put a little bit of oil in a deep saucepan. Fry the onion and garlic until soft, but not brown. Add the mussels and the white wine and put the lid on. Let the mussels steam for 5-7 minutes until they have opened. Now add the cream, half the parsley, the seasoning and a good squeeze of lemon juice. Let it cook for another minute or two. Taste for seasoning. Discard any mussels that didn’t open. Put the mussels in a big serving bowl. Scatter the rest of the parsley over the mussels. Serve with some crusty ciabatta bread and more lemon wedges. The recipe can easily be doubled. Serves 1 Café Franschhoek  Tel: 021 876 4542  Email: ilsjec@gmail.com

La Couronne Wine Estate  Tel: 021 876 3939 / 082 495 8579  Email: info@lacouronnewines.co.za

Le Lude

Orangerie @ Le Lude's

Le Lude Brut NV

Gruyère soufflé, grilled asparagus, light crème sauce

Elegant citrus blossoms with fresh lime aromas. Secondary aromas of nougat, roasted nuts and hints of proving dough. Bright, fresh and elegant palate entry. Aromas of grapefruit, ripe lemon and pear forms a structured mid-palate. The mousse shows finesse and texture with a restrained presence. Cellar Price: R200 per bottle

Ingredients: 60 gm butter, 60 gm plain flour, 350 ml hot milk, 80 gm Gruyère (coarsely grated), 20 gm parmesan (coarsely grated), 4 eggs (separated), 1 egg yolk. For dusting: white polenta. Gruyère cream: 200 ml pouring cream, 30 gm Gruyère (coarsely grated), 30 gm parmesan (coarsely grated), 2 egg yolks, bunch asparagus, olive oil

Le Lude  Tel: 087 754 9926  Email: info@lelude.co.za

Method: Preheat oven to 180C. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add flour and stir occasionally until sand-coloured (1-2 minutes). Add milk gradually, stirring until smooth, then whisk in cheeses, season to taste and set aside to cool slightly (10-12 minutes). Add yolks one at a time, beating after each addition. Whisk egg white to soft peaks in a separate bowl and fold into yolk mixture. Divide among six buttered and

polenta-dusted 200ml ramekins. Place ramekins in a deep roasting pan, pour in enough hot water to come halfway up sides of ramekins and bake until golden and puffed (25-30 minutes). Increase oven to 200C. For Gruyère cream, stir ingredients in a small sauce pan, heat over medium heat till the cheese is melted. Drizzle asparagus with a little olive oil then char-grill until tender (1-2 minutes)

Orangerie @ Le Lude  Tel: 087 754 9925.  Email: restaurant@lelude.co.za

Answer this easy question! Who won the Stellenbosch Cycle Tour in November 2015?

MONNEAUX RESTAURANT Tel: +27 (0)21 876 3386 email: info@fch.co.za www.monneaux.co.za

How to enter

Send your answer to: tatlercompetition@gmail.com. The winner will be informed by return mail before 15 January 2016. Prizes have to be collected from the Franschhoek Info Office before end January 2016 or be forfeited.

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

On and Off Course As I enjoy a morning coffee at Essence in the main street, two ladies sitting at the next table are discussing the Paris tragedy. One of the ladies has prepaid for a family holiday to Paris and is due to depart the next weekend. The amiable host, Tim, informs the ladies that the man sitting next to them is actually from France, though now a South African by choice, and has family in Paris. Tim, knowing these ladies are keen golfers, adds that I am known as the golfing tourism guru of South Africa. I am asked if I think it is prudent to go Paris at this time. Obviously from this distance it isn’t an easy answer, but I know the Parisians and they will not succumb to terrorism and I forward the opinion that by the next weekend Parisians will without doubt stubbornly ensure ‘their’ lifestyle is back to normal with a shrug of the shoulders, “C’est la vie on continue.”* It is at this moment that Tim suggests I must be

pleased to be in South Africa as far as golf tourism is concerned. I inform Tim that France has more golf courses than South Africa. “What!” exclaims Tim, “The French don’t play golf!” I am pleased to educate this non- golfer. “You might be surprised to note that a survey in 2011 pointed out that France has 578 golf courses, more than South Africa has. AND currently in professional golf 10 French golfers are in the top 300 in the world. Tim and my newfound lady friends are, I note, not that impressed by my information. I have to make amends and declare that this ‘South African by choice’ has as his gurus of the game; Gary Player, Ernie Els, Charles Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuizen and Trevor Immelman and here I boast that I have played with Ernie and Trevor a few times; but I add, watch out there will be a French invasion into the pinnacle of golf. Without doubt I pick up the reaction that this ‘exaggerating’, biased Frenchman has not convinced his audience. I attach the leader board of last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship held at Leopard Creek: 1st Charl Schwartzel (RSA) – 2nd Gregory Bourdy (France) – 3rd Benjamin Herbert (France) - 4th Sebastien Gros (France)/ Matt Ford (England) – 5th Thomas Linard (France). * ‘C’est la vie on continue.’ That’s life we carry on!’

Benjamin Herbert

Gregory Bourdy

Sebastian Gros

Thomas Linard

Lawrence Gould

They do play golf in France

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E&OE

Franschhoek Tatler

Cellar Chat

Mark Tanner Not so long ago, in a beautiful valley surrounded by magnificent mountains, the farmers tended orchards of apples, peaches and pears. They also grew grapes. The grape harvest was vinified at the local wine cooperative for the wholesalers to taste and buy. Some 10% was bottled for the prime benefit of the farmers who provided the grapes, however, the public was also allowed to purchase. The label showed the Huguenot Monument in all its splendour but this did not sit well with the Church authorities. They felt that wine should not be aligned with an object of such religious significance. The label was changed then, by degrees, the wines of the valley changed also. There was no Haute Cabrière, no Môreson, no Rickety Bridge. At Tracy's you could have your car serviced. You could also drive onto the pavement to fill your tank with a hand pump. FNB was a blacksmith's forge and Reuben's was a stable! Boschendal was far down the road somewhere near Paarl. They, with L'Ormarins and La Motte, made their own wines but the rest of the valley delivered grapes to the cooperative as mentioned. Virtually all the grape production then was white. Only very small amounts of red grapes grew in isolated pockets, so small in fact that they were pressed together with the white grapes, the amount of red being judged 'insignificant'. Enter the three 'Mikes': Michael Pickering, Michael Guassardo and Michael Trull. Michael Pickering ran Chamonix as a model undertaking. Chamonix had the largest of the small pockets of red; a small block of Cabernet Sauvignon, which, like all their production was cared for with the professional attention it deserved. In 1984 the then winemaker, Johan Theron, recognised the superior quality of the fruit and decided to vinify it separately as an experiment. The result was some 400 cases of unusually good Cabernet. This was bottled under the (new) label and it did not take long before a Cape Town wine society discovered it and gave it very favourable publicity. Sales increased. Mr Pickering now felt that if such attention was given to his Cabernet Sauvignon, what would happen if the same attention was given to his Chardonnay, Chenin and other varieties? He then arranged to 'hire' tank space at the cooperative and pay a levy for the vinification – an arrangement that ran afoul of the ‘wine police'. The wine was not an estate wine as it was made by a cooperative. It was also not a cooperative wine as the grapes came from a single estate!

Certification was refused and estates in Stellenbosch and Paarl complained, with some justification, that here was a farmer gaining 'estate' status in the market place without the expense of building their own cellar. Lawyers were consulted. But the valley farmers were resilient and soon Michael Guassardo of Haute Provence and Michael Trull of La Bri also had their harvests treated similarly. In time all three built their own production cellars. By this time the ‘wine police', in all probability guilty of actually consuming these quality, but 'pirated' wines, relented and allowed certification. And so the way forward was established. Valley wines became recognised for their worth and just look at us today!

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January 2016

A cut above the rest GlenWood Grand Duc Chardonnay 2013

They may be hidden away deep in Franschhoek, but don’t underestimate the quality of wines to emerge from GlenWood. Regarded as their flagship wine, GlenWood’s Grand Duc Chardonnay 2013 is indeed a cut above the rest. Grand Duc refers to the largest eagle species in Europe, as well as nobility, and this wine most certainly lives up to its namesakes. Boasting a lineage of international and local awards, its most recent achievement was a 5-star rating in the 2016 edition of the authoritative Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide. Winemaker, DP Burger, who has been at the helm of this boutique wine estate for 25 years, describes the wine as showing outstanding oak and fruit integration. On the palate the wine displays a full, rich, creamy mouth feel of almonds and vanilla, resulting in a lingering aftertaste of smoky peach and citrus. With just under 1 800 bottles produced, the Grand Duc Chardonnay 2013 is ready to enjoy now, or if

Franschhoek Tatler

cellared under the correct conditions, will reach its full potential within the next five to seven years. The wine is best enjoyed with cream-based pasta dishes, roast chicken, spicy Thai foods or any seafood dishes. It is available directly from the cellar at R400 per bottle or specialist wine stores nationwide. GlenWood currently produces three styles of Chardonnay: Grand Duc, Vignerons Selection and an Unoaked Chardonnay. The Vignerons Selection boasts a number of international and local awards over the years, which includes a Decanter Gold medal for the Best South African Chardonnay; Best Chardonnay at the SA Terroir Wine Awards; numerous Veritas Double Gold awards as well as being selected for SAA’s Premium Wine Selection. GlenWood was developed from scratch over the last 30 years to become one of South Africa’s leading wine producers and currently exports mainly to European countries. The grapes sourced for their wines are all vinified on GlenWood, thereby reflecting the unique terroir of the Franschhoek Wine Valley. www.glenwoodvineyards.co.za | 021 876 2044

New chef, new menu for Haute Cabrière Cellar restaurant

Haute Cabrière has long charmed visitors with its marriage of fine wine and gourmet cuisine. With the arrival of new Head Chef Dennis Strydom, this family-owned estate is adjusting the menu at its Cellar Restaurant to offer a more relaxed bistro-style experience to winelands travellers. “When I think about food my mind goes straight to my grandmother’s house on our family farm in the Langkloof. Her cooking was all about delicious, honest food,” says Strydom, who trained at the historic Queen’s Hotel in Oudtshoorn before taking up chef positions at boutique hotels and five-star lodges across the Garden Route and Eastern Cape. On Strydom’s revamped à la carte menu that finds expression in an array of bistro-inspired dishes given a touch of culinary class: a generous cut of sirloin steak is cooked sous vide, then pan-seared and topped with anchovy butter and Béarnaise sauce, while a slowbraised pork belly is plated atop mushroom ragoût complemented by a crispy white bean croquette. Embracing the Haute Cabrière philosophy of SunSoil-Vine-Man, a key component of this young chef ’s philosophy is to let the finest local produce shine through in each and every dish. “I want my food to be honest; no gimmicks. Everything on the plate needs to be there for a reason,” explains Strydom. With fond childhood memories of growing up on a farm, Strydom is eager to incorporate fresh produce from the restaurant’s expansive vegetable gardens into the three- or six-course tasting menu; the upscale option for diners seeking a culinary journey through the farm’s food and wine offering. “The tasting menu will be built around what is available in the vegetable garden on the farm, changing daily to reflect what is fresh and in season,” explains Strydom. “I believe a tasting menu needs to be a different experience to the à la carte, it needs to be a unique offering.” Strydom works closely with cellar master Takuan von Arnim in pairing each dish on both the à la carte and tasting menus with wines from the estate. The Tasting Menu offers two options: R345 for 3 courses, or R465 for 6 courses including a glass of the recommended wine with each course on both options.

Chef Dennis Strydom

While the new à la carte and tasting offering cement Haute Cabrière’s position as a sought-after destination-dining venue, the casual terrace menu remains hugely popular with tourists and travellers looking for a light bite before or after a wine tasting experience in the cellar. The terrace menu has been tweaked to offer similarly generous bistro fare, with delicious choices stretching to a platter of local cheeses and charcuterie or a homemade burger topped with Healey’s mature cheddar. The terrace menu is available from Tuesday to Saturday from 15h00 - 17h30 during the summer season. Another welcome new addition is the opportunity for guests to enjoy dinner al fresco, soaking up some of the finest sunset views of the valley from the spacious lawns framing the cellar. The ‘Piccolo’ children’s menu has also been revamped with a kidfriendly selection including a ‘piccolo pasta’ and finger-friendly toasted sandwiches. Haute Cabrière’s Tasting Room and Cellar Restaurant are both situated on Franschhoek Pass (Lambrechts Street). The Cellar Restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday and on Sunday for lunch only. The Tasting Room hours are: Mon to Fri 09h00 - 17h00; Sat 10h00 - 16h00 and Sunday 11h00 - 16h00 restaurant@cabriere.co.za | 021 876 3688

Local winners at 2016 Best of Wine Tourism Awards

The Great Wine Capitals Global Network Best of Wine Tourism Awards celebrate innovation and excellence in wine tourism throughout the eight greatest wine regions in the world. The latest awards again included Franschhoek estates. Boschendal proudly received the Regional Award for Accommodation. At the estate 22 farm workers’ cottages have been restored and renovated in stylish simplicity. The cottages incorporate every luxurious comfort while retaining the rural charm of a traditional farm stay. Many of the cottages were originally designed by Sir Herbert Baker, including Rhodes Cottage at the foot of the Simonsberg. La Motte won the Regional Award for Wine Tourism Service for its excellence in the cellar door service offering. “We are delighted with this recognition among very strong competition”, says La Motte CEO Hein Koegelenberg. “We strive towards giving all visitors to the estate an exceptional

experience – whether they aim to be entertained, educated or only to enjoy. With attention to detail, beautiful surroundings and a warm and hospitable team welcoming guests to the estate, a visit to La Motte should always exceed expectations.”

Tapas Bistro now open! Come and enjoy Tapas of the World at our new alfresco Tapas Bistro. To make your reservation call 021 876 3016 or email restaurant@lapetiteferme.co.za

www.lapetiteferme.co.za La Petite Ferme Wine Estate, Franschhoek Pass Rd, Franschhoek, 7690

Franschhoek Tatler

Dancing her way across the world

January 2016

Two different picnic experiences now available at Boschendal

Marlis Hillenbrand and her state of the art dance studio.

German-born Marlis Hillenbrand and her husband have visited South Africa several times over the past few years. During these visits they fell so deeply in love with Franschhoek that they decided to move here in April 2014. Marlis felt that Franschhoek is world-renowned for its fine art, food and wine, but was lacking in the performing arts sphere. Thus she decided to open her own dance studio, Le Grand Plié Dance School – in Fabriek Street, near the Franschhoek Health Club – where she teaches ballet, modern theatre dance, jazz, and tap – as well as offering musical workshops for students of all ages. “We aim to expand on the arts and culture portfolio of Franschhoek, and offer people of all ages an alternative source of entertainment,” she says. “My journey into the dancing world started with seeing the 1948 film The Red Shoes,” says Marlis. “For a while, I was fascinated by rock ’n roll and flamenco. But I felt like something was missing when I remembered how I felt watching The Red Shoes. So I bought myself a little pink leotard with a skirt on it, to feel a bit more like my screen idols. I was actually slightly too old to wear that particular leotard at the time. But I felt like a princess, and that’s all that mattered!” Marlis started out taking jazz dance classes until she found out that in order to be as good a dancer as she wanted to be she had to take ballet classes too. She then furthered her dance education with a Musical Performer and Dance Teacher diploma in the jazz and tap disciplines, at the New York City Dance School in Stuttgart, Germany. “After that I went to New York, where I landed my first speaking part in a musical!” she enthuses. “New York is the place for dancing. You can do it all day and still not want to stop by the time you have to go to bed.” “From there I went to Miami, where I worked in modelling and commercials, before joining a dance

group in Japan.” Next came a foray into the world of cruise ship entertainment where she discovered the joys of choreography. Doing this convinced her to get a more formal qualification, this time in teaching Checchetti Ballet and Modern Theatre Dance. Between work on cruise liners, television shows and musicals Marlis started giving workshops in jazz dance and ballet. Then, from 2007 – 2010, she did her ISTD (The Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) Teaching Diploma. This led to her becoming a full-time ballet and jazz dance teacher at a ballet school in Kehl, Germany. “At Le Grand Plié Dance School,” Marlis says, I cater for people of all ages who are passionate about learning to dance, whether it be professionally, as a means of expression, for fitness, or just to have fun.” Classes on offer at the studio, with its professionally padded dance floor, include: Cecchetti Ballet, Modern Theatre Dance, Free Jazz Dance, Latin Jazz Dance, Ballet, Ballet Fitness, Tap, Hip Hop, Salsa and Senior Citizen Dance. Workshops are offered on weekends. As a specialised choreographer, Marlis also offers one-on-one dance classes for personal or special events; be it a grand wine cellar opening, wedding day, or birthday. The studio’s tuition fees are structured around the school terms to accommodate scholars and monthly for adults. Class durations range from a quick 30 minute option to a full 60 minute class – depending on clients’ schedules. All persons interested in dance classes should to pick up their enrolment forms from the school when it opens on 12 January 2016. “We understand that finding the perfect fit in dance classes is as important as finding the perfect ballet shoes, so we offer the first lesson as a free trial for both children and adults,” concludes Marlis. www.legrandpliedanceschool.co.za | 079 103 4317

Picnic sites at Rhone Homestead are serviced. Here Eugene Fortuin keeps the glasses topped up with the historic homestead in the background.

With dramatic mountain views framing the lush lawns of Boschendal estate, it’s no surprise that picnics at Boschendal have been one of the most popular outdoor options in the Cape Winelands for decades. With a fresh breeze of innovation blowing through the farm, it was time to freshen up the picnics too and Boschendal now offers two distinctly different options. The classic Boschendal picnic has relocated to the lawns of the Rhone Homestead, which forms the wine-making and wine-tasting hub of the estate. The picnic area is surrounded by the exhibition vineyards, the Rhone Homestead, the Cellar Door and Winery. Picnic baskets can be enjoyed at carefully-laid out tables or on a picnic blanket under the shady oak trees that surround the lawn. The picnics are fully serviced. The cost is R440 for two adults who share and R85 for kids under 12. (This includes a 10% service fee, but excludes beverages). Open daily. The Werf Garden Picnics are a more casual

affair under the trees on the Pavilion lawn. This area is adjacent to the main werf and the farm-totable food hub. Werf picnic baskets include simple, nutritious food made from natural farm produce and wholesome items made by Boschendal’s bakers, butchers, and chefs. Chill out in hammocks, flop in a bean bag or grab a blanket to find the perfect spot. Guests are welcome to bring a folding chair. The area is child-friendly with a jungle gym and acres of garden to play in. This is a partially serviced area. The cost is R360 for a basket for two, R195 for a basket for one and R85 for young children. This excludes beverages. Open Wednesday to Sunday. The chefs use produce grown naturally on Boschendal or sourced from local artisan producers to create generous picnic baskets packed with delicious and wholesome farm food. The seasonal picnic menus change depending on what the food garden is producing. To view the picnic menus, visit the Boschendal website. www.boschendal.co.za | (021) 870-4272

Porcupine Ridge adds Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay

Boekenhoutskloof ’s original ‘value range’, Porcupine Ridge, has recently expanded with the introduction of two new wines: a lightly oaked Chardonnay 2014 with creamy citrus appeal, and a vibrant Chenin Blanc 2014 with a beautiful stone fruit character typical of the variety. The wines are packaged with screw cap closures and offer great value, retailing nationally at leading liquor stores and grocers between R36 and R42 a bottle. Boekenhoutskloof estate has gained cult status both locally and internationally, with a stellar reputation built as much on the outstanding value of the estate’s everyday wines, as it is on the quality of the flagship bottles. “Boekenhoutskloof ’s Marc Kent is a master of the value wine market (as he is at the other extreme),” commented Michael Fridjhon in Business Day on 14 August 2015. The Porcupine Ridge wines are a firm favourite on tables throughout the world – offering great value and superb drinking. This range of wines was proudly named after a celebrated local, the Cape Porcupine, a most unique and fascinating inhabitant of the farm. In its honour, Boekenhoutskloof estate founded the Porcupine Quest to understand more about this animal and its role in promoting biodiversity in the Cape, and to be actively involved in its conservation. “We’re very excited to be sponsoring this initiative,” says Boekenhoutskloof ’s Kent, “The porcupine is a vital part of our biodiversity and we need to understand more about its role. He’s been on our label for years as a symbol of our valley’s wildlife; this is a great opportunity to

get to know him better. We think it’s the least we can do for our favourite figurehead.” The Porcupine Ridge Chenin Blanc 2014 shows vibrant upfront flavours of yellow cling peach, nectarine and hints of pear and pineapple. These tropical fruit flavours follow through onto a rounded mid-palate showing good weight and a fresh, yet balanced, acidity. The stone fruit on the nose and palate, as well as a slight spiciness, lingers on the finish. Best paired with rich fish dishes like salmon, crayfish and prawns, or grilled chicken. For the maiden vintage Porcupine Ridge Chardonnay 2014 grapes from Elgin, Wellington and Robertson were used. The wine was partially fermented in barrel and then racked from its gross lees into older French oak barriques to accentuate the fresh citrus fruit aromas Chardonnay offers. The wine has a zesty, limey nose showing ripe lemons, grapefruit and even a hint of lemongrass. Vibrant citrus fruit flavours dominate the mid-palate which shows integrated acidity, a medium body and a fresh mouthfeel, all supported by understated French oak flavours. Great with pork belly, creamy pastas, mild Indian curry, or fried line fish. The Porcupine Ridge range of wines now includes a Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier Grenache Blanc white blend, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and a Syrah Mourvèdre red blend. Porcupine Ridge is a proud sponsor of the Franschhoek Literary Festival. www.boekenhoutskloof.co.za | 021 876 3320

DAVE ROBERTSON Partly Cloudy 180 x 120 cm

MATERIAL(I)SATION

A GROUP EXHIBITION CURATED BY AIDON WESTCOTT 16 JAN - 8 FEB 2016

This will be our first exhibition in our new gallery on the Main road. Please come and join us on the 16th January at 11 am for a glass of wine to celebrate this important milestone for the gallery.

Open Monday - Sunday 9 am - 6 pm Tel: +27 (0)21 876 4280

38 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek www.artintheyard.co.za

L O CA L & I N T E R N AT I O N A L A R T

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Breast cancer: more hope, less fear Taking a closer look at the tremendous advances of the past decade Breast cancer awareness messages are widely communicated during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October with the hope that more women will get themselves tested. While awareness has been vital in improving survival among breast cancer patients, what is often overlooked is the tremendous advances that have been made in this field of medicine in the last decade or so. We are better at diagnosis “‘Imaging’ technology has taken great strides and we can visualise the tissue inside the breast in ways that were not possible a few years ago and find the traces of cancer in time to take rapid and effective action,” says Dr Carol Ann Benn of The Breast Cancer Centre of Excellence, based at Netcare Milpark Hospital, in Johannesburg. “Better diagnostic techniques mean less time under the radiographer’s scrutiny, and less need to repeat the procedure. This results in lower doses of radiation, which is good for all patients.” We understand the cancer better “We have also refined our classification of different types of breast cancer, which helps oncologists to put together personalised treatment regimes for patients,” adds Dr Benn. “Genetic tests on breast tissue samples means medical professionals have a vastly improved understanding of both how the cancer will behave and also, critically, how to tailor-make treatment for individual cases.” In the past, chemotherapy was usually standard. Now, some breast cancer patients may only need to undergo, for example, endocrine therapy, rather than adding chemotherapy to the mix. We are getting much better at targeted therapy “Newer drugs target specific markers on cancer cells. Instead of using a hammer to squash a bug, so to speak, these therapies tackle very particular aspects of each different cancer variant. This means they work better and the patient is exposed to fewer medications and treatment modalities,” Dr Benn observes. There are many more such specific therapies in the pipeline that hold promise in the treatment of other subsets of breast cancer, in particular the triple negative cancers,” says Dr Benn. “The triple negative is a particular type of breast cancer, characterised by its biological aggressiveness, worse prognosis and lack of a

therapeutic target, in contrast with other breast cancers. Triple negative has been a challenging form of breast cancer to treat, but these are promising advances.” We do surgery better “Not too long ago, treatment of breast cancer was clear-cut: a diagnosis meant a mastectomy – remove the breast, and, if there was any risk that it had moved into the lymph nodes in the armpits, take away a lot more tissue, too.” Now, wherever possible, surgeons remove lumps and carefully preserve as much of the breast as possible. If they have to remove the breast, they work very carefully to ensure the best possible options for reconstruction. “The international guidelines for radiation have changed, with most oncologists accepting that if there is any nodal disease, radiation is preferred. This means more careful selection of reconstructive techniques used, and less use of prosthetic material. This is because the potential for higher complication rates, with the combination of radiation and prostheses, needs to be discussed carefully with patients,” notes Dr Benn. We have better surgical technology Less time in theatre with more accurate and efficient surgery is a win-win for both patient and doctor. Technology such as Faxitron’s Biovision Intraoperative Margin Assessment probe, is a mobile, surgical specimen radiography system, which is more effective and saves time in the operating theatre. According to Dr Benn, in cases where the surgeons need to ‘image’ the breast during surgery, the option of doing ‘intraoperative digital mammography’, or imaging on the spot during surgery, is another benefit. “The imaging can be performed in the operating room, which provides immediate results to surgeons without having to wait for specimen radiographs to be returned to the operating room. The quality of the images is better and there is less imaging time required,” notes Dr Benn. So, while none of us can afford to relax our vigilance – we should all still be doing our selfexaminations and having regular mammography examinations – we can certainly look forward knowing that great progress has been made in this field, and that there is immense hope for the future for breast cancer patients.

Dr Glynn Till DC (USA), FCCS (Can) Practice Number: 040 1110 Registration Number: A07609

Chiropractic Specialist Clinician Low back, Mid-back and Neck Pains Myofascial Pain Syndromes (“trigger points”) Sciatica & Brachial Neuralgia TMJ Problems Sports Injuries Headaches Arthritis

57 Cabriere Street, Franschhoek, 7690 Cell: 073 227 1851

The Lavender Room Franschhoek Health Club

Independently run, friendly salon offering facials, pedicures, Swedish massage, waxing and manicures. Come by for your complimentary Vitaderm mini facial and skin analysis.

Special offer this month! Luxurious pedicure Using ‘The Blue Lemon’ natural and organic products & Vitaderm’s Hydro Intensive Facial @ R500 Contact Tina Donald 0825787877

SINCE 1994

1 Main Road · T. 021 876 3543 · SMS/WhatsApp 071 504 3641 info@clarinsinfranschhoek.co.za · www.clarinsinfranschhoek.co.za /FranschhoekSkincare

Make - up

TREATMENTS AND GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Franschhoek Tatler

SHOWROOM: Unit 80C Village Artisan Cabriére Street Franschhoek

January 2016

021 876 2082

paintsmiths@franschhoek.co.za

FRANSCHHOEK’S SPECIALIST PAINT SHOP We stock a full range of Midas, environmentally friendly paints (water and oil based) and Earthcote specialised, textured trowel-on and brush-on products for wall surfaces (300 colours to choose from) as well as cement floor finishes which are on display in our showroom with many colours to choose from. We also stock waterproofing products, Plascon water and oil based paints. Hamilton’s paint brushes, rollers, crack fillers, sand paper, masking and buff tapes, turpentine, lacquer thinners and putty. For DIY enthusiasts, we stock ladders, overalls, dropsheets and paint trays. All textures and colours are on show in our showroom. Pop in and have a coffee with us, whilst leisurely selecting your paints and colours.

For FREE technical advice, specifications and painting quotations contact Paul 082 567 6162

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

The men’s boutique in the heart of the winelands.

We stock: Scotch & Soda, Polo, Pringle, Deacon, Goliath, Silent Theory and our own Peacock Blue line.

FRANSCHHOEK 50 Huguenot Street 021 876 4691 STELLENBOSCH 14 Bird Street 021 882 9996

w w w. p e a c o c k b l u e . c o. z a

Tatler Motoring Michele Lupini

Franschhoek racers slay 9-hour giants

Local men come away smiling from endurance race epic If you’d asked any of us how our South African 9-hour Endurance race would transpire, we’d never have guessed where we would end up. But come the end of the race, one of our cars was third overall on Index of Performance and despite the other car retiring late in the race, it was a quite incredible fifth overall in a commanding class and index lead at that point. Our two AutoNews Golf 1s’ story started weeks before the race, when race organisers said former kart racer, Bridge House grade 7 scholar Giordano Lupini, still lacked the necessary big track experience to race in the 9-hour alongside dad Michele in their Takis/AutoNews Golf GTI. Rather than miss out, Giordano asked his dad if he could be team manager. So Michele shifted over to Ebrahim Levy’s similar number 45 Jive team AutoWeek Golf alongside Levy and David Walker, while Giordano managed a team comprising Jozi youngster Zander Roos, KZN racer Steve Truter and Cape driver Ernst Viljoen aboard Giordano’s regular #16 Golf. Michele and his fellow karting dad teammates qualified a handy 20th overall and fifth in class, with Giordano’s team lining up 23rd overall and 7th in class. By the time Levy handed the 45 over to Walker

at 90 minutes, it was third in class and 16th overall and by the time Dave Walker handed car 45 over to Franschhoek driver Michele Lupini at 3 hours, they were second in class and 12th overall. By mid-distance, Lupini gave car 45 back to Walker in 8th overall and in a strong lead both in class and overall on Index of Performance, which scores each car on its average race pace versus its quickest lap time. Then a quickly remedied electrical problem, not long into Walker’s second stint, dropped them back to second in class and 9th overall, but the team was soon back in a strong class and index lead and a quite incredible fifth overall, but an exploded differential ended that team’s dream run with just two hours to run. All through this, the younger Lupini had managed his charges up to second in class and before too long Roos, Truter and Viljoen found themselves in the class lead as night fell. But they were under siege from Gauteng driver Gavin Ross’ significantly faster VW Polo, which came back from two laps adrift to steal that class win with 24 minutes left to run. Still, second in class and 11th overall was an amazing performance for Zander Roos, Steve Truter and Ernst Viljoen, who brought one of the slowest cars on the grid home third on Index of Performance and a major feather in the cap for them and Giordano Lupini, who managed the team’s efforts with the aplomb of a veteran. Seventeen of 27 starters finished the race won by Francis Carruthers, Nick Adcock and Johan Engelbrecht in a Juno sports prototype, from GT winners Jan Lammers, Sarel van der Merwe and Greg Mills’ Ginetta, which ultimately won Index of Performance ahead of the overall winning Juno and the giant-killing Roos/Truter/Viljoen VW Golf, which once again proved the age-old endurance racing legend of that tortoise and that hare…

Ernst Viljoen, Steve Truter, Zander Roos and Giordano Lupini were all smiles after an unexpectedly strong 9-hour finish.

Franschhoek Tatler

Gardening in January

Plant of the Month

Natie Ferreira

Now that all the festivities are over and we are back to reality, it is time to gaze into the crystal ball once again and try and see what trends we can expect in the year ahead. I will start by briefly going through my trend forecasts of the past two years and see which ones made it beyond talking and writing. Growing your own food is still big; and set to become the trend of the decade if not century. This has now spilled over from private gardens into public spaces with urban farming being the new buzzword. Keeping your own chickens or ducks has not caught on as much as predicted – many people talk about it, but few take the leap to actually do it. So I will hang onto this one and keep it on my trends list for 2016. Soil is as big as predicted – people are seeing the benefit of healthy soils and research papers are released on a regular basis; showing not only the link between healthy soil and healthy food, but also the therapeutic benefits of physical contact with the microbes in the soil. This is indeed exciting and I can hardly wait to see where all this is leading to. I still see too many gardeners reaching for toxins when trying to solve a pest or disease problem. One just has to look at the size of the organic vs conventional sections on any pesticide shelf; be it at a nursery or your local hardware store or farm store to see that there is still a long way to go. Outdoor living is a growing trend. I see this in gardens all over. Fire pits, functional playparks, natural pools, extensive vegetable gardens and outdoor rooms are happening all around us, even in the tiniest of gardens. My forecast of a move away from geometric lines towards a more natural approach may have been a bit premature, but I will keep that one on the list too. Locally, gardening in 2016 might initially be overshadowed by the drought conditions and subsequent water restrictions. This will make water conservation trendy, whether we like it or not. I see a movement back to zoned garden areas where you focus your available irrigation only on certain plants and let the rest of the garden hang on for survival until the rain comes. Xeriscaping will become a buzzword – landscaping with minimal water. Maybe we can start a #LawnsMustFall movement! But seriously, trying to keep your lawn lush and green during these times is not only wasteful, it borders on being irresponsible. Letting grass go brown in summer will not cause it to die, it only becomes dormant and will bounce back within days after some rain. So I see brown lawns as becoming a big trend this summer – brown is the new green. On the design front I see a move towards pet friendly gardens. You can probably call it dog-scaping. People are asking what the effect of garden products will be on their pets. They also don’t mind the odd bit of damage done by furry friends. I’ve even designed and installed a pet cemetery a while ago! Gardens will become an extension of the home, with the personality of the gardener extended into the landscape. Health-scaping will also become trendy, with food gardening expanding beyond providing only eats, to

Frankie Brookes

Celebrate with Salvias

drinks, medicine and beauty products. Gardening itself is moving away from being a chore to becoming a hobby and preferred work-out; and for many of us, much-needed stress release. Sharing all of this on social media will obviously bring the attention it deserves. To summarise, watch out for these three major buzzwords: dog-scaping, xeriscaping and healthscaping. Happy gardening and may 2016 see you in the best of health, wealth and happiness.

Christmas may be over, but that doesn’t mean you cannot continue with a red and green theme in your garden and other outside areas! Why not plant up a couple of trays of the dwarf varieties of Salvia splendens, also known as Red or Scarlet Salvias, into some small table-sized pots which can be used for table decorations? Planting the regular sized Salvia into beds and then cutting them for vases would also work beautifully. It would be best to purchase seedlings for this exercise rather than try growing them from seed, unless you’ve already started! The seedlings in the garden centres generally have a few flowers on the plants so as soon as they are planted you have instant colour. As they grow and fill out, more and more blooms are produced, ensuring that your colour spectacle just gets better. With a bit of care, most bedding plants will give you a minimum of six months’ worth of flowers, with many that keep on producing for a whole year.

Successful pot displays, no matter how small, always require that the soil is prepared well and good drainage is a prerequisite. Add a good general-purpose fertiliser into the soil before planting and do not pull the seedlings out of the tray by their stem or leaves, as this will damage them. Rather push them out from below. Don’t bury the stems of the seedlings when planting; rather plant them to the depth that they are in the seedling tray. After planting, water regularly until they are established and even though salvias are not thirsty plants, if you potted them up with one seedling per pot into small pots, they could dry out very quickly and may need to be monitored more regularly. The watering requirement for the smaller pots is especially true in light of the fact that salvias prefer direct sunlight which brings out their rich red colour even more. They do perform well in dappled shade too though, so if you’re not able to monitor the watering of the smaller pots as frequently as would be necessary in direct sun, then rather play it safe under some cover. If you’re the relative who often surprises with something different on special occasions, this is the one for you. A word of caution though, when shopping for your seedlings, be sure to make certain of the colour because even though Salvia splendens is most commonly referred to as Red Salvias, it is actually available in a whole range of colours! www.lifeisagarden.co.za

Rainfall Figures Measured at La Cotte/Nerina Street for periods indicated mm/year 2003

Franschhoek Open Gardens Festival

With the festive season behind us, we are already looking towards the 2016 Open Gardens weekend. This year’s festival will take place on 21, 22 and 23 October. We already have many owners willing to put their lovely gardens on show, but are always looking for new ones to include. The 2015 festival was perhaps the most successful so far – we were blessed with perfect weather – and as a result the village was awash with roses. All the gardens were looking stunning, a credit to the owners, and to all who put in so much work and dedication to present them at their best. We received a record amount in ticket sales for entry to the ten gardens on show – five of which had not been shown before. The 2015 initiative to introduce live music in several of the gardens was very much appreciated – our thanks go to the very talented family who form the Manroses group and also to the four very confident young musicians from Bridge House. The plant sale was hugely successful, and added a record amount to the funds the festival raised for Fleur de Lis. The garden in a pot competition was again very popular; there were some lovely and inspired entries this year and prizes were awarded to Silvie Adonis (1st), Richard Banda (2nd) and Chris Fredericks (3rd). We hope to make this competition a regular feature. Fransvliet put themselves on the Open Gardens map, by not only showing their very different and varied garden for the first time, but by serving a memorable tea and considerably increasing the funds raised. Grande Provence also contributed by providing scones and cream and a wine tasting – again, all proceeds generously added to the funds for Fleur de Lis. It would be impossible to name all those who worked so hard to make this such a very successful weekend, but briefly, we would like to thank all the garden owners and their helpers, the army of volunteers who “sat” the gardens, those who raised plants for sale and all those who helped sell them, and the many in the

January 2016

The Garden in a Pot finalists drew much attention.

village who donate regularly to this event. To all of these, plus the many garden enthusiasts from home and abroad whose support keeps this event going, our grateful thanks, and don’t forget the dates for 2016: 21, 22 and 23 October.

mm/month 2014

824

2004

709

2005

916

2006

884

Dam Levels 2015

Month

Accumulative

Month

Accumulative

January

February

March

150

As at 16 November 2015 Steenbras Upper

85.6%

Steenbras Lower

77.1%

Wemmershoek

65.0%

2007

1153

April

200

2008

1217

May

120

320

106

Voëlvlei

40.5%

June

260

580

166

272

Theewaterskloof

71.2%

July

135

715

190

462

August

162

877

551

Berg River Dam

83.5%

2009

978

2010

740

2011

830

September

941

592

Total Storage

2012

1079

October

954

603

67.7%

2013

1471

November

1026

2014

1033

December

1033

This Time Last Year 81.2% - 98.5%

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Hospice News Colleen Douglas

Franschhoek Hospice held a Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) TB workshop for all staff, volunteers and health networking partners on 26 November 2015. Our guest speaker was Petra Nel from Nor SA – an organisation serving the Wellington and De Doorns areas. This presentation was so informative that we decided inform the community of Hospice’s role in TB care. TB is caused by a bacterial infection usually occurring in the lungs. The infection is spread by droplet spray e.g., sneezing and coughing. Signs and symptoms in adults include: a cough lasting more than 2 weeks, weight loss, night sweats/fever and swollen glands. Signs and symptoms in children include: lethargy, fever/cough lasting longer that 2 weeks, poor appetite and swollen glands. Children are at high risk if there is a confirmed TB carrier in the home. Diagnosis is made on sputum collected in adults and mantoux testing and x-rays in children. Treatment is taken daily for 6 months. Contrary to some perceptions tb can be cured! MDR TB treatment takes 2 years or longer. Treatment consists of daily injections for 2 months and total of up to 27 tablets per day. This treatment is very expensive and these patients are cared for in the community. Hospice’s role in TB care in the community Hospice currently cares or 75 adults and 8 children with TB. Of these 10 adults and 1 child have MDR TB. Twenty nine children under 5 years old are on INH

Skoolnuus

Hoof prefekte 2016 Hoërskool Franschhoek se hoofprefekte vir 2016 is Taylon Jafthas en Ethan September. Bridge House School’s student leaders for 2016 are Rebecca Visser and Cameron Shepherd. Ons kon nie die name van Groendal Sekondêr se hoofprefekte betyds bekom nie en hoop om dit in ons volgende uitgawe te kan plaas.

TB preventative treatment and 2 children are on MDR preventative treatment. The treatment duration is 6 months. Our community carers visit the patients daily and ensure they take their medication (known as DOTS – Direct Observation Treatment Support) and go to the clinic for sputum collection and collection of medication. The community carers’ focus is on contact tracing in the case of young children and referring them to the clinic for TB screening. Health education is given to the patient and all family members i.e. keeping windows open; cough hygiene; healthy eating and lifestyle; and knowing your HIV status. Defaulters – patients who do not complete their treatment, move away and return to clinic are a huge problem in the community and are traced and educated by clinic and Hospice staff and are encouraged to return and restart their treatment. We trust that this information will give you insight into some of the work and care that Hospice delivers. A few belated ‘thank yous’: • Colleen Goosen, our guest speaker at the Volunteers Tea, gave a very interesting talk on Perfumery and three lucky guests received a gift pack from Franscents of Franschhoek. • NG Kerk for acknowledging the work that Hospice does and donating the door collection from the Carol Service of R8861.70 • ·Methodist Church for their continued support of non- perishable food for our patients. We delivered 150 Christmas Boxes to our patients, supplied and beautifully decorated by Pat Morgan, Marelize and Evelyn, packed with delicious eats and refreshments donated by the following; Nadia, Ann, Barbara, Yvonne, Liz, Elizabeth, Margo, Dords, Helen and Rachel. Thank you to all!

Hoërskool Franschhoek pryswenners Lauren-Leigh Fortuin was die taaluitblinker by die Hoërskool Franschhoek se 2015 jaareind prysuitdeling. Sy het pryse gewen vir die beste presteerder in Afrikaans deur ‚n Afrikaanssprekende leerder in Graad 12 (toegeken deur die Franschhoek Klub); die beste presteerder in Afrikaans; die beste Afrikaanssprekende leerder in Engels en die beste presteerder in beide Afrikaans en Engels. Rhonwen Johnson (2015 se hoofseun) het die toekenning ontvang vir die veelsydigste sportman.

Rotary News Mark Tanner

The Rotary Club of Franschhoek Valley is currently involved in various projects in the area including a crèche in Groendal. Rotary also sponsors a RYLA

January 2016 programme (Rotary Youth Leadership Awareness) for selected students. These may be seen on our website www.rotary-franschhoek.com. In conjunction with clubs in other countries, Rotary shares not only the element of fellowship but also co-sponsorship for local projects. We meet on Thursdays at Café Franschhoek at 19h00. Visitors are welcome. For more information please contact Mark Tanner on 0827739217 or visit www.rotary-franschhoek.com.

Tweede gospel album vir Franschhoeker

Christine Jefthas het op Sondag, 29 November 2015, haar tweede gospel album bekendgestel by die Lord’s Acre Mission in Groendal. Ten spyte van snikhete weer was die Lord’s Acre Mission volgepak met ondersteuners en gemeentelede wat díe spesiale geleentheid kom vier het. Die album, I Want To Seek Your Face, volg 7 jaar na Christine se eerste album. Christine sê sy was geïnspireer om die album te maak nadat sy en haar gesin ‘n ernstige motorongeluk oorleef het. Die eerse snit op die album, You saved us, spreek dan ook van haar dankbaarheid dat hulle die ongeluk oorleef het. Die album bevat ‘n kombinasie van gebede, getuienis en lofsang en spog ook met die stemme van die Lord’s Acre koor.

FREMCO beurse: sperdatum nader

Vir skoolverlaters word hierdie tyd van die jaar gekenmerk deur ‘wag om te hoor’ – wag om te hoor oor matriekuitslae, wag om te hoor oor kollegetoelatings en, vir sommiges, wag om te hoor oor beurse. Skoolverlaters in wyke 1, 2 en 3 kan egter nie te lank wag nie – veral indien hulle om FREMCO beurse aansoek wil doen. Volgens Me Ruth Morgan, Voorsitter van die FREMCO Beurskommittee, is die sperdatum vir 2016 beursaansoeke reeds 18 Januarie 2016. Om administrasie te vergemaklik is die aansoekproses nou grootliks elektronies en aansoekers moet die vorms aanvra deur ‘n versoek te stuur na fremco.admin@iafrica.com . Aansoekers sonder rekenaartoegang sal rekenaartyd kan bespreek by Groendal Sekondêr en Hoërskool Franschhoek

om hulle aansoeke te voltooi. Onderhoude sal op 23 en 30 Januarie met aansoekers gevoer word en die suksesvolle aansoekers sal op 6 Februarie ingelig word dat hulle aansoeke goedgekeur is. Me Morgan sê “Die geweldige behoefte aan studiebeurse in die gemeenskap word duidelik weerspieël in die toename in die bedrag aan studiebeurse wat gedurende elk van die afgelope 4 jare toegeken is. FREMCO se fondse is nie onbeperk nie en, soos elke jaar, sal ons moeilike besluite moet neem. Ons werk egter aan ‘n plan om meer fondse vir die beursprogram in te samel.” Navrae i.v.m. FREMCO beurse moet gerig word aan: Ralph Damonse (Administrateur): 082 344 5911 en Ruth Morgan (Beursfonds Koordineerder): 072 029 8475.

Silwerblaarklub hou Kersete

Die Silwerblaarklub het hulle Kersete op 19 November 2015 gehou. Die klub vir bejaardes, wat al sedert 1970 bestaan, kom elke derde Donderdag van die maand bymekaar om lekker te gesels en kuier. ‘n Donasie van die Franschhoekklub, waarvoor die organiseerders besonder dankbaar is, het verseker dat die Kersete ekstra spesiaal gemaak kon word.

Tour t-shirts for Franschhoek United

Taylon Jafthas en Ethan September

Lauren-Leigh Fortuin

Rebecca Visser and Cameron Shepherd.

Rhonwen Johnson

60 jaar en steeds bymekaar

Japie en Marlene Pretorius van Fleur de Lis, het op 17 Desember hulle 60ste huweliksherdenking gevier

Tanya Maingard, owner of Lavender Farm, sponsored t-shirts for the Franschhoek United football team for their recent tour. Tanya Maingard and her son, Daniel, who own the Lavender Farm Guesthouse, say they get several requests a year to sponsor or donate to local charities. Tanya feels it’s important to give back to one`s community and therefore with her son and management team, Don Newton and Frauke Darlington, they sit down and decide who to donate to. “We try to share our support fairly amongst children, animals, sporting events etc.” says Tanya. “One year we donated to the children`s KUSASA project, last year we supported the SPCA sterilization programme in Groendal and this year we donated to the Franschhoek United soccer team that went on tour in December. Next year we are thinking of something special for Franschhoek`s old age home.” Franschhoek United was formed in 1993 and compete in the SAB Regional League’s Cape Winelands region.

Don Newton (Manager of Lavender Farm Guesthouse) hands over a tour t-shirt to Siyamcela Ngxekle (Franschhoek United Team Manager), while Brendon Lottering (Player) and Mkululi Mtshentshe (Team Chairman) look on.

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Franschhoek Valley Community Sports Centre

Editor’s Letter

Siegfried Schäfer

Handball Open – 30 Jan 2016

Walking into the Franschhoek Valley Community Sports Centre on a Monday evening a curious sight presents itself to the unknown spectator. Around 20 young girls and boys are throwing small soccer-like balls against a wall – time and time again. What appears to be a mindless exercise at first is actually the sport centre’s handball team practicing and refining their throwing technique in preparation for the Franschhoek Handball Open on 30 January 2016. While the sport is relatively new to South Africa, it is growing fast in Groendal. The idea of handball is similar to soccer, as teams aim to score goals on their opponents’ side of the field and attempt to stop the same at their end. As its name suggests the sport is played with your hands rather than your feet and in order to advance the ball players bounce it like in basketball. This combination of elements from different disciplines makes for an exciting mix and accounts for its huge popularity in Europe. The sports centre in Groendal collaborates with Play Handball ZA (PHZA) – another sports-based NGO – in order to bring in volunteers from overseas who have knowledge of the sport. The volunteers go out to schools to provide physical education classes and in the afternoons offer practice sessions for children in the community. They usually stay up to 12 months and within that time try to pass on their experience to other local coaches, who may then take over and continue the work. The founder of PHZA Nicola Scholl believes that Handball is a great tool to empower young people and impart certain values. One of those being a sense of community since there is little to no hope of achieving success alone. This is in large part due to the sport’s physical nature, where players often have to fight through body-contact before finally throwing the ball. Besides working together as a team it also teaches them to deal with adversity. Sport is a character-forming experience, which is exactly what SCORE – the organization running the Franschhoek Valley Community Sports Centre – believes in. Although only having opened to the public in March 2015 the centre already has children coming regularly to engage in different sporting codes. While spending time there it means they’re off the streets and in a controlled and safe environment. “Sport is a vehicle that we use to reach and engage children and youth. Sport is a multilanguage tool that brings all people together and also helps teach a cross section of life skills with minimum disruption to children’s play life“, says Nkosana Mguni

(FVCSC Manager). He continues, “We’re running the centre not to mainly produce athletes, but better people who bear responsibility in their community.” A wide range of sporting codes are practiced at the centre, from soccer to netball, aerobics, volleyball, field hockey, and touch rugby. Other opportunities, such as painting and drawing, are offered for younger children. The centre has also introduced a Fellowship group aimed at creating a platform for young people of different religions to interact and share their experiences and knowledge. Furthermore the Centre is trying to involve parents in their kids life at the sport centre and has hosted a first parents meeting. Handball is one the sporting codes and that has made rapid progress. The team that was formed in September is practicing thrice a week and features boys and girls between 12 and 18 years old. Their first highlight came when they took part in a tournament at the German School in Tamboerskloof featuring teams not only from the area, but also one from as far as Zimbabwe. Both the male and female teams competed in their respective age groups. They had earned everyone’s respect for their never-give up attitude and support of each other. One of their coaches, Lea Wichmann, was told by tournament staff: “What a great team Franschhoek has.” Respect was not the only thing they earned, as the girls also achieved a surprising third place and took home bronze medals. Since then the children have continued to practice diligently and a first local tournament was held in early December. All these efforts are to culminate in a big tournament on 30 January 2016. The Franschhoek Handball Open will be the first regional handball tournament in the area. The plan is to host 20 teams and have them play in four different age groups, from under-14 to under-18 years, for both boys and girls. Coaches Lea Wichmann and Sebastian Werblinski say that “The team is eager to prove the progress they’ve made since their appearance in Cape Town. However, if we’ve got some good opponents, fair competition and all the children – playing and nonplaying – have a great day it’ll go down as a success.” Sebastian Werblinski

FWV News Jenny Prinsloo

Another Klink Awards success!

Franschhoek is a favourite with consumers for a fourth consecutive year! One of SA’s leading wine regions and the country’s Culinary Capital, Franschhoek has once again been voted by KLINK Award voters as the Most Memorable Wine Route for the fourth year in a row. The results were announced in late November 2015. Conceptualized in 2012, the competition is the brainchild of Wine Tourism South Africa publisher, Monika Elias. She (via the publication) invited foodies, wine lovers, outdoor adventurers and wine farm visitors to show their love and appreciation for South Africa’s winelands, during the months of September to November, by voting for their favourite nominees in South Africa’s first ever, consumerdriven, interactive wine tourism awards. Two FWV members were also singled out as favourites in their respective categories:

• Lust at Vrede en Lust - Award for Great Food and Excellent Wine • The Franschhoek Wine Tram - Award for Most Unusual Attraction on a Wine Route “As Franschhoek Wine Valley we continually strive to keep Brand Franschhoek top of mind with our local and international visitors, and it has paid off. We are extremely thrilled by this latest recognition and we owe our gratitude to everybody that visited and voted for Franschhoek,” said Franschhoek Wine Valley CEO, Jenny Prinsloo.

Dear Readers If you’re like most people you’ve at least given some thought to New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’ve even made a list, but how likely are you to achieve any of the goals on your list? Apparently around 40 percent of Americans make New Year’s Resolutions. Only around 8 percent of Americans however achieve them. I’m sure the statistics here are pretty similar. Most people start off pretty well in pursuit of their goals, but then life gets in the way and they start making excuses. Psychologists refer to the phenomenon of ‘akrasia’. Akrasia is the contradiction between genuinely wanting to do something positive, yet failing to actually do it – usually because the benefits are delayed and we’re too impatient to stick with the plan. Getting things done, and this not only refers to New Year’s resolutions, often means that we have to change the way we think about things. Einstein said that we can’t solve problems by thinking in the same way we did when we created them in the first place. In view of the recent COP21 summit in Paris an example from the climate change debate is probably apt. Established ‘dirty’ energy companies, when not denying the climate reality altogether, insist that the problem can be solved with ‘cleaner’ fossil fuels and by using these more efficiently. That’s because they’re so heavily invested in the status quo that real progress on this issue threatens their very survival. When you free yourself of this way of thinking and recognise that the best thing to do with untapped fossil fuels is to leave them where they are – in coal deposits, tar

sands, arctic oil fields, etc. – only then you can start getting serious about truly addressing climate issues. New Year’s resolutions often require behavioural change and we all know that big changes are difficult. Thus, to make success easier to achieve, it’s a good idea to break up goals into smaller goals or individual tasks. It’s not realistic to decide on 31 December that you’d like to run a marathon and then do it in the first week of January! Yet that is how many people go about their resolutions. Focussing on the incremental tasks is a far better route to successful change than thinking about the outcome – appealing as it may be. I’m applying this incremental approach to consuming less sugar and starch. I started by giving up white bread, but I’m not dogmatic about it – I certainly don’t feel guilty if I have a standard pizza and not the banting base option! I recognise that I’m a very, very long way from giving up chocolate and ice-cream, but I’m down from two sugars in my hot drinks to just half a spoon. Next on my list is less rice and pasta, but I’m not rushing things – as long as I keep moving in the desired direction I’m satisfied. Achieving goals also requires us to recognize the value of failure. We learn far more from failures than we do from successes. In fact, if we’re not willing to risk failure we’ll probably never taste success! Malcolm Gladwell, after studying highly successful individuals, found that what to the uninformed observer seems like sudden success, in truth is the result of at least 10 000 hours of practice, preparation, trial and error. Put another way: There’s no escalator to success, you have to take the stairs! I wish everybody a happy and successful 2016; but remember that whatever your circumstances your happiness and success are ultimately in your hands. You have to make it happen; thinking about it won’t make it so. For Star Wars fans, in the wise words of Yoda: “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Until next month.

Deadlines - February 2016 Issue: Ad Bookings: 17 January 2016

Artwork: 18 January 2016

Editorial: 18 January 2016

ACVV News

Ronelle Pinard Die tweede French Corner Run / Walk ten bate van ACVV Franschhoek het op 21 November 2015 plaasgevind. Die 10km roete het by die monument begin, deur die pragtige Franschhoek, Groendal, Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Mont Rochelle Hotel and Vineyards and La Couronne Wine Estate gekronkel en weer by die monument geëindig. Die 5km pretloop het by die monument begin, deur die hoofstraat van Franschhoek gegaan, op gedraai na die gewilde Dassenberg roete en weer by die monument geëindig. Die wenners van die verskillende kategorїe is die volgende: Senior Mans: (1) Willem Kaptein van Maties Atletiekklub – 33:45:89, (2) Allister Blaauw van Franschhoek Atletiekklub – 35:22:25, (3) Ayanda Matshini van Dwarsrivier Atletiekklub – 36:59:06 Senior Dames: (1) Danette Smith van FNB – 42:55:94, (2) Tanja Mackay-Davidson – 44:30:80, (3) Steyntjie Prins van Paarl Atletiekklub – 50:05:72 Mans 40+: (1) Owen Smith van Wellington Atletiekklub – 39:33:81 Mans 50+: (1) Henry Blaauw van SANDF – 53:50:53 Mans 60+: (1)Colin Williams van Korrektiewe Dienste – 49:10:79 Dames: 50+: (1)Trudie Miller van Multi Sport – 1:05:19:03 Dames: 60+: (1) Steyntjie Prins van Paarl Atletiekklub – 50:05:72 Junior Mans: (1) Allister Blaauw van Franschhoek Atletiekklub – 35:22:25 Baie geluk aan die wenners. Baie dankie aan almal wat die reënerige, koue dag getrotseer het om deel te neem. Daar was gesinne,

The male winners of the 2015 French Corner Run

besighede, vriende en maatjies wat van die dag ‘n groot sukses gemaak het. Franschhoekers het hulself ook weer oortref met hulp op die dag van die wedloop. Dosyne vrywilligers het net so vroeg as die atlete opgestaan om van die dag ‘n sukses te maak. Bedankings – borge, watertafels en ander hulp Sotheby’s Realty Franschhoek, Franschhoek Tatler, BP Garage, Mont Rochelle Hotel and Vineyards, Kaap Agri, Franschhoek Vrugtepakkers, Protea Hotel Franschhoek, Beauty Bar, Franschhoek Hair & Beauty, Sofa Studio, Sacred Ground, Allora, Pick n Pay, African Touch Collection, Grande Provence, Franschhoek Cellars, Mnr Martin Smuts – Onder-Burgermeester van Stellenbosch, Dykes van Heerden en Personeel, Boland Atletiek, Coca Cola Graag wil ek ook die organiseerders van die French Corner Run / Walk vir 2015 bedank vir hulle harde werk en entoesiasme. Danie en Bev Malan en Hedwig Blaauw baie dankie dat julle die ACVV en sodoende die gemeenskap help. French Corner Run / Walk ten bate van ACVV Franschhoek 2016 vind plaas op 17 September 2016. Omkring die datum op die kalender. Ek daag die besighede uit om spanne in te skryf, gesinne om die dag te gebruik om saam ‘n verskil te maak en atlete om die wedloop te gebruik om tye te verbeter. Franschhoek is ‘n pragtige dorp met die mooiste wedloop!

Franschhoek Tatler

Don’t let student debt dictate your future

Global Investment Angle Dawid Botha

We all have feet of clay

The world of investments and stock markets are volatile. It is partly a function of the electronic world and social media’s incredible growth, where information spreads rapidly, and means that prices may be irrational in the short term. The MSCI World Index dropped by 8.5% in the third quarter of 2015 and recovered by 7.9% in October. There are a couple of important lessons that can be learnt from this period. Successful long term investors usually act rationally given the available information, although emotion may sometimes even get the best of successful investors. Such rational behaviour or process, does not necessarily need to originate from a PhD thesis, but must be repeatable, consistently applied and preferably be proven historically. Irrationality is exhibited in bubbles, whether it is from a fundamental value or price-momentum point of view. Price-momentum bubbles can be described as periods where asset prices are inflated by emotion and the positive snowball effect. Bubble shares are especially found in the pharmaceutical and social media sectors in the USA. Shares like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are in bubbles from a fundamental point of view, trading at values that are not sustainable. These shares’ prices may still increase further, but it is based on hope and expectations that probably in time will fail, with many tears to follow. One of the recent victims, where the bubble burst emphatically, is Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Valeant is a Canadian company with an American listing. The price dropped from $260 in July 2015 to $95 at the start of December. At $260 and a price-to earnings-ratio of 110, the share was in a bubble with gains of 75% per year for the prior three years. One of the world’s iconic hedge fund managers, Bill

Let the Lawyer Handle It Graeme Falck

Living wills: what are they and do you need one? “No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow” (Euripides) We will all die. We have limited control over what will eventually kill us and when, but there is something that we can do now, whilst we are still physically and mentally capable of doing so, to express our wishes as to how we die. Specifically, we can give instructions now as to what medical treatment we want to be given at the end. For many people a nightmare scenario is to be kept artificially alive, quite possibly in pain and distress, long after your medical condition becomes hopeless and long after you have lost the ability to express your wishes for yourself. If you are one of those people, consider executing a Living Will - but do it now, while you still can. What is a “Living Will”? A Living Will is your personal “advance health care directive”, executed by you before you lose the ability to do so, in which you tell doctors, hospitals and your loved ones what end-of-life medical treatment you do and do not consent to. For many people it will be an expression of your wish to be allowed to die naturally, with the support of only such medical measures as will relieve your distress and pain without pointlessly prolonging your life. It will speak for you when – and only when – you are no longer capable of doing so yourself.

January 2016

Ackman, announced in March 2015 that his company, with $15 billion in assets under management, invested 5.7% of its funds’ assets in Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Ackman’s company, Pershing Square, manages one of the world’s leading hedge funds, which returned 692% from 2004 to the end of 2014, compared to the American S&P 500’s return of 132% over the same period. His company therefore exceeded themselves for 10 years, but paid the price in 2015 for disobeying important investment principles and investing in bubbles. Keep in mind that Bill Ackman is a successful investment manager and personally has a net worth of $2.6 billion. In my opinion, investors in unit trusts and other investment products are often under the impression that investments in a fund are ‘safer’ than a direct share portfolio for various reasons, of which many are psychological. One of the reasons is the belief that committees with big names don’t make ‘big mistakes’. Although I only have space for one case study, the example above illustrates that funds are not always safer. Unit trusts and institutional fund managers are not always rational, but their mistakes are not always as clearly displayed per line item on a personal investment statement where each shares’ details are provided. Poor investments can disappear in the fund’s overall performance because it is not one of the big investments. A personal investment portfolio allows the client to look the responsible investment manager – not a committee in a glass room – in the eye. In a personal share portfolio, investors can see all the investments, with all the implications.

It will be easier for your family and doctor to make the necessary decisions on your behalf if you have previously run through with them any “What if …..?” scenarios that particularly concern you (or them), and if your wishes in each such scenario are clearly expressed and understood. Most importantly, make sure that everyone knows exactly where your Living Will is – they may need to find it in a hurry. You also need a “Last Will and Testament” Note that a Living Will isn’t a “will” in the normal sense of a “Last Will and Testament” regulating the distribution of assets to your heirs after you die. You certainly do need to execute such a will right now if you don’t already have one, but a “Living Will” is a very different thing. You need both. Is a Living Will valid? This isn’t the same as euthanasia or “assisted suicide”, which remain unlawful in South Africa, as well as running afoul of many people’s moral/ cultural/religious objections. But whereas euthanasia and assisted suicide involve an active intervention to terminate life, a typical Living Will merely expresses your wish that nature be allowed to take its course when the time comes. Although the enforceability of your Living Will cannot be guaranteed (the legal principles involved are yet to be tested in our courts), at the very least it should make it easier for your loved ones (and the medical professionals charged with caring for you at the end) to take hard decisions if and when they need to be taken.

(This article first appeared in LawDotNews and is reproduced with permission from the copyright holder DotNews and from Falck Attorneys.) Your boutique firm for all commercial and personal legal services

The student protests of 2015 have focused South Africa’s attention on the huge cost of tertiary education – and the impact that cost can have on the financial future of students themselves, as well as their parents and others who pitch in to help them pay for their education, or to pay back their student loans. “We obviously want the students of today to become the homebuyers of tomorrow,” says Shaun Rademeyer, CEO of BetterLife Home Loans, SA’s biggest mortgage originator, “but the truth is that in SA, as in many other countries, many graduates are facing years of debt repayment before they can even consider buying a home. It is one of the main reasons that the average age of first-time homebuyers all over the world has risen from the mid-20s a decade ago to the mid-30s now. “Indeed, a very large percentage of young adults are now not even renting accommodation after graduating but continuing to live with their parents or other family while they tackle their student debt, and that is not only reducing the demand for new apartments and starter-homes, but also limiting the ability of their parents to give effect to their own plans for retirement, which once again has a negative effect on the residential property market.” Current estimates from the Department of Higher Education, he says, are that student debt to the universities is at least R5bn – “and on top of that there must be millions of rands more owed to the banks in the form of student loans, so this is not a small problem, and it needs to be addressed soon if we want the next generation to be able to become homeowners, to start new businesses and to better the lives of their families. “And one way to do this, we believe, would be to ensure that students and their parents are better informed about the implications of borrowing money to finance their studies, about the commitments they are making to repay those loans – and about any alternative study options that are open to them.”

Rademeyer says it does not appear as if totally free tertiary education will be introduced in the near future, and that since so many South Africans are firmly committed to the idea that education is the best investment they can make in their future, or that of their children, student loans are probably going to remain part of SA’s financial landscape. “Traditionally, SA banks and other lenders have looked pretty favourably on student loan applications, and the availability of such loans has proved invaluable to parents, students and the economy as a whole. "But it is vital that the borrowers fully understand the need to service these loans correctly and on time, and to assess whether they can realistically afford the repayments – or expect to afford them once they graduate. “If they cannot, they may have to consider other ways of obtaining more qualifications, such as working and studying part-time or online, or perhaps initially taking only specific short-courses to enhance their employment potential, rather than a full-time degree over three or four years. “This may seem like a long way around to a better career, but it really is preferable to leaving university with huge debt or a bad credit record that will undoubtedly hurt your prospects for years to come – or inflicting similar long-term financial damage on your parents or other family members who were only trying to help you.”

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January 2016

Business Leadership Tony Frost

What is Water Really Worth?

I was lucky enough to attend WWF South Africa’s Living Planet Conference recently. It was excellent and focussed on three critical factors: Water, Energy and Food Security. I found all three focus areas interesting but the one that really got my thinking juices flowing was the segment on Water, with a capital ‘W’. The United Nations has asserted that the water consumption is growing at roughly twice the speed of population growth! This obviously means that we are heading for a crash if we do not begin to do something urgently. Water is literally life. Without water our planet would not be able to support life as we know it. We are most certainly dependent on water for our very continued existence. It is arguably the most precious commodity on earth.

Franschhoek Tatler The big question is, if this is the case, why do we treat it with so much disdain and lack of respect. Surely a litre of water is worth more than litre of petrol?! So what is water really worth and are we paying what we should? According to the Water Footprint Network in Fortune May 19 it takes 3664 litres to produce one cheeseburger! And this is just an example of how everyday things can be translated back to water consumption and our disregard of the impact of our own actions. Let us have a look at some water prices: The Water Footprint Network (A great source of information about all things water!) quotes the prices of water in various places as follows: Water in the US costs an average of $0.03(R0.36)/litre (Averages are dangerous especially in a huge country like the US); Cape Town $0.30(R3.64), Nairobi $0.12(R1.5); Copenhagen$1.90(R23.40). We also have to realise that we could be paying up to 300 times more for bottled water than we pay for tap water! Clearly there is very little logic being applied to normal supply and demand factors when it comes to water. Compare any of these prices to the price we are currently paying for petrol (which is not essential for life)

and we begin to see that things are way out of kilter! It is clear that the price of water is not valued equally around the world. What is even more surprising, maybe even unsettling is that places that have abundant water seem to place higher value on this essential commodity than the drier locales. South Africa is experiencing its worst drought in 23 years. Our rivers and wetlands are struggling and some are probably beyond repair……… If we add to this debate the fact that in South Africa it has been estimated that we lose up 37% of all municipal water because of aging and under- or un-maintained water reticulation infrastructure it should be clear that our situation is dire. But we are not alone in wrestling with this issue. China’s rivers are dying. In 1950 there were 50000 relatively healthy rivers, today only 23000 remain! California is in the throes of the worst drought in memory. And the forest fires currently raging make the whole situation much worse. All is not lost. There are many organisations tackling this issue vigorously like the Water Footprint Network and WWF. Water is an issue now on the Board Agendas of Companies like Coca Cola, SABMiller, PepsiCo, and Nestle. What is essential is that we in South Africa begin to

treat water like the truly strategic resource it is. South Africa is considered to be the 33rd driest nation in the world. We need to begin to act like that. We need to move away from such structures as waterborne sewage, spray irrigation, and many other seriously wasteful habits. The flush toilet is 170 year old technology which we should replace with more modern technology. We can use much better more efficient irrigation and farming methods so as to maximise the benefit of the water used for this purpose. There is much to be done and we can all play a critical role. Just think about where the next drop is going to come from……..if it comes! tony@siroccostrategy.com

Responsible borrowing is the key to sound personal finances

Economic times are getting tougher, so it’s no surprise that many people are finding it harder to make ends meet. One of the ways of getting back on top involves taking out a personal loan and using it to fill the gaps in the household budget –something that can benefit you if the loan is carefully considered. “There is place in every consumer’s personal budget for an unsecured loan to meet planned, unplanned, or emergency needs,” says Theunis Kruger, Head of Unsecured Lending at Standard Bank. But, he cautions, like all things financial, the use of credit should be managed correctly if it is to be a benefit rather than a source of financial stress. “It is estimated that a large portion of South Africans spend up to 75% of their monthly incomes just paying off debt,” Mr Kruger continues. “That means they have little ‘wriggle room’ if something unexpected occurs. Worse still, if you are overcommitted with repayments, you can be refused further loans at the time of an emergency. Missing payments could also place your future credit rating at risk, making it unlikely that you will be granted further loans.” To ensure that a personal loan is approved when you really need it, Mr Kruger suggests the following:

Maintain a budget This is essential. If you know exactly what you are spending and what remains, you can budget for a loan. Remember that all your current expenses added to your loan repayment should not exceed your income. If you need a loan and the repayments fit comfortably into what you can afford, with some left over to save, you will be able to cope financially. Checking your day-to-day spend Keep a pen and notebook handy to write down everything you spend on a daily basis. Do this for a month and then check where the money is going – you may be surprised! For instance, if you are spending just R15 a day on a coffee at work, this means that you are spending R75 a week. Over 50 weeks of the year, this totals R3 750. If the same scenario applies to your lunch and you spend another R25 a day, this means a further R6 250 a year. Together, that is R10 000 a year that could be go towards a loan repayment or a family holiday. Reduce your unnecessary lines of credit Having multiple retail accounts doesn’t make sense; they subject you to temptation and your monthly repayments mount up rapidly. Make more money available for what really need by paying off accounts

and then closing them. Use your credit card for what want – if you can afford it It’s best to pay off the entire balance on your credit card every month in order to be financially stable. If you are paying a minimum instalment and the balance doesn’t decrease, stop spending on the card for a while, and concentrate on repaying the debt first, so that you have more credit available to you. Carefully research the personal loan you want – including interest rates and repayment terms The ideal position to be in is to have extra money at the end of every month. This can be used for savings or investments, or a portion can be used to make additional payments on your personal loan. The extra amount doesn’t have to be large, but every little bit will reduce your interest payment and the number of months needed to repay the loan. In addition: Check what you are expected to pay every month. If this fits within your budget, all is well. If it is more than expected, re-examine your budget and daily spending to see where you can cut back. Check your interest rate. If you have a good credit record, this should be lower than you would pay if

your record is bad. Banks reward good lenders by making it cheaper for them to borrow. Check your repayment term. Often, just by paying a little more each month, you can reduce your repayment term by several months. By asking the bank to raise your monthly payment amount, your loan will be repaid faster, saving you money in long run. Says Mr Kruger, “Of course, even when things have been well-planned, life can throw curve balls that can cause financial pressure. The best way to deal with a financial crisis is to take action straight away.” “Taking the step of approaching the bank when you see trouble ahead indicates that you are responsible and proactive,” he says. “Banks will do whatever they can to help. We can examine your loans and offer solutions that vary from a payment holiday to allow you to get back on your feet, or extend the loan repayment period. “Where it is advisable, we may also look at putting all your debt into one loan so you can pay a single amount each month. As you will be able to immediately pay off debts with high interest rates as part of this plan, you could get instant financial relief.”

Anyone can give advice, but independent advice is priceless. PSG Wealth Winelands offers • International investment advice • A ten year global performance track record Contact our International Portfolio Managers on: T +27 (21) 863 3770 I E psgwinelands@psg.co.za A Klein Amsterdam, c/o Main Road and Berg River Boulevard, Paarl PSG Wealth Financial Planning (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider. FSP 728

Susan Charlesworth ATTORNEY • NOTARY • CONVEYANCER

Areas of practice: Estate and succession planning | Commercial Law Administration of estates, trusts & curatorships Engineering & Construction Law Antenuptial contracts | Conveyancing Unit 4 / 79 Artisan Village, Cabrière Street, Franschhoek, 7690 Tel: +27 (0)21 876 2592 Fax: +27 (0)21 876 2591 Email: susancharlesworth.law@telkomsa.net Also at 342 Val De Vie, Paarl www.susancharlesworth.co.za

Franschhoek Tatler

with Analjit Singh, Founder of Leeu Collection What was your first entrepreneurial venture? After studying in the US and living there for seven years I returned to India. Thereafter, instead of going the traditional way of joining the existing family business, at that time, India’s largest pharmaceutical company, an inner voice told me that I should go on my own. My father then suggested that I should tackle a difficult project that the family at large had been struggling to get off the ground for a number of reasons. The project related to penicillin fermentation and related downstream products. Max India was set up to tackle this project and after three years of heavy lifting and persistence it succeeded. In fact, it became a huge success and provided the springboard for everything else I’ve undertaken since then. You are proof of what can be achieved through entrepreneurship. Why do you think more people aren’t entrepreneurs? Too many people want instant success. There is, of course, no such thing and, so, people run out of patience when attempting something entrepreneurial. Entrepreneurs also have to be willing to put in the hard yards and be a little foolhardy in a sense. They need an appetite for risk. The truth is that there is risk in having too little information, but also in having too much information. Somewhere one has to make a judgement call and decide what one wants. Then one needs focus, patience… and some luck. However, the harder you work, the luckier you get! What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time? I love stillness and contemplation and seek these out. I also read a fair amount. I’ve stopped reading about political matters. I much rather read spiritual, lifestyle and design related material. For example,

Book Review

Charlotte van Zyl

Purity

By Jonathan Franzen Publ: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux 563 pages The arrival of a new Jonathan Franzen novel is always a notable event, like the discovery of a new star or a new hominid. Not only does he write superbly about the contemporary American experience, but in his private life he lives out the beliefs that inform his novels. He is in the public eye, voted one of the best American novelists under 30 a few years ago by the “New Yorker”. He achieved a certain notoriety through his vociferous denunciation of the dumbing down of literature by talk shows like Oprah Winfrey’s with its list of “must read” books. He was also pretty tough on popular writers who become instant TV gurus. His credentials are excellent. He has at least two big novels that were not afraid to tackle big American themes, yet are eminently readable. “The Corrections” examined the way a wealthy family

currently I’m reading a lot on design, Cape Dutch architecture and wine. What would your friends say is your best attribute? This is a difficult one! I think they would say that I deliver what I promise and therefore they can depend on me. They’ll also say that I make friends easily, am good at building relationships and happiest when doing something for others. You’ve said that you’re on the journey of wine appreciation. Tell us more. Traditionally I was not into wine. I was much more of a whisky, gin, beer drinker. If it weren’t for the fact that there was a cellar on one of the properties we bought (old Von Ortloff) this journey might not have started. I love all things green and natural. And wine, to me, is nature. Terroir is nature. Wine is also about science, technology, design, people and food. All things I enjoy. Wine is now very special to me and opens avenues to many things I like. How do you respond to people who worry that large investments in the village and valley, such as yours, threaten the area’s sense of place/ identity?

I think such arguments and comments are facetious. People who live comfortable lives with things the way they are reflect their own insecurities through their comments. Change is necessary for communities and societies to grow and mature. What we’re doing is mindful development. As an example, we could have knocked down Rusthof, instead we improved on what was already there. We’re not introducing foreign concepts either; we’re building on what exists already. Plus we’re bringing back Cape Dutch architecture including thatched roofs, etc. We’re also fully compliant with BEE codes and by June 2016 we’ll be employing 340 people in the valley – only 2 of whom are foreigners. How’s that bad? Many South Africans are negative about the country. You’ve been quoted as saying that you’re here because you want to be here. Why do you want to be here? I’ve been asked this question many times and have always referred to the South African lifestyle, nature and the general beauty of the place. Lately though, I’ve concluded that the people are the key differentiator. There is a certain demeanour about South Africa’s people – at all levels of society – that is polite, gentle and affectionate. The other country like that is Thailand.

squabbled about the distribution of its assets while the aged, plutocratic, incontinent parents spent their last days aboard a cruise ship. “Freedom” looked at contemporary American politics and the schism between Democrats and Republicans, although much of the action took place on women’s college basketball fields. Both of these novels were significant but entertaining reads. If you want to dive into his latest novel, “Purity”, you again, have to take a deep breath and immerse yourself completely. Here we have a seriously thick book, dealing with the quite serious contemporary issues of computer hacking and online journalism. Yet, the story is completely accessible – just like his other novels. The shadows of Julian Assange and Edward Snowden loom large on these pages. Their names evoke issues of government surveillance and government secrecy and the personal moral issues involved in breaking down these cyber channels. The central character is a young woman called rather eccentrically Purity by her weird mother, but who prefers to be called Pip. Like her Dickensian counterpart she has “great expectations” and the early, very funny, chapters show her rebelling against the constraints of a job in a call centre. Her rebellion takes her to Bolivia where she meets up with the charismatic Andreas Wolf, the Assange figure, who runs an organization called Sunshine that breaks into

cyber networks and spills the secrets of governments. Wolf also believes that the Internet itself is as much a totalitarian system as the Stasi in the East Berlin where he was born. Matching Wolf ’s thoughts is Tom Aberant, a crusading, independent news magazine publisher, who uses print media to expose injustice and corruption, a bit like Noseweek. His partner and chief reporter Leila is one of the few uncompromised characters in the novel and her conduct keeps the plot on course. The relationship between Wolf and Aberant is complicated, involving a murder and a suicide. But you have to keep reading to find out how and why these events happen. Oh, and on top of it all there also happens to be a search for a missing father, which is seamlessly incorporated into it all. The novel is divided into four sections, each one repeating in a slightly different form, and in a different voice, the main components of the plot, so that in the end we have heard many voices telling us their version of the story. The section in which Pip tells her story is perhaps the most fascinating and humorous. The effect of the many voices is that the narrative is slow, and often one has to refer back to remind oneself who the crazy billionairess is, or whose father abused whom. Picking up and diving into a novel like “Purity” is always an act of intellectual bravery, but like all acts of bravery the reward is well worth the risk and the effort.

January 2016 You’ve been an advisor to the Indian Government. If approached by the SA Government what would you advise them? I have had an overdose of 'governments' in my career! However, if I had to advise government though I’d tell them what India was told to do. Open up, invest in transparency, good governance. Government should not be in the business of business. South Africa should sign up to being a rule-of-law country and cut out red tape. Also, South Africa has a serious hang-up about immigration that handicaps growth and development. An open immigration policy promotes jobs and economic progress. Dubai is a very good, albeit extreme, example of this. Without large-scale immigration Dubai wouldn’t be the international success story that it is today. You own businesses in the health and insurance sectors. What advice would you give South Africa with regard to implementing a national health insurance system? I would give the same advice that I would give for promoting economic development in general. Government has to decide whether it wants to be a regulator or a provider. It cannot successfully be both. Government should, in my view, encourage the private sector more, but regulate the hell out of them to ensure everybody’s needs are met! Outside Leeu House will be statues of Mandela and Ghandi. Both figured large in the history of South Africa. What is it that you most admire about them? Both these men embodied freedom, tolerance, secularism and fairness. They freely gave of themselves to society at large. What is there not to admire about them? Most Franschhoekers are probably not familiar with Sikhism. What is the first thing they should know about the religion and the culture? Sikhism is a young religion – only around 500 + years old and was born of the desire to abolish caste and creed. Sikhs believe in one God and the faith underscores welfare for all. This finds expression in the belief in Sewa, or selfless service. The faith identifies five thieves and five virtues. The thieves are: lust, anger, greed, attachment and pride. The virtues are: truth, contentment, compassion, humility and love. Probably the most important teaching is that you should never have hatred in your heart. Inner peace and hatred are mutually exclusive.

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Valentine’s Day at Anthonij Rupert Wyne A new home for the fine wines of Babylonstoren

For the ultimate romantic experience, Anthonij Rupert Wyne in Franschhoek will be hosting two intimate Valentine’s Day events over the weekend of 13 and 14 February 2016. With outdoor movies growing in popularity, this is the perfect opportunity to treat your loved one to a special screening of A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe, on Saturday, 13 February. Tickets cost R480 per couple and include the movie, a sumptuous picnic basket and a glass of L’Ormarins Brut MCC on arrival. Beautifully presented and using only the freshest ingredients, the picnic baskets offer delicious gourmet fare such as freshly baked ciabatta bread rolls; duck liver pâté with caramelised onion; smoked salmon and dill pâté; strawberry, rocket and feta salad, and locally sourced camembert cheese with crackers and figs. For those with a sweet tooth, the Macaroon gift box will be a great ending to what promises to be a very romantic evening. Alternatively, treat that someone special to an unforgettable Valentine’s Day Brunch on Sunday, 14 February, in the comfort of the stylish Anthonij Rupert Tasting Room. The cost is R180 per person and includes brunch, your choice of artisanal coffee and a glass of L’Ormarins Brut. With High Tea as the inspiration, look forward to beautifully presented treats: Yoghurt and muesli cups, served with estate honey and a tropical fruit salad; bacon, cheddar and

zucchini muffins; potato cakes with smoked salmon and cream cheese; and crumpets with cinnamon and maple syrup. Surrounded by mountains and vineyards the serene setting of Anthonij Rupert Wyne is a great place to be this Valentine’s Day. Pre-booking is essential as seating is limited. tasting@rupertwines.com | 021 874 9041

Bridge House Mile 2016

The fourth annual Bridge House Mile will take place on Saturday, 27 February 2016 and entries have already opened. This open water event, which is swum in the pristine water of the Berg River Dam, is a popular event on the Western Cape swimming calendar and is now sponsored by Standard Bank. Races from 200m to the Elite Mile will provide the opportunity for a swim to the entire family. Races & Pricing are as follows: • 200m @ R55.00 per person • 400m @ R85.00 per person • 400m School team @ R65.00 per person (minimum 4 swimmers) • Mile @ R155.00 per person • Mile School team @R105.00 per person (minimum 4 swimmers) • Elite Mile @ R175.00 per person Event Ambassadors include top swimming figures, Ryk Neethling, Terence Parkin, Theodore Yach and former Miss SA Amy Kleinhans. The 2016 event welcomes Achmat Hasseim as our newest ambassador. The Bridge House Mile is delighted to host the YEA (Youth Empowerment Action) and Haute Cabrière development swimmers clinic under the guidance of

swim coach Colleen De Villiers and assisted by The Princess Charlene Foundation. The children who have been learning to swim will test their progress at the event. A mini trial will take place on Friday 26 February at the Berg River Dam and will be attended by a few of the ambassadors. According to Andrew Baxter, Head of Business Development at WWF-SA, “The Berg River Dam has strategic significance in that the water is the cleanest of any dam in South Africa. This allows us a good opportunity to raise awareness about freshwater and where it comes from. Many people are unaware that water doesn’t come from a tap or a dam; water is provided by healthy and functioning ecosystems. Only 8% of South Africa’s land area provides us with more than half our surface water resources. If we can protect this 8% we will go a long way to ensuring water security for our water-scarce country”. The Bridge House mile is sponsored by Standard Bank and is supported by the following partners: Speedo, WWF, The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in South Africa, Big Bay Events and Hemisphere Emergency Preparation Consulting. www.bridgehousemile.co.za

The vines are lush on Babylonstoren; the vineyards a rich tapestry of green as buds blossom into bunches and ripen for harvest. Spring and summer have brought yet another new beginning in the vineyards, and this year it is matched by a welcome new addition to this remarkable Cape winelands estate. Since the first grapes were pressed here in 2011, visitors to Babylonstoren have been introduced to the range of estate wines in a cosy tasting room in the old werf [homestead]. Now, with the estate’s sixth harvest on the horizon, visitors can enjoy a revitalised tasting experience in a new purpose-built wine-tasting centre. This eye-catching steel-and-glass creation is a modern link between the two Cape Dutch-style wings of the wine cellar, and a perfect reflection of Babylonstoren’s philosophy of embracing both heritage and innovation. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls offer breathtaking views over the vineyards towards the small rocky peak that gave the farm its name, while indoors the striking central bar bedecked in vivid green tiles mirrors the lush vineyards beyond. “We wanted to complement the very light and transparent feeling of the space with an interior that played up the visual links to the vineyard,” explains Philippe van der Merwe from interior design agency Tonic. “The interior finishes and design were all chosen to complement this, with natural materials and a colour palette taken from its setting. We didn’t want to create an interior that tried to be too clever or grandiose, but rather one that celebrates the beautiful setting and the wines.” Alongside the tasting room a revamped retail space has also been created, with original farm implements and packing crates creating a gentle farm motif in the triple-volume space. For guests with a little more time to spare, informative tours offer visitors an in-depth behindthe-scenes look at how the estate’s wines are crafted. The tours begin, fittingly, in the vineyards that surround the tasting room and cellar where a range of vines have been planted to illustrate the variations in leaf and fruit between different grape varieties. The tour then leads visitors through the olive processing plant, where olives are cured and a stateof-the-art Pieralisi olive press extracts the estate’s

superb Extra Virgin olive oil. Visitors are also able to sample a selection of the olive oil varietals that make up the Babylonstoren blend, which are the Frantoio, Coratina, Don Carlo, Mission and FS17 oils that are blended together before bottling. Then it’s on to the Babylonstoren production cellar, where technology meets tradition. Raised gantry walkways offer visitors a fascinating view of the cellar from above, as well-informed guides explain the winemaking process from sorting and crushing to fermenting and bottling. As the guides describe the journey from vineyard to glass, the cellar itself has a story to tell. Adorning the longest wall a striking metal art installation reflects the unique terroir of the estate, from the geology of the vineyards to the microbial process of fermentation and the skills of the winemaker. The social history of the estate is celebrated in the cellar too: a podium pays tribute to the workers on the farm throughout history, while at the entrance to the barrel cellar an array of vintage farm implements forms a striking suspended artwork; a reminder of the human touch that has shaped the farm through the centuries. A steep staircase leads visitors down into the atmospheric barrel cellar, where dozens of oak barriques mature quietly in the subterranean cool. Guides explain the impact of oak on the wine, before a remarkable glass-walled staircase takes visitors back up into the impressive new tasting room. The Babylonstoren wine-tasting centre is open daily from 10am until 6pm (5pm in winter). The hour-long cellar tours (R50 per person, including tasting) take place on the hour between 11am and 3pm daily. With only 10 guests accommodated on each tour, reservations are highly recommended. www.babylonstoren.com | 021 863 3852

Franschhoek Tatler

Smalls

EXCESS BOOKS? Shelves creaking, moving houseorjustthinningoutyourcollection?ContactJohn Hicks 021 876 4129

ASSISTANCE OFFERED: I am a caring, friendly, older woman who can assist you in your house, guest-house, shop or office. I can run errands or drive you around. Available afternoons, evenings or weekends. 083 270 9555

PLASMA SCREEN ADVERTISING at BuildIt Franschhoek. High traffic area. From R250 per month. Contact Johan Viljoen on 084 205 7157.

BOOK BINDING AND BOOK REPAIRS. Contact John 021 876 4129 or john@thearmchair explorer.co.za

LOOKING FOR THAT SPECIAL BOOK and can’t find it? Call John at the Armchair Explorer, we will source it for you. Contact John Hicks 021 876 4129

RIAPOOLS is this area’s premier pool maintenance company. For advice please call: 072 347 5355 DOMESTIC WORK: I’m Patricia Mangezi. I’m looking for a job as a domestic worker. I live in Franschhoek and have a lot of experience. I was previously employed at Richeneau Spring Water. My contact number is 073 890 0693. BOOK KEEPING SERVICES: For small businesses. Income and expenses, cash book, petty cash on Pastel up to trial balance. Call Robyn Kadis 072 999 8581. GARDENS: Pruning, tree removal, paving, landscape services and gardens. Call Myles Agar 083 279 7960 Email: myles@ franschhoekwildhoney.co.za

FLOOD LIGHTS: Six 400W Mercury vapour flood lights for sale. R500 each. Voetstoots. 082 391 5327 PET-SITTER/HOUSE-SITTER/ CARETAKER: I am a responsible, mature woman who adores animals. I can also supervise domestic staff, pool/garden maintenance, car care, etc. You can trust me with your precious pets & belongings. Franschhoek only. Contact Sue at 083 270 9555 RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WANTED TO RENT: 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with double garage required. Preferably with a lease for 12 months, with the possibility of extention or purchase. Price negotiable. Required from 1 March 2016. Kindly contact Gladys on 073 148 6998 or Jen on 073 386 1824.

Relax! Let RIAPOOLS bring the sparkle back to your pool. Call: 072 347 5355

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PO Box 92, Franschhoek, 7690 Tel 021 876 3460 Email info@franschhoektatler.co.za Editor Siegfried Schäfer Layout Gail Abrahams Printing Signet Printers Subscriptions 12 Issues - R200/Overseas R400 Copyright: All rights reserved, reproduction in whole or part prohibited. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor. Publication of editorial or advertising matter does not imply endorsement or warranty in respect of goods or services therin described.

May 1 - Sunday - Workers' Day May 2 - Monday - Workers' Day May 8 - Sunday - Mother's Day Jun 16 - Thursday - Youth Day Jun 19 - Sunday - Father's Day

Dec 26 - Monday - Day of Goodwill

Apr 27 - Wednesday - Freedom Day

Dec 25 - Sunday - Christmas Day

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Mar 28 - Monday - Family Day

Dec 16 - Friday - Day of Reconciliation

Mar 25 - Friday - Good Friday

Sep 24 - Saturday - Heritage Day

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Mar 21 - Monday - Human Rights Day

Aug 9 - Tuesday - National Women's Day

MAILBOXES: Postnet Franschhoek. R495 per year. Limited number still available. No “junk mail”. Phone: 021 876 3025 / Email: franschhoek@postnet.co.za

Jan 1 - Friday - New Year's Day

Jul 18 - Monday - Nelson Mandela Day

TONER CARTRIDGES: Laser toner cartridges remanufactured to industry standards – perfect quality for half the price. For a quote and sample please call Barbara on 084 400 4544 or email your cartridge details to greenchameleon.spaanderman@gmail.com

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January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

FREE QUOTES ALL WORK GUARANTEED .Waterproofing .Torch On .Roof Clean & Coat .Gutters & facias

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January Calendar

Graeme Oliver - graeme @ poachedrhino.org or 072 815 8209

23 January

Zanta Hofmeyr & Malcolm Nay concert Venue: La Motte Historic Cellar Time: 19h00. Cost: R170 p. Booking:easy 021 876 8000 or Very concerts@la-motte.co.za

Until April

Summer picnics Venue: Time:1 8 Grande Provence. 5 Day time weather permitting. Cost: R245 7pp. Booking: 021-876 8600 or2 restaurant@grandeprovence.co.za.

2 4 6 Mondays & Thursdays 5 4 Iyengar-Style Yoga Classes

Venue: Sukha free spirit centre. 6 18h00 to 19h00 (Friday3 Time: morning 08h00 to 09h00)Ladies 9 menopausal, 3 8 class (pre/post natal, recuperative) Enquiries: 073 388 1404 (Danielle) 7 5

Tuesdays 4 6

Alcoholics Anonymous Time 19h00. Venue: NG Church Consistory. Contact 021 867 0983 Easy or 073 125 0188 (Jeffrey) Backgammon Club Meets 1 6 All welcome. Own board not required. Venue: Taki’s 2 9 7 Place. Time: 19h00. Info:

Franschhoek Village Market Breads, olives, ginger beer, pastries, plants, seedlings, breakfasts, coffee, crafts and more. Venue: Dutch Reformed Church Grounds. Time: 09h00 – 14h00

Franschhoek Methodist Church Sunday service 09h00 – all welcome. Rev Nuno Vergueiro 021 872 3580 or 082 662 4509. Hard Contact person: 021 876 2510 or 083 287 5756

Church Services NG Kerk Franschhoek Sondagdienste 09h30. Geen 7 aanddiens3 meer8 nie. 6 Ds Peet Bester. 021 876 2431.

Sport

Roman Catholic Church 2 2nd Saturday 9 of the Mass every month at the Methodist Church, Bagatelle Rd, Fhk. 073 488 6816

A While Ago

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1 Tennis Club3 Franschhoek Social tennis is played at the Franschhoek Tennis Club on Very Fridays fromhard 08h30 and on Sundays and Public Holidays from 09h00. During June, July 6 starting times 7 are 30 and August mins later. For more information contact 021 876 4184.

Trinity Church Anglican Communion Service Sundays 10h00. Weekday Communion with Prayers Wednesdays 10h00. 7 All5services at L’Ermitage Chapel. Fr Gavin Mitchell (083 799 8 0726) or Fr Michael Pedder (082 460 7833).

8 Cycling 9 Club Franschhoek Outrides Regular6road rides on Saturday mornings from BP garage to Stellenbosch/Jonkers and 4 3 back (75 kms) followed by coffees. Meet at 08h00 winter 7 months, 07h004in summer. To check timings during shoulder seasons contact 2 Paul Barkley 083 302 9096

Shofar 6 Christian 3Church 08h30 English service. 10h00 Joint tea8 & coffee. 10h30 Afrikaans 9 service. & 18h00 Evening service (last Sunday of every month)

New Apostolic Church Le Roux Weg, Franschhoek. 1 Sundays 09h00, Wednesdays 19h30. Rector: Charles Leibrandt

Uniting Reformed Church 3 service: 9 Sunday 09h30. Minister: Dr Shaun Burrows, 021 876 2632. All visitors most welcome. 8

Medium 9

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2 8

7 8

5 3

1 3

9 5

5 4 3 9 7 1 8

8 6 1 5 2 9 3

3 2 6 2 7 1 7 8 9 8 4 2 Magic 6 3 4 4 6 5 5 9 7 4

1 7 9 1 3 5 8 5 6 4 6 7 3 Sudoku 8 1 9 2 8 7 1 4 2

8 4 9 2 1 5 31 6

5 8 1 2 6 3 7 9 4

8 6

Hard

8 7 5 2 3 4 9 6 1

9 1 2 8 7 6 3 5 4

4 6 4 3 1 5 9 8 7 2

3 9 6 5 2 8 4 1 7

5 8 7 4 1 3 6 2 9

3 4 2 9 1 7 8 6 5

4 2 5 1 3 6 9 8 7

9 6 3 7 4 8 1 5 2

1 7 68 5 2 9 6 4 3

2 8 5 3 6 4 3 6 9 7 1 2 42 5 7 1 8 9

7 1 9 8 5 4 2 3 6

7 4 9 3 6 1 2 8 5

6 5 1 9 8 2 7 4 3

2 3 8 7 4 5 1 9 6

021 808 8406 021 876 2532 021 876 2342 021 876 2670 021 876 4808

8 876 2592/072 402 9469 8 1 9021 7 6 3 083 250 0943/021 876 2084 7 BURGLAR 1 ALARMS 8 3 6 7 2 9 4 5 Pepler Alarms 021 876 3308 6 9 4 5 3 2 1 8 9 7& ASSOCIATIONS CLUBS Boland 3 Bridge 7 Club2 9 4 5 1 8 021 6 876 3031 Franschhoek Tennis Club 082 557 0278 9 1Trust8& RPA 3 2 6 4 5 021 7 876 3460 Franschhoek Grt. Drak Games 5 Club 021 874 1906 6 4 1 8 7 3 9 021 2 876 3775 Lions 6 Lodge 2 3(Chris)4 8 7 072 1 211 9991 Stellenbosch 3 5 9Masonic Franschhoek Rotary Club 082 773 9217 8 3 7 5 9 1 6 2 021 4 876 3179 Franschhoek Probus Club COMPUTER SERVICES 4 2 1 7 6 8 5 3 9

Bridge House School Franschhoek High School Groendal Primary School Groendal Secondary School Wes-Eind Primary School Dalubuhle Primary School

021 874 8100 021 876 2079 021 876 2448 021 876 2211 021 876 2360 021 876 3957

Franschhoek Storage

021 876 2174

Info Office Winelands Experience

021 876 3603 021 876 4042

ELECTRICAL

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Useful Numbers ACCOUNTANTS

021 876 2676

Susan Charlesworth 2 5 4 Snipelisky & Killian

Franschhoek IT Services Solid IT Solutions

082 356 0226 084 015 8808

Sudoku #3717 Franschhoek Electric 082 823 7119/021 876 3640 Magic Sudoku Rensburg Electrical 021 876 2120/083 309 2923

Medium

6 7 4 3 2 8 1 5 9

1 2 5 4 6 9 7 5 3 8

Library Huguenot Memorial Museum Post Office Welfare (ACVV) SPCA

Very hard

c ⃝2005-2015 http://www.PrintSudoku.com

1 5 3 6 9 7 8 2 4

ATTORNEYS

6 9 7 4 8 5 3 2 1

8 9 2 5 1 4 3 7 6

4 8 6 2 7 5 9 3 1

5 3 9 1 8 6 2 4 7

2 1 7 9 4 3 5 6 8

3 6 8 7 5 1 4 9 2

9 4 5 8 6 2 7 1 3

7 2 1 4 3 9 6 8 5

give an appearance of reality, even to false things. It is not a particular religion that can produce spirituality in you, but the mind of liberation that creates a spiritual tuning of the soul and things become clear, and their true nature will manifest to view. Libra, 23 September – 22 October: For every thing there is a time; so there comes a time for the enfoldment of the soul, but the period of the development depends upon the trust, faith and initiative you put into the progress. Those sincere moments of life are the memories which outlast all falsehood. Scorpio, 23 October – 21 November: The whole of life is a chemical process and the knowledge of this chemistry helps you make that emulsion of life a happy domain. Reason is learned from the ever changing world, but wisdom comes from that essence of life and your perception to see it that way. Sagittarius, 22 November – 21 December: By trying to look upon life not only from one’s own point of view, but also from the point of view of another, one loses nothing, on the contrary, it widens the horizon of one’s view. To express an impulse gives relief, but to control it gives strength. Capricorn, 22 December – 19 January: Illuminated souls can distinguish between the real and the unreal, until it arrives at the point where all becomes reality. Then the knowledge of occult powers comes to you without you even seeking it. Keep things unsaid that take away the charm of something. Aquarius, 20 January – 18 February: Mercury in this constellation wants to reveal the source of the human intelligence in the intellect. When it is turned outside in, it becomes the source of all revelation. Impossibility is only a boundary that stands around the human mind. Pisces, 19 February - 20 March: Jupiter, the traditional ruler of this spiritual sign, is in aspect with Chiron the wounded healer. Living in the world without insight into the hidden laws of nature, is like not knowing the language of the country in which you are born. Discriminate properly between your wants and your needs.

Tax Shop

Easy

6 3

Aries, 21 March – 19 April: Mars, the lord of this restless constellation, is moving into Sagittarius and wants to spread its ambition wide and far. Great enthusiasm without knowledge is like a new boat on dry land. It’s a good time to look into legal issues and exercise some soul searching. Taurus, 20 April – 20 May: Venus also makes its way 5 through the 7position of the philosophical archer and likes to experience a sense of liberation, of shooting dreams and idealistic thoughts into the 4 wealth of the heavens. The fountain of love rises with the but spreads and falls 8 love for an individual, 6 into universal love. Gemini, 21 May – 20 June: The messenger of the 2 through Aquarius and wants heavens is on 7 its journey to invoke altruistic principles. The one who can live up 9 regains the inheritance to its ideal is the wise soul who of the inner child – where we all will return to. The only thing that8is made1through life is one’s true self. Cancer, 21 June – 22 July: All that one holds is conserved; all that5 one lets go of is dispersed. 9 Imagine you are the ocean and every day is a movement of6 life, like a wave. The emotional intelligence is the ever moving tide, springing from the ocean of your heart. Let everybody feel that 6 4 your motions come from the right place. Leo, 23 July – 22 August: With the Sun moving into the asterism of the mountain goat, Capricorn, the royal attitude and its expectations has to find some trustworthy paths through the rough terrains of earthy entanglements. The humble journey will 4 regal attitude9 into a pilgrimage of the true turn the self. Look out for the wise old man who holds a lamp. 8 Virgo, 2 23 August – 22 September: 4 Success can

Robert Rittel

Country Office took top honours in the Best Office3Design Award Category. 5 1 7 4 6 Pictured are Heidi and Tom Clode and Dale and January 2011 Tony Neves receiving the award from 9 Fine and 6 9 3 1 Country South Africa CEO Linda Erasmus. The convention day was superbly organised F&C win for best design 8 with Very easy 4 2 1 9 some of South Africa’s most prominent business At the recent Fine and Country Convention leaders addressing the conference. This was followed International Property Convention held at the V 2 4 1 5 8 9 3 6 7 5 3 Fine and 4by a property 2 exhibition at the5Waterfront, which was4 and A Waterfront Franschhoek’s own well attended by 6 both 7 local 9 and 1 overseas 3 4 buyers. 2 5 8

Jyotish Vedic Astrology

St George’s Anglican Church Groot Drakenstein. Sunday Services: Holy Communion and Sunday School 10h00. Rector Fr Joe Humbles – 073 560 3566

Saturdays

January 2016

EXCAVATIONS

8 2 3 5 2 HEALTH & BEAUTY 5 7 6 1 Franschhoek Pharmacy 3 1 2 7 Salon Excelsior Franschhoek Health Club 9 4 7 6 HOUSE & GARDEN Clock Repairs 6 5 8 4 Lighting & Accessories 8 9 3 2 Services Paarl Pool Ria Pools 4 (Franschhoek) 3 1 8 INTERNET ACCESS 7 6Photolab 5 9 Franschhoek Andrew Schmidt 1 9 4 Burger Excavations

PostNet

OPTOMETRIST c ⃝2005-2015 http://www.PrintSudoku.com

Marelise Rester

4 3 8 9 5 2 6 7 1

6 7 9 1 021 876 4431/082 972 5755 7 5 6 8072 3408518 3 9 2 4 021 876 2261 8 4 5 021 6 876 2218 1 8 3 021 2 876 3310 3 9 1 028 7 840 1716 021 876 3640 4021 872 1 0747/083 7 5 658 4944 5021 876 6 2612/072 2 9 347 5355 2 3 8 021 4 876 3921 021 876 3025

Solution of Sudoku #3714

PHOTOGRAPHIC

Franschhoek Photolab PHYSIOTHERAPY

Claire Horn PLUMBERS

STORAGE

TOURIST INFORMATION & SERVICES

TRANSPORT GOODS

Gerald Fourie VETERINARY

021 876 2940/082 821 5234

Huguenot Animal Clinic Surgery (pm only) Emergency

021 876 4278 021 876 2504 082 577 9900

Stellenbosch Fire Dept. (Buildings on fire) 021 808 8888 Cape Winelands Distr.Muni. (Bush & veld fires) 021 887 4446 021 886 9244 Police 10111/021 876 8061 Eskom 086 003 7566 Neighbourhood Watch 083 493 7778 Omnipage Farm Watch 021 852 3318 Plaaswag 021 876 2346 N1, N2 & R300 Emergency number: 021 946 1646 DENTISTS

Dr Schalk du Plessis Dr Rob Hammer

021 876 3070 021 876 2634

Dr Tracey Garner Dr Shelley Hellig Dr Alexander Heywood Dr Hannes Van der Merwe

021 876 4622 021 871 1063 021 876 2474 021 876 2304

DOCTORS

EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE

021 872 3530

Medicare EMR

021 876 4741

(Ward 1) Councillor Frazenburg (DA) (Ward 2) Councillor Ntsunguri (ANC) (Ward 3) Councillor August (DA) (Ward 4) Councillor Johnson (DA) Municipality (Office Hours) Municipality (afternoon only) Municipality 24hr Service

021 876 4234/082 582 1029

Franschhoek Plumbing

021 876 3759

Hospice

021 876 3085

PUBLIC SERVICES

SCHOOLS

MUNICIPALITY

074 363 7794/021 876 4316 021 808 8490 021 808 8754 021 808 8186 021 808 8019 021 808 8700 021 808 8890 021 808 8700

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Franschhoek’s diverse property market has much to offer international buyers

Now well into the busy summer season when a host of visitors - both domestic and international - descend on the town to revel in its vibrant, cosmopolitan ambience and spectacular scenery, Franschhoek is surely at its best. “Franschhoek offers an enviable lifestyle that will always remain in demand,” says Dr Andrew Golding, CE of the Pam Golding Property group. “There are not many places where you can enjoy such glorious mountain scenery and clean fresh air, and yet within minutes sip coffee at a sidewalk café, enjoy worldclass cuisine at an internationally-ranked restaurant, visit an award-winning wine farm or browse through an upmarket art gallery or boutique. “And the options for both local and international property buyers are so varied - whether you are looking for a manageable lock-up-and-go townhouse, a quaint village cottage, family home, smallholding, lifestyle farm or major vineyard, you can find it here.” As a top brand in the luxury property market, Pam Golding Properties Winelands International office in Franschhoek has over about the past year-and-ahalf successfully concluded a number of transactions with global buyers for high-end lifestyle estates and properties. These include two adjacent properties acquired by a Dutch couple - a spectacular lifestyle farm priced at R36 million and, situated on a portion of a historic farm, a luxurious eight bedroom property incorporating a homestead plus two cottages and staff quarters with an asking price of R30 million. Other notable top-end properties sold by PGP in Franschhoek include an exceptional wine, olive and guest farm priced at R35 million and acquired by South African expats returning from China, a boutique wine and equestrian farm with an asking price of R29.5 million - purchased by English buyers, and a boutique Cape Dutch masterpiece with its own boutique wine label producing 900 cases of wine a year, which was marketed at R28.5 million and sold to German buyers. With its magnificent setting and ease of access to Cape Town Franschhoek remains a favourite among weekenders and those seeking country holiday homes. The vibrant town also has a growing permanent population, many of them residing in the upmarket secure estates which are scattered throughout the valley, and educating their children at the private Bridge House School. “Further boosted by the weakness in the local currency, this scenic valley continues to attract property buyers from Europe and beyond, who

recognise the beauty and value of property in this world-class region,” says Dr Golding. “They appreciate that this is a wonderful place to live or spend considerable parts of the year, with a real sense of community in a magnificent rural setting, just 40 minutes drive from Cape Town International Airport. The village is globally renowned for its outstanding restaurants and surrounding wine farms and is a destination of choice for most visitors to South Africa. The result is that this is an idyllic environment in which to relax and unwind, raise a family, start a small business or simply enjoy a tranquil retirement.” With an extensive global network and via its association with the international, UK-based property giant, Savills, Pam Golding Properties is experienced in marketing South African property to international buyers. In order of importance the top 15 countries currently making property acquisitions in South Africa through Pam Golding Properties are the UK, Portugal, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Zimbabwe, Namibia, USA, Netherlands, China, Australia, France, Nigeria, Sweden, Belgium and Switzerland. The Pam Golding Property group represents the interests of Savills in Southern Africa and thereby has access to one of the world’s most powerful real estate networks. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and with an international network of more than 500 offices and associates in 27 countries including the Americas, the UK, continental Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Savills offers entre to a global database of buyers. Savills has enjoyed a mutually rewarding association with Pam Golding Properties since 1986, combining PGPs depth of local market knowledge and reputation in luxury property in South Africa with the extensive global reach of the Savills network. www.pamgolding.co.za | 021 876 2100

L’Afrique Verte is a unique Residential Secure Gated Estate in the heart of the beautiful Franschhoek Valley. Our ethos is to provide luxury homes that combine high-end quality living with an eco-friendly sustainable lifestyle. Interested in joining us? We are excited to share our progress in the first week of December 2015, please contact Michelle on info@lafriqueverte.co.za for more information.

Grow with us

Franschhoek Tatler

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

R4 650 000 VILLAGE THATCH CHARMER This recently renovated home is offered for sale, situated in a desirable part of the village it comprises 3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms all en-suite. The main bedroom is downstairs and the other two bedrooms are upstairs. There is underfloor heating downstairs and all bathrooms have heated towel rails. There is an upstairs study/TV lounge area with beautiful views through the feature eyebrow window. The open-plan living room is complimented with a feature wood burning fireplace and doors which open up onto the covered veranda pool and entertainment area. The large fitted kitchen has place for an 8 seater table and flows into the living area. The guest cloakroom is off the sitting room. There is a separate scullery which has direct access into the single garage. The manicured garden is all under irrigation. This desirable property is within walking distance of the village and is worth the view.

Janice Hicks 072 991 6272 • Office : 021 876 4579 janice.hicks@rawson.co.za

R37 000 000 BOUTIQUE WINE FARM Within walking distance of the charming Franschhoek Village is this stunningly beautiful 4ha Lifestyle Property. It simply has it all, a large comfortable owner’s house with all the upmarket finishes expected in a property of this calibre. It comprises 4 bedrooms all en suite, fully fitted kitchen with the living areas open up via French Doors onto the private gardens, pool and views over the dam and surrounding mountains. The house is completely private from the 1920 Cape Colonial Style Guesthouse, which accommodates 24 guests in the well-appointed suites and offers additional accommodation in a further 3 two bedroom cottages. The Breakfast Room, Kitchen and Office/Reception are all situated conveniently close by for the guests. There is also a 2 bedroom manager’s cottage. 3 Paddocks, pool, and tennis court the vines comprising 0.8ha Cabernet and 0.75ha Merlot complete this perfect picture. Water supply is from a mountain spring, as is the dam and there is a borehole on the property.

Janice Hicks 072 991 6272 • Office : 021 876 4579 janice.hicks@rawson.co.za

R8 900 000 DOMAINE DES ANGES This recently thatched home is being offered for sale for the first time and comprises of 4 bedrooms 4 bathrooms. A double sided feature fireplace separates the large open-plan living and dining room. The kitchen is well appointed with quality fittings and has a large scullery with separate laundry - access to the garages from the house is thought the laundry. There is a separate self-contained fully equipped apartment upstairs which is accessible though the main house or via the private outside entrance and has lovely mountain views from most of the windows and from the Juliet balcony. The solid Kiaat wood cupboards in the dressing room are a feature of the main bedroom, and there is underfloor heating in all the bathrooms. The spacious covered patio/entertainment area with built in braai has views over the pool, vineyards and surrounding mountains. The estate offers a clubhouse for home owners with gym and tennis courts. The security on this beautiful estate is excellent.

Janice Hicks 072 991 6272 • Office : 021 876 4579 janice.hicks@rawson.co.za

Contact our rental department, we have the tenants. Kate Botha - 079 068 2130 | kate.botha@rawson.co.za

Franschhoek Tatler

PEARL VALLEY

R 6 500 000

Parking 4

236910

COUNTRY CHARMER. Re-launched - newly thatched and beautifully renovated! This villa is situated on a double plot of land offering loads of character in the heart of the village. All 4 en-suite bedrooms are spacious (two on the upper level and two on ground floor level). There are three reception rooms, one boasting a lovely wood-burning fireplace. The large kitchen with Peter Osborne custom made cabinetry, dining area and expansive veranda make this a family and lifestyle dream. A wrap around veranda with outside kitchen and barbecue area overlooks an established garden, heated swimming pool and uninterrupted views.The house is fully alarmed, downstairs rooms have air-conditioning and the garden is low maintenance with an irrigation system in place. The main gate entrance is automated and there is secured parking for four vehicles. The house offers country living at its best!

PEARL VALLEY

R5 750 000

3.5

Garages 3

369 185

TRANQUIL LIVING. Lovely family home says hello to warmth and space. Double volume reception rooms to patio and pool in landscaped garden, North facing, sheltered from wind secure easy living. Right wing comprises 2 bedroom en suite and left wing share a bathroom. Study and balcony on upper level with mountain views. Open plan kitchen, scullery to court yard. Corner plot. Buy your place in the sun.

FRANSCHHOEK

R4 750 000

Garages 2

January 2016

FRANSCHHOEK

R6 950 000

Parking 1

WEB REF: 370 885

STYLISH FAMILY HOME IN THE HEART OF THE FRANSCHHOEK VILLAGE. Immaculate, stylish and full of charm, this family home has a stunning open plan living area which integrates and flows out incorporating the beautiful outdoor living areas. A country kitchen with separate scullery, formal lounge & fireplace, TV lounge and central dining room area all lend itself to family living and entertainment. A covered wrap-around veranda ideal for al fresco living incorporates the gentle garden area and pool. There are 3 well sized bedrooms on the upstairs level with a great sense of light and volume. The main bedroom is en-suite and the two upstairs bedrooms share a family bathroom. Downstairs there is a 4th en suite bedroom (guest bedroom). The home is in close proximity to all village amenities.

FRANSCHHOEK

R10 750 000

Garages 2

369908

IMMACULATE LIFESTYLE PROPERTY ON GENTLEMAN’S ESTATE. Surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, the Villa features 3 spacious en suite bedrooms, each leading to a unique private outside terrace with spectacular views and a magnificent mountain backdrop. A retreat that reflects stylish interiors with a provincial flair. Commensurate is the mixing of old and new by its thick walls, vaulted ceiling and the use of expansive glass. The lounge and dinning room are open plan with a heart-warming fireplace. The second grand entrance services a private office. The modern kitchen has a large island that encourages sharing a chopping board and good conversation. The appliances are high end with the inclusion of a well-designed separate scullery and pantry, and depending on the season her whisper quiet ceiling air conditioners and underfloor heating service both your cooling and heating requirements. .

FRANSCHHOEK

R4 150 000

364 555

353 071

FRANSCHHOEK - ESTATE LIVING AT ITS FINEST. Sole Mandate! Rarely does a property on La Petite Provence with “The” position and address appear on the market. Sensational mountain and vineyard views makes this property a must see. This beautiful home offers a double volume living area with log burning fireplace, stunning kitchen with separate laundry. Lounge, dining room, downstairs bedroom and kitchen leading onto the large covered veranda.

A RARE CONTENDER IN THE VILLAGE. The only plot left in the exclusive La Grange De Cabriere Farm with river frontage and majestic views of the mountains and untouched landscapes. This property will not be on the market for long and is it an ideal opportunity to become part of the prestigious Franschhoek family. The plot currently has two semi-detached staff cottages on it which can easily be transformed as part of the main house or simply be demolished and start from afresh. Plus Vat

January 2016

INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY GROUP

REMAX.CO.ZA

Franschhoek Tatler

The Real Estate Leaders NOBODY IN THE WORLD SELLS MORE REAL ESTATE THAN RE/MAX

Franschhoek Tatler

January 2016

SOLE MANDATE

Ref# FWI1242537

Le Petit Verdun, Franschhoek / R27 million Are you looking for that rare gem that offers you privacy, quality, views and easy access to the village then this private estate is ideal? A very versatile property where one can enjoy the already beautiful main residence, staff accommodation and a 1-bedroom private cottage. The 2nd home would be ideal to develop into a guest house or for your extended family or guests. This estate is set on 1ha of rolling laws with majestic oak trees behind a secure wall and pretty entrance gates. Shelly Schoeman 083 301 8833 Ref# KW1162475

Ref# KW1162475

Bantry Bay R6.2 million

Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 3 / Garages 4 This double storey executive home.

Melanie 082 658 0071 / Myrna 082 443 8417 Sebastian 082 658 0071 / James 082 443 8417

Follow showboards from Campground Road to 12 Nerina Street.

Melanie 082 658 0071 / Myrna 082 443 8417 Sebastian 082 658 0071 / James 082 443 8417

FRANSCHHOEK Office: 021 876 2100 / winelandsint@pamgolding.co.za

ARABELLA COUNTRY ESTATE SOLE

SOLE

Office: 028 284 9385 / arabella@pamgolding.co.za MANDATE Agents: Mike Bisset 082 889 5300 / Hugo Basson 083 386 6299

MANDATE

Ref# FWI1202203

Ref# 1239472

Franschhoek / R3.5 million

Franschhoek / R5.9 million + VAT

A magnificent +-4000sqm vacant plot situated in the secure Fransche Hoek Estate surrounded by breath taking mountain views.

Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 4 / Garages 1 / Newly built, bright and contemporary home offering lovely double-volume open spaces and exceptional mountain and fynbos views.

Doug 072 610 7208 / Jeanine 082 410 6837

SOLE

Ref# FWI1231846

Ref# FWI1237989

MANDATE

Franschhoek / R1.45 million

Franschhoek / R3.98 million

Bedrooms 2 / Bathrooms 1 / Garages 1 / Lovely upstairs apartment with spectacular views and communal facilities of a communal tennis court and swimming pool.

Bedrooms 4 / Bathrooms 4 / Parking 4 / An income generating investment opportunity combining commercial and residential units. Rental contracts are in place for all. Doug 072 610 7208 / Jeanine 082 410 6837

Shelly Schoeman 083 301 8833

/PamGoldingProperties

pamgolding.co.za

@PamGoldingGroup

January 2016

Franschhoek Tatler

Fine & Country Franschhoek, Centre du Franschhoek, 23 Huguenot Str, Franchhoek, 7690

FRANSCHHOEK

R 4 500 000

R5 950 000

FRANSCHHOEK

WONDERFUL 3 BEDROOM FAMILY HOME ON LA PETITE PROVENCE SECURE ESTATE. This beautiful 3 bedroom family home is a must view. The property includes a spacious double volume open plan living/dining room with fireplace, opening onto an open plan kitchen. Three double bedrooms, three bathrooms and a large mezzanine area perfect as a tv room/office. Patio doors lead onto a covered verandah area overlooking the garden and a sparkling pool. Large double garage. Stunning views of the surrounding vineyards and Franschhoek Mountains. This secure wine estate includes a club-house, estate pool and tennis court.

EXCLUSIVE 2/3 BEDROOM FAMILY HOME ON PRESTIGIOUS DOMAINE DES ANGES WINE & OLIVE ESTATE Set amongst the vineyards in this prime estate, this beautiful property has wonderful vineyard and mountain views. Main bedroom has large en-suite bathroom, dressing room, and vineyard views. A large 2nd en - suite bedroom and a study. The large double volume living/dining room with contemporary open plan kitchen has patio doors leading to large stoep and lawns, leading to vineyards. A 2nd large stoep at front of house has enclosed garden. Separate scullery, single garage, drying yard and off-street parking complete this lovely property.The Estate includes a club-house, swimming pool and tennis court.

3 Bedrooms en-suite | Stunning views | Secure Estate | Erf Size: 627m2 | Web Ref: 76645

2 Bedrooms en-suite | Open Plan Living | Secure Estate | Erf Size: 986m2 | Web ref:128714

Tom Clode +27 (0)79 955 3114 | Terry-Lee George +27 (0)82 650 9194

FRANSCHHOEK

R6 950 000

R9 950 000

FRANSCHHOEK

TRUE VILLAGE HOME WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF THE HIGH STREET. Perfect in every way with charm and character thrown in for good measure! Open plan living areas create a seamless flow through the interiors and out into the garden beyond. A kitchen with separate scullery, a formal lounge, informal tv room and central dining area are ideal for family living. A wrap-around veranda ideal for outside entertaining overlooking garden and pool area.There are three well proportioned bedrooms upstairs and an en-suite guest room downstairs.Two en-suite bathrooms (main & guest room) and a shared family bathroom complete this ideal family home.

THIS HOME HAS IT ALL! Secure living, exceptional views, well thought-out design and great finishes. This spacious 3 bedroom home is well-suited to family living with large double volume living room leading out to a large north facing stoep, large lawned area and 10m heated pool. Also includes contemporary open plan kitchen/dining room separate study/tv room, large open plan games room/office, double garage, purpose built wine cellar, guest toilet, separate scullery/ laundry. Fully air-conditioned throughout. Solar powered geysers and solar powered heated pool.

3 Bedrooms en-suite | Open Plan Living | Erf Size 1200 | Web Ref: 130926

Tom Clode +27 (0)79 955 3114 | Terry-Lee George +27 (0)82 650 9194

FRANSCHHOEK

R 10 750 000

IMMACULATE LIFESTYLE PROPERTY ON DOMAINE DES ANGES This stunning Villa reflects stylish interiors with a Provencal flair. The property features two grand entrances, open plan lounge and dining room, modern kitchen with large island, separate scullery and pantry, 3 generous en suite bedrooms, each leading to a private outside terrace with spectacular views and a magnificent mountain backdrop. Erf Size: 771m2 | Web Ref: 136641 Tom Clode +27 (0)79 955 3114 | Terry-Lee George +27 (0)82 650 9194

FRANSCHHOEK

R 8 500 000

UNIQUE CHARACTER PROPERTY WITH PRIMEVILLAGE ADDRESS Situated in the heart of the village, this property is suited to both permanent and lock up and go living. The double-fronted facade bordered with grape vines and olive trees is a feature of historic Cabriere Street. Old world character combines with contemporary touches.The large open-plan, double volume dining/living room is divided by a fireplace and a huge chef’s kitchen opens out to garden.A large mezzanine level upstairs is ideal as a 2nd living room/office. 2 en–suite bedrooms in main house both have views onto gardens front and back. A 3rd bedroom with separate garden access could be incorporated into the house. A scullery and double garage complete the interior. Outside there is a spacious garden with pool and small olive grove. Erf Size: 1289m2 | Web Ref 134747

Tom Clode +27 (0)79 955 3114 | Terry-Lee George +27 (0)82 650 9194

Franschhoek Tatler

January 2016

B.I.B

Top

Optional Plunge Pool

Unit 3 Patio 16 m²

Unit 3 Study Nook 2500 Bic

Vanity

Unit 3 Bedroom 1

6 m²

1900 Bic

19 m²

Unit 3 bedroom 2

whb

12 m²

whb MES

Stove/ Oven

18 m²

Kitchen Counter

Unit 3 Garage

Unit 3 Stairwell

5 m²

2 m²

Unit 3 Guest WC

Unit 3 Kitchen / Living / Dinning 43 m²

Fireplace

8 m²

Unit 3 Es 2 5 m²

bath

shr

whb

Unit 3 Front stoep 11 m²

Unit 3 Ground Floor 1 : 100

Unit 3 First Floor 1 : 100

Loc

1:5