Prestige Best of the Best 2014

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PRESTIGE MAGAZINE |

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79

BEST OF THE BEST 2014

bestof thebest

| FASHION | DESIGN | JEWELLERY | TRAVEL | BUSINESS | PROPERTY SCANDINAVIAN FASHION • CHAMPAGNE CELEBRATIONS • EXCLUSIVE VILLAS • SUMMER ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA • MAJESTIC YACHTS • SALVADOR DALI IN STELLENBOSCH R49.00

ISSUE 79

AFRICA’S PREMIER LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Leaves everything else behind.

Especially compromise.

The new S 65 AMG. Arousing passion with twelve cylinders: the new standard bearer of the luxury segment. Delivering 463 kW and 1000 Nm of torque, the hand-built AMG V12 biturbo engine propels the bar for sportiness and exclusivity into the stratosphere. www.mercedes-amg.co.za

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CONTENTS

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PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

in this

issue UPFRONT

Ed’s letter – page 6

INSIDE

Now is the Hour – Whether as a special gift or an investment in mankind’s ability to craft beautiful timepieces, a luxury watch is of the most sought after possessions and qualifiers of status – page 8

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A girl’s best friend – South African beauty, Tanya Van Graan, dazzles in Forevermark Diamonds inspired by the glamour of the fifties – page 18 Time Out – It’s downtime as we head to holiday destinations and take in a bit of relaxation. How do we best use this time to reflect on the past year and look for opportunities in the next? – page 24

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Sold! – Another auction of wine in name of charity? Not at all because it’s not an auction of wine alone and the beneficiaries are a fundamental part of the winemaking industry – page 28 Paranormal Activity II – Vivien Natasen reviews the latest iteration of the successful Rolls Royce Ghost – page 32

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Trophy Homes – Luxury property has regained some of its sizzle thanks to a number of factors that are making South Africa a highly attractive market for lifestyle and value for money – page 36 High Life – Interior architect, Maira Koutsoudakis, works in an aesthetic heaven, her Hyde Park boutique office loft reflects the unique style that today graces island resorts, luxury African safari lodges and her LIFE restaurants – page 44

Getting Away from it all

Private Paradise – Making it up as you go along is part of the allure of checking into an exclusive-use property, so what are you waiting for? From milestone birthday bashes to multi-generational family reunions, pick your private paradise – page 60 PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

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Royal Cape – Take an historic landmark on the Green Point promenade, add an eccentric Irishman with a vision of something extraordinary, and you get a luxury hotel with a delightful twist around every corner – page 56

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Cool Threads – It stands out from the rest and is immediately identifiable, and it seems as if fashion from the cold land of the Vikings is causing the establishment to take notice – page 48

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CONTENTS

Way Down South – Chris Buchanan travels to the earth’s nether regions and finds absolute beauty juxtaposed with an unforgiving sub-polar environment – page 66 Summer lovin’ – On most bucket lists, there’s nothing quite like the French Riviera in the heat of summer – page 72

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Exploring Sri Lanka, in style – Ensconced in luxury, surrounded by lush nature and pampered with impeccable service, Ulagalla is the perfect base from which to explore part of the cultural triangle – page 78

Food and Wine

Tiny Bubbles – The festive season is one for celebration, relaxation and spending valuable time with friends and family. It’s made all the better with a glass of bubbles from the very region that gave this drink is name, Champagne – page 84 The Headline Whiskies of 2014 – Patrick Leclezio toasts the standouts of a quality year – page 94

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Mad about Martinis – Wheat from the chaff, men from the boys. Patrick Leclezio steps up to the major leagues – page 96 Darling Buds – The combination of exceptional wine, masterful architecture, sustainability and a Franco/ South African legacy, make for an intriguing story. Chris Buchanan spent an afternoon at Glenelly Estate and got very close to a Salvador Dali – page 98

Getting Around

Your Majesty – Gulf Craft launched its range of luxury fly-bridge yachts in 2004, and today features an innovative and extensive range of yachts from 44 feet to 135 feet – page 104 All the Prancing Horses – Stuart Johnston drives the most powerful Ferrari road car in history – page 108

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M & M – BMW’s M3 is re-defining the art of a performance sedan – page 120

Final Say

From the Publisher – Vivien Natasen – page 128

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Noble Nordic – Vivien Natasen attends the Cape Town launch of the latest XC90 and dons his foul weather gear to watch the Volvo Ocean Race close up – page 112

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Earrings by Dominic Jones

Mila Kunis wears Zambian emeralds from Gemfields, the world’s leading producer of ethically-sourced coloured gemstones.

Beauty, set in stone. www.gemfields.co.uk +27 (0)21 794 2488

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UPFRONT

ed's

letter

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give a little bit

t’s a fact of life that when you drive your spanking new supercar from the showroom floor, there will be a person at the next traffic light asking for a contribution to their wellbeing. It’s also a fact of life that we as individuals are unable to help every soul who wakes up not knowing where the next meal will come from.

Wealth-X recently released its Wealth Report 2014 and the reading may, or may not, astound you. It states that 211 275 individuals, 0.004% of the global population, control 13% of the world’s wealth. Most of these people are in banking and finance or self-made entrepreneurs and a high percentage, as much as 20% in a number of European countries, have inherited their wealth.

We’re talking in the region of 30 trillion US Dollars (almost double the GDP of the US) that a very small number of people have at their disposal and according the report, the average UHNWI will spend one million US Dollars a year on luxury goods and services.

So, where does philanthropy sit on the hierarchy of financial allocation when it comes to the ulta-wealthy? Apart from the well publicised endeavours of the Warren Buffets and Bill Gateses of the world, 92% feel that driving social impact is important and that it’s those under 40 and in emerging markets who are leading the trend. They do this is five different ways: • Making investment choices with a clearly defined social impact objective, • Donating to charities on an ongoing basis, • General community involvement, • Volunteering their knowledge and expertise, and • Making strategic business decisions with a clearly defined social impact objective.

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In this issue of Prestige we showcase the best watches available in the market and I would like to put a hypothetical question to you. If you were aware that one manufacturer had more sound social and environmental policies regarding the labour and materials used in the fabrication of its watches, would it sway your purchase decision? And I’m not talking about owning a Prius because it’s perceived as the right to do, I’m talking about a real concern for the issues and a willingness to make a difference.

Also in this issue is a piece on the AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction, set up by members of the winemaking fraternity to raise money for the education of the people who toil on their land and make the production of a luxury product a reality. They made little over R7 million this year and hope to trump that figure significantly in 2015.

Luxury is a privilege, a well earned privilege but a privilege nonetheless. Some of the extremely wealthy don’t think so, and there are stories of wealthy individuals who take the privilege for granted and who make sensational tabloid headlines through their vulgarity.

But I think, well I certainly hope, there’s a conscience in the readers of Prestige that, while the small change handed to our friend at the traffic light means very little to our pocket, it’s the meal that earlier in the day, was just a hope.

Be safe over the holidays and compliments of the season to you and your family.

chris

PUBLISHER Vivien Natasen Tel +27 11 484 2833 EDITOR Chris Buchanan chris@prestigemag.co.za Brand Ambassador/Advertising Sales Carly Natasen carly@prestigemag.co.za Operations and Circulation Farhana Suder farhana.suder@neoafrica.com Heidi Dyer heidi@neoafrica.com DIGITAL Chris Buchanan chris@prestigemag.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Jane Broughton, Stuart Johnston, Patrick Leclezio, Gillian McLaren PRINTING Paarl Media SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, email heidi@neoafrica.com with the words SUBSCRIBE PRESTIGE in the subject line. Include your name, email address, mobile number and delivery address in the body.

Costs: 6 issues R432; 11 issues – R375 on special for 2013 (normal price R539). Other countries on request.

DISTRIBUTIOn: Prestige is available on newsstands and through subscription. Free public space distribution includes charter fleets operating in the Southern Africa region. Top five star hotels and all major business class airport lounges nationally also receive copies. Prestige can also be found in various coffee shops, spas and private banking waiting areas.

PUBLISHED BY Neo Publishing (Pty) Ltd Tel +27 11 484 2833. Fax +27 11 484 2899 All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or any of its clients. Information has been included in good faith and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and reports in this magazine, the publisher does not accept any responsibility, whatsoever, for any errors or omissions, or for any effects resulting therefrom. No part of this publication may be used, or reproduced in any form, without the written permission of the publisher. All copyright for material apearing in this magazine belongs to Neo Publishing and/or the individual contributors. © 2014

digital diaries

A REPORT OUT OF THE UK HAD INTERNET USERS IN A FRENZY

ABOUT BROADBAND SPEED OR THE LACK THEREOF AND WHAT THEIR SERVICE PROVIDERS HAD PROMISED THEM IN THE

B

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MATERIAL.

asically a loophole in advertising standards means that an internet provider can advertise superfast line speeds when only 10% of their subscribers actually get the service.

I can hear a collective ‘aye!’ in agreement because every market is riddled with the same claims by providers who aren’t prepared to take

solutions

responsibility for the 10 meg service that’s actually delivering internet so slow, you’re better off sending a driver to deliver the file rather than emailing it.

A true story tells of a company in Durban that tested the speed of sending a 2G file over the internet to a regional office 100 kilometres away. The file was also placed on a USB and sent with a carrier pigeon at the same time. The pigeon won.

Thanks to Telkom, South Africa is set to remain in the line speed dark ages for some time to come. There are many reason for this, but the monopolistic nature of the

beast and the fact that policy is dictated by the department of telecommunications, are the prime culprits.

Even by subscribing to a service that puts fibre directly to your home in the hope of faster internet, you still need Telkom to get the data to the fibre in the first place.

So, when a service provider advertises some too-good-to-be-true internet service, divide it by ten and live in hope that we will one day, get the telecommunications policies of a winning nation.

www.prestigedigital.net www.prestigemag.co.za

Consulting A Neo Africa Company

Neo Solutions is a leader in innovative solutions to public and private sector organisations in Africa.

Our decade of experience has proven that we are a powerhouse in turnkey solutions covering strategy, business process re-engineering, human resources management and information technology. Our industry expertise spans many sectors including ICT, Banking, Mining, Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics.

Neo Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Neo Africa, which is a formidable 100% Black-owned and managed group of companies in Southern Africa. We have successfully implemented and managed several large scale projects, some amounting to several hundred million Rands.

The key to a successful consulting business is having the right people and equipping them with the most innovative tools and expertise to deliver outcomes that surpass client expectations. As Neo Solutions we have the right people and the right tools in our arsenal to be able to get your project to a successful conclusion.

Solutions… not just answers Tel: +27 11 484 2833 • Fax: +27 11 484 2899 • Email: info@neoafrica.com • www.neoafrica.com

PRESTIGE

WATCHES

now is the

hour WHETHER AS A

SPECIAL GIFT OR AN INVESTMENT IN MANKIND’S ABILITY TO CRAFT BEAUTIFUL TIMEPIECES, A LUXURY WATCH IS OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER POSSESSIONS AND

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QUALIFIERS OF STATUS

ver since the invention of the mechanical watch at the turn of the 16th century, watchmakers have aspired to create distinguishable timepieces using sophisticated tourbillons, precious metals and jewels aplenty. Simplicity sits beside complexity and minimalism beside flamboyance in the perfect combination of artistic expression and technological endeavour.

Michael Clerizo, author of Masters of Contemporary Watchmaking told Forbes’s Ariel Adams, “Watches encompass many things: history, science, art, engineering, architecture, chemistry, metallurgy, mathematics, physics, aesthetics and our ideas about time”.

The pages to follow present all of those ideals in horology and some of the highlights for 2014.

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Montblanc metamorphosis II

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ontblanc's Metamorphosis II turns the spotlight on one of the most complex movements ever developed and designed in Montblanc’s manufacture workshops in Villeret, revealing the timepiece in a completely new aesthetic.

The most striking feature of this new Montblanc timepiece is its "metamorphosis" concept which is driven by a highly complex mechanical movement with 746 components and protected by various patents that took over 4 years in development.

OMEGA de ville central tourbillon

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he 950 platinum bezel, casebody and lugs are paved with 170 baguette-cut diamonds, topped only by the 289 single-cut diamonds that adorn the OMEGA Co-Axial calibre 2637 – totalling just over 10 carats.

The intriguing dial of the timepiece adds a modern twist to the beauty of the tourbillon, which is visible through the sapphire glass with an anti-reflective treatment on both sides. The titanium tourbillon cage, showcased in the centre of the watch, makes one revolution every minute. 18K red gold facetted indexes at the 12, 3 and 6 o’clock positions decorate the dial.

The brushed 18K red gold hour and minute hands are applied to the sapphire crystal and the 18K red gold seconds hand is set in the tourbillon cage. The limited edition number of the timepiece (0/3) is engraved by hand on the caseback.

The 38.7 mm De Ville Central Tourbillon’s 950 platinum oscillating weight and bridges are polished by hand and the watchmaker’s initials are engraved on the back of the tourbillon’s main plate.

This De Ville Central Tourbillon is presented on a grey leather strap with platinum stitching and a polished platinum fold over clasp. At its heart is the Co-Axial calibre 2637, a self-winding movement with a 45-hour power reserve.

A free-sprung balance also allows for more precise adjustments of the watch, which has been officially certified as a chronometer by the COSC or Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres. Like all Central Tourbillon models, the classic De Ville Co-Axial case guarantees water resistance up to 30 metres and it is offered with a three-year warranty.

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OMEGA seamaster 300

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n 1957, OMEGA introduced the Seamaster 300 – a watch designed specifically for divers and professionals who worked underwater. More than half a century later, the Seamaster 300 is reintroduced in a completely upgraded and enhanced form, prepared to equip a new generation of adventurers on land and in the oceans.

The 41mm Seamaster 300 is available in stainless steel, grade 5 titanium and 18K Sedna™ gold. Bicolour options pairing grade 5 titanium or stainless steel with 18K Sedna™ gold are also available. The unidirectional rotating bezels of the full titanium and stainless steel models are enhanced with a Liquidmetal® diving scale while the golden and bi-colour models have a diving scale made with OMEGA Ceragold™.

The Seamaster 300 is available with either a sand-blasted blue or black dial decorated with recessed hour markers that are filled with a “vintage” SuperLumiNova. The hour and seconds hands and indexes emit a blue light while a green light is emitted from the minute hand and dot on the bezel. The hands are crafted from 18K Sedna™ gold, 18K white gold or are rhodium-plated, depending on the case material. A white varnished central seconds hand equips the stainless steel and titanium models.

The Seamaster 300 is presented on OMEGA’s patented screw-and-pin bracelet crafted from the same material as the case. It features the brand’s newly patented extendable fold over rack-andpusher clasp, which is adjustable to six different positions.

OMEGA has introduced two calibres to its family of movements. The OMEGA Master Co-Axial calibres 8400 and 8401 not only boast the same accuracy, precision and reliability of their CoAxial cousins but also feature OMEGA’s revolutionary anti-magnetic technology, which ensures that the Seamaster 300 is impervious to strong magnetic fields, even those that exceed 15,000 gauss.

The revolutionary movement is visible through the timepiece’s domed sapphire crystal caseback. The OMEGA Master CoAxial calibre 8401, characterised by an 18K red gold rotor and balance bridge, powers the limited edition and solid 18K Sedna™ gold models.

The Seamaster 300 is water resistant to 30 bar (300 metres / 1000 feet) and is offered with a full four-year warranty.

Blacpain

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chronographe pulsomètre

his new model in the Villeret collection houses a new 13-ligne Manufacture-made calibre perfectly suited to the size of the case. This new movement with its heart beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, a first at Blancpain, comprises 322 parts including a silicon balance spring. It is equipped with a vertical clutch as well as a chronograph mechanism controlled by a column wheel. It also features a flyback function enabling instant chronograph resetting and restarting simply by pressing a pusher at 4 o’clock – a device that proves extremely useful when measuring successive time periods.

In an era when taking a pulse used to involve a 60-second measurement during which the number of beats had to be exactly counted, the pulsometer was devised to enable doctors and nurses to take their patients’ pulses more rapidly.

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The chronograph hand in association with a specially graduated scale makes it possible to display the patient’s heart beat directly on the dial without any need for calculations. All that is required for the hand to indicate the number of heart beats per minute on the pulsometer scale, is to start the chronograph and then stop it after counting off 30 heartbeats.

In keeping with the classic aesthetic of the Villeret collection, this new model comes with a cambered white Grand Feu enamel dial. The pulsometer scale surrounds enamel-painted Roman numerals, while the centre bears the chronograph 30-minute and 12-hour counters as well as a date window at 6 o’clock. The sapphire case-back reveals the latest Blancpain calibre featuring its oscillating weight adorned with a honeycomb motif. The 43.6mm-diameter red gold case is teamed with a brown alligator leather strap.

Piaget altiplano 900P Alongside the technical feat, it is the elegantly contemporary design of the Altiplano 900P that won over the jury of the competition. Piaget reveals the subtle mechanism of the timepiece on a dial side picking up the line’s iconic aesthetic design codes.

Purity and contrasts endow the world’s thinnest mechanical watch with a supreme aura of refinement.

The prize awarded

by Montres Passion represents a magnificent end to the 140th anniversary celebrations of a watchmaker that has consistently embodied, ever since its earliest days, the values expressed by its founder: “Always do better than necessary”.

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he Piaget Altiplano 900P was earlier this year voted “Watch of the Year 2014” by Montres Passion magazine, a year after winning the same award for the Altiplano Date 40mm Automatic.

The Altiplano 900P expresses the quintessence of a watchmaking adventure that is both historical and human. It is indeed by attuning their respective fields of competence to each other that the two fully integrated Piaget Manufactures in La Côteaux-Fées and Plan-les-Ouates were able to develop such an ambitious project as the Altiplano 900P in just three years. Neither entirely a movement nor exactly a case, it is in fact both at once thanks to a case-back also serving as a mainplate. This new way of envisaging the construction of a watch also enabled Piaget to achieve an ultimate slimness record in the field of mechanical watches, at just 3.65mm thin. At each stage in its development and production, the watchmakers, case constructors and designer had to work in close collaboration, since every technical choice had an aesthetic impact and vice versa.

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panerai radiomir chronograph platino

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fficine Panerai presents a new chronograph of the highest quality, incorporating a fascinating combination of design, technology and history: the Radiomir 1940 Chronograph. This is available in three versions in different precious metals, platinum, red gold and white gold.

In the new chronographs the Radiomir 1940 case, 45mm in diameter, has the simple, elegant lines developed

by Panerai in about 1940, the time when the classic cushion case with the wire loop strap attachments of the first Radiomir started to acquire the more massive proportions of the Luminor 1950 case. Every detail of the 1940 case has a polished finish, including the two push-buttons controlling the chronograph functions, the cylindrical winding crown and the bezel.

This bezel frames a crystal made of Plexiglas®, a material similar to that used in the original models created by Panerai for the Royal Italian Navy, which had a polymethyl methacrylate crystal.

Movement: Hand-wound mechanical, exclusive Panerai OP XXV calibre, 12¾ lignes, 22 jewels, Glucydur® balance, 18,000 alternations/ hour. Incabloc® anti-shock device.

Swan’s neck regulator. Power reserve 55 hours. Côtes de Genève decoration on the bridges.

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cartier

high jewellery obsidian wristwatch

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his piece of jewellery is structured and constructed on a band of translucent obsidian in sombre hues, illuminated by an extraordinary octagonal-shaped morganite of 143.99 carats which is edged with a double border paved with white diamonds and sapphires in graduated orange-pink tones.

An osmosis of sumptuous materials transformed into jewels. From beneath the flat pavilion of the central gemstone emerges a stark dial entirely paved with diamonds.

The inspiration for the piece came in the form of a raw 119-kg obsidian stone and the intuition of a gem cutter, who spotted the potential for a shimmering array of stones within the stone.

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• Watch in 18-carat rhodium-finished white gold, 18-carat pink gold obsidian • One octagonal-shaped morganite of 143.99 carats • One square-shaped diamond of 0.96 carats • Orange sapphires, brilliant-cut and baguette-cut diamonds.

• Quartz movement.

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WATCHES

rolex cellini collection

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he Rolex Cellini collection is a contemporary celebration of classicism and the eternal elegance of traditional timepieces.

Consisting of 12 classically inspired models, this new collection combines the best of Rolex know-how and its high standards of perfection with an approach that heightens watchmaking heritage in its most timeless form. The lines are sober and refined, the materials noble, the finishings luxurious: every detail respects the codes of the art of watchmaking. Like the Italian Renaissance – one of whose most admired artists, Benvenuto Cellini, goldsmith and sculptor to the popes, inspired the name of the collection – the Rolex Cellini models mark a return to the sources of classicism, reinterpreting it in perfect harmony with their time.

PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

The cases are available in 18K white or Everose gold cast by Rolex in its own foundry. Their round shape and classic 39mm diameter are marks of tradition, together with the refined lugs, the polished finish and the double bezel – one domed and the second delicately fluted. This fluting is also present on the case back, serving to screw it down. The flared shape of the screw-down crown highlights the refined aesthetics of the Cellini. The dials are either lacquered or embellished with a black or a silverplated classic “rayon flammé de la gloire” guilloche motif and adorned with gold applique hour markers.

The layout of the dials is determined by the watches’ different functions, dividing the collection into three families. The Cellini Time models

are the quintessential expression of a watchmaking classic, the guardian of hours, minutes and seconds. The Cellini Date models add a date function via a hand on a small sub-dial, blending practicality and elegance. Finally, the Cellini Dual Time models indicate the time in two time zones simultaneously and feature an elegant sun and moon day/ night indicator in an aperture on the subdial for the second time zone. All the new Cellini models feature a high-precision self-winding mechanical movement, certified as a chronometer and entirely manufactured by Rolex. These watches are available only with shiny black or brown alligator leather straps, stitched, remborded and with an 18 ct gold buckle.

Tag Heuer carrera lady collection

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he new Carrera Lady Collection is every bit as beautiful and strong as the glamorous woman who helped design it: five-time Grand Slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova.

The 12 ultra-feminine, chic & sporty new watches in the Collection are perfect night or day accessories, ideal for dressing up or down. The racing-circuit aesthetics that made the Carrera an icon of classic sporting style—faceted horns, wide-

open dial and a thin bezel for optimum readability at the wheel—are still in place but reinterpreted in a more feminine way.

The stunning details, in contrasting black and white, give new urban glamour.

Like Maria Sharapova, their sexy, feminine appeal is at the forefront, but so too is their resilience and versatility.

As hardworking and high-functioning as Maria—no matter what, no matter where—they are timeless classics that will never crack under pressure.

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his year, the cosmos is the inspiration behind this work of art scintillating with 449 diamonds. Unusual and dramatic, the appeal of this watch lies in its combination of asymmetric and symmetric lines, an ingenious fusion of Art Nouveau’s free-flowing lines countered by Art Deco’s geometric architecture.

Crafted entirely in white gold, the round dial forms a velvety celestial background for a series of shooting stars that continue their trajectory beyond the confines of the dial. To instil a sense of movement, the case is surrounded by dangling baguette-cut diamond charms that swing in time with the wearer.

The eye-catching bracelet is composed of two diamond studded ribbons that resemble the classic geometric Greek Key pattern renowned throughout history as a symbol of infinity and unity. Crisscrossing their way in symmetrical fashion from the case to the clasp, the ribbons part ways when they reach the dial and break the symmetry that ruled the bracelet. Like tree roots, or the silhouette of the Big Dipper constellation, each strand of the bracelet moves independently over the surface of the sapphire crystal, determined to hold the precious dial in place.

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Audemarshaute Piguet joaillerie

Patekgrand Philippe complication

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legendary Grand Complication with minute repeater, tourbillon, perpetual calendar, retrograde date, and moon phases unveils its new identity.

Patek Philippe has been crafting pocket watches with repeater mechanisms since 1844. And in 1916, the workshops built the world's first wristwatch (for ladies, by the way) with a five-minute repeater.

Hardly any other manufacture has accrued so much experience in dealing with the special challenges of these unusual instruments for such a long and uninterrupted period of time.

It takes many skills to craft a repeater mechanism with its filigreed racks, snails and springs and to assure that its sequence of strikes corresponds to the time displayed by the watch.

The eloquence of the sound is an important aspect as well. The rule is: "volume sounds." The case diameter of the new Ref. 5216 is 39.5mm, tangibly larger than the 36.8mm span of its predecessor, the Ref. 5016. In a micromechanical cosmos where watchmakers navigate hundredths of a millimetre when assembling the individual mechanisms, a gain of 2.7mm represents a totally new dimension. And that's exactly how the new Grand Complication sounds.

As soon as the slide in the left-hand flank of the case is actuated, the minute repeater starts playing a melody that translates the time displayed on the dial into sound – to the ears of the connoisseur, it is music of exceptionally rich sonority and fullness. First, it strikes the hours on the low-pitched gong, then the quarter-hours with double high-low notes, and finally the minutes that have elapsed since the last quarter-hour on the high-pitched gong. The highlight is at 12:59 when 32 consecutive strikes tell the time. To verify the perfection of its acoustic spectrum, each Ref. 5216 is tested in a soundproofed chamber equipped with modern instrumentation and digital sound analysers.

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PRESTIGE

YACHTS

your majesty GULF CRAFT LAUNCHED ITS RANGE W W W. P R E ST I G E M AG.C O. Z A

OF LUXURY FLY-BRIDGE YACHTS IN 2004, AND TODAY FEATURES AN INNOVATIVE AND EXTENSIVE RANGE OF

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YACHTS FROM 44 FEET TO 135 FEET

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ajesty Yachts relies on an inhouse design team, as well as on Dutch, Italian, British and Australian designers, catering to diverse global tastes in exterior styling and interior design.

Operating from a 500,000 square foot modern facility, Majesty Yachts are built to leading international standards, including ABS, MCA, BV and RINA, and under strict supervision such as Lloyds, ensuring no compromise between luxury and safety.

Technologies used in the Majesty Yachts range include advanced composite construction and vacuum infusion processes, water-jet drives engineered on large yachts, and gyro marine stabilisers.

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YACHTS

Everything is an option in this bracket of superyacht and the Majesty 135 offers all that’s expected when it comes

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to luxury and comfort

Owners of Majesty Yachts enjoy luxury that’s meaningful, customisation without the price premium, and performance-based sea keeping. The result is that Majesty owners are today cruising four continents with the confidence in a yard that’s committed to sustainably growing its market by selling its yachts, and offering unforgettable yachting experiences.

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The Majesty 135 is the range’s flagship 40+ metre yacht offering complete customisation in a four deck layout, including a stern garage for your watersports equipment and dinghy.

Everything is an option in this bracket of superyacht and the Majesty 135 offers all that’s expected when it comes to luxury and comfort.

Accommodation consists of five

staterooms, up to four guestrooms, crew quarters for eight members and a captain’s cabin.

Entertainment on the main and upper decks offers saloon, bar, galley, dining room and a bow seating area, while a move up to the fly bridge gets you the jacuzzi and the best place to be when experiencing a yacht like this.

As for the rest, it all depends on

Technical Data Length Overall 41.05 m Length Waterline 33.66 m Maximum Beam 8.14 m Crosby Street Hotel

Depth 3.57 m Draft 2.11 m Fuel Capacity 37,800 l Water Capacity 7,570 l Black Tank Capacity 1,250 l Gray Tank Capacity 1,250 l Construction FRP Accommodation 5 Staterooms (10 Berths) Crew Cabins 4 (8 Berths) Captain’s Cabin 1 Bathrooms 5 En Suite, 4 Crew, 2 Day Heads

For more information: Majesty Yachts, Cape Town +27 72 244 1982 www.majesty-yachts.com

Generators 2 x 80kW Power Option 2 x 4,000 HP

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the taste and preference of the owner when it comes to specific finishes and specifications but the basics in terms of navigation, electronics, stability, safety and comfort are standard.

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Displacement 230 tons approx

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all the

prancing horses STUART JOHNSTON

POWERFUL FERRARI ROAD CAR IN HISTORY

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DRIVES THE MOST

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he F12 Berlinetta. It’s a pretty understated name for what is arguably the most impressive road car in Ferrari’s history. That’s quite a statement, given the likes of hallowed icons in Ferrari’s lexicon, such as the 250 GTO of 1962, the 365GTB4 Daytona of 1969, and the outlandish F40, F50 and Enzo.

But, firstly, this is the most powerful road-going Ferrari ever produced. The most important numbers are a staggering 544 kW at 8 350 rpm, and 690 Nm at 6 000 rpm. And, having spent a couple of glorious hours with it in clogged Friday traffic and on deserted tarmac where I could exploit a good portion of its performance – it is rated with a top speed

gentle as you feed in the power.

The whole cabin has been laid out so that you have all your attention focussed up ahead. That means there’s a large yellow faced rev counter straight in front of you, with the speedo offset to the left of the instrument pod. The paddle shifts are behind the wheel and turn with the steering wheel, while there are no stalks for lights or flickers – the indicator switches are on the spokes of that leather covered wheel with the prancing horse logo in the middle.

Seats and steering wheel are electrically adjustable for a perfect driving position no matter what your body configuration

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play with the paddle shift later, and that’s what I did. What impressed me about the low speed usability was that the seven speed dual clutch F1 gearbox is jerk-free at low speeds, so unlike earlier “clutchless” manuals I’d experienced on the F355 and the F360, where driving smoothly at crawl speed was all but impossible.

There’s a nice long progressive travel on the throttle pedal, and some automatic clutch slippage at pull away speeds that makes the whole operation smooth and graceful. But of course, with 544 kW at your disposal – okay, a bit less than that at Randburg altitude – you have to be very

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of 338 km/h, for crying out loud – I can say it is the most exciting, and at the same time the most user-friendly Ferrari I have ever experienced.

For me, front-engined Ferraris are always going to have it over mid-engined models. Having driven a number of midengined examples over the years – the delightful Dino, the F355 and F360 and been a passenger in an F40 – and had similar front-engined samplings of an early 250 GT, a Daytona, a 550 Maranello – I always found myself happier with the engine out front. Less cooped up, able to place the car more accurately with a long nose up ahead.

That’s what I felt in the clogged turmoil of the William Nichol/N1 interchange as I felt my way around the controls, with Viglietti Motors’ executive Paul Moni in the passenger seat, imploring me to go for gaps in a manner that befits his race-driver mentality – he was a highly successful production car racer back in the 1980s.

Paul had told me the best way to drive the F12 was to leave it in automatic mode,

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– unlike some Ferraris of yore where you always felt the steering wheel was out of reach, while your legs were cramped up too tight.

The first thing that really struck me about the F12 Berlinetta was after I’d given it just a tickle on the throttle, I had to do some braking. Those standard ceramic brakes are super powerful, and I almost brought the car to a complete stop instead

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of just easing it down to traffic speed.

It would take me most of my two-hour stint with the car out in the country to get fully used to the brakes, but I can say at very high speeds they haul the car down perfectly.

And then there’s the engine. Firstly, it is non turbo, naturally aspirated, in the classic Ferrari V12 manner. I like that, because its power characteristics are so

I would love to experience this car at top speed, as I have no doubt it would reach its 338 km/h rated speed with no problem

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towards the 8 700 rpm cut out. This is the wonder of the F12 Berlinetta! It has this alacritous scream as the revs soar, generating an excitement inside the cockpit that you don’t expect in this modern, sanitised age.

This performance from such a largecapacity V12 is enabled by the wonders of direct petrol injection, variable valve timing and variable intake plenum technology, all

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pure. Secondly, the V12 displaces a serious amount of intake charge. The overall capacity is 6 262 cc, with a massively oversquare bore-to-stroke ratio of 94 by 75 mm, which means it is designed to rev!

And man, does this big engine like to rev. It produces its peak of 544 kW at 8 250 rpm and when you finally give it its head, you can actually feel a final bulge in the power band as the rev counter heads

controlled by highly advanced fuel delivery and ignition technology. The accuracy of these electronics enables the engine to run a super high compression ratio of 13.5:1, with zero chance of pre-ignition. Amazing.

Getting back to those numbers again. The 0-100 km/h time is rated at 3.1 seconds at sea level, which is quick, oh yes. But even more impressive is the 0-200 km/h time at 8.5 seconds. But leaving the most indelible impression of all is the way it accelerates from an ideal cruising speed of, say, 180 km/h to 250, 260, in little more than the time it takes you to read this!

At those sorts of speeds the F12 exhibits remarkably impressive straightline stability, thanks to its special aero design that makes use of air on the bonnet directed between the wheel arches and the A-Pillar to create a drag-reducing low pressure area and thus increase downforce. Downforce is also created by the front splitter, and what Ferrari calls a Blown Spoiler at the underside rear of the car, modifying pressures in the rear wheel arches. Yet the suspension is also reasonably soft, absorbing camber changes in the road. On the harder Sport setting it is livelier.

I would love to experience this car at top speed, as I have no doubt it would reach its 338 km/h rated speed with no problem given just a halfway decent straight. Such is the mid-range stonk of the engine, you feel you could run this car in the 280 km/h to 320 km/h range all day.

The price of this techno-marvel, wrapping you in world-class leather in a cockpit cloaked in the most gorgeous of Pininfarina styled aluminium finery? At current estimates, somewhere in the region of R6.5-million, but of course this depends on the exchange rate. If you have that kind of disposable loot, don’t even hesitate.

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noble nordic VIVIEN NATASEN ATTENDS THE CAPE TOWN LAUNCH

OF THE LATEST XC90 AND DONS HIS FOUL WEATHER

GEAR TO WATCH THE VOLVO

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OCEAN RACE CLOSE UP

olvo cars are generally perceived to be one of the safest, if not the pinnacle of safety of all marques in the world. So much so, they are generally assumed to be almost boring. Not any more though, the Swedish manufacturer has unveiled a plan for several new innovative models which will make the XC90 the oldest model in the range in 2016.

The new design ethos of the brand is fresh to attract new market segments dominated by other European brands.

However, the realisation that emerging territories such as China require younger looks has allowed for a strong new design philosophy. This makes the XC90 an important model for Volvo.

The XC90 in the flesh is unmistakably Volvo. With its bulky shoulders and sharp

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lines, even more accentuated than the outgoing model, the new car appears taller and more aggressive in the flesh. The light clusters are LED based with the main feature of the lights being shaped in the form of Thor’s hammer, which the design team was quick to point out would be unmistakably Nordic.

Volvo has not only chosen to address what people may perceive as weaknesses, such as the “boring” badge through this new design philosophy but also focus on their strengths, such as safety and simplicity.

The new car only has eight buttons on the console with everything else being accessible through a tablet sized touch screen as the centre piece. Sweeping one’s hand left or right allows for scrolling through menu categories. The layout is intuitive and I found it very easy to work with.

Interior is plush and Volvo was proud to announce that they still have the best seats in the business for comfort, design and safety. The latest innovation is that the seats are designed to give way differently in certain collisions in order to protect the occupants’ spinal cords. Other innovations include ‘run off road’ detection, which

prepares the vehicle for impact if it detects that the vehicle has left the road and is running into a ditch, as well as, a new innovation in automatic braking if it detects an oncoming vehicle doing something it feels is wrong. The other driving aids introduced in recent models have been improved which include pedestrian detection, variable speed cruise controls etc.

Performance is one of the things that impressed me the most. The XC90 top model is powered by a two litre plant that is both super and turbo charged mated to an electric motor which Volvo has named a twin-engine. The petrol engine powers the front wheels, while the rear motor uses electricity stored in a high-capacity battery pack to drive the rear wheels.

Under normal driving conditions, the two power sources will work together to

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generate about 400 horsepower and a V8-like 472 lb-ft. of torque. Alternatively, the motor will be able to propel the XC90 on electricity alone for up to 35 kilometres.

The lower specified versions of the next XC90 will be powered by Volvo's new Drive-E engine family which will include two gas-burning mills rated at 254 and 316 horsepower.

For those looking for a vehicle that is different, safe and now more environmentally aware than many of the vehicles in its class, the XC90 would be the one to look at.

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volvo ocean race

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YACHTING

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he Volvo Ocean Race is unmistakably one of the most gruelling challenges of man against nature one could ever experience. The race commenced in Alicante (Spain) on 2 October with the first leg ending in Cape Town, South Africa. Other stops include Abu Dhabi, Sanya in China, Auckland (New Zealand), Itajaí in Brazil, Newport in the United States, Lisbon in Portugal, Lorient in France and finally concludes in Gothenburg (Sweden) in June 2015.

The new race format is identical hi-speed yachts designed by Farr. This time around there are seven teams averaging 8 team members per vessel. There is a unique all-women team (SCA) in this year’s race as well.

The sea legs are gruelling, especially in the harsh waters of the Southern oceans. What the average person sees as daily necessities are luxuries on these vessels as weight saving is the theme.

One one change of clothes is allowed for the stint at sea which generally is over a month at a time. Food is generally a mix of freeze-dried food mixed with water which the crew members claim is not too bad – we decided to take their word for it.

The Carbon composite structures are extremely light making these boats one of the most modern structures on water. We were taken through the cross-section of a boat at the waterfront in Cape Town. It is a solid structure with focus and attention on safety of occupants but little attention to luxuries.

Team Abu Dhabi won the first leg into Cape Town as well as the in-port race in Cape Town. The in-port race in Alicante was won by team Alvimedica.

We were fortunate enough to view the in-port race from Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIB’s) following the yachts in the race. In the not so calm waters of Cape Town, this was an experience in itself. Yacht races are about strategy, timing and a bit of luck. We saw instances where the best strategies were flouted by mother nature where two yachts metres apart were receiving different amounts of wind at different angles to the sails which materially affected their performance in the race. Well done to Team Abu Dhabi though in winning the race in Cape Town. I personally am a proper sailing fan and have new found respect for the people taking on the Volvo Ocean Race challenge.

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vagabond

hearts PRESTIGE

MAGAZINE’S

ENTERS THE SOUTH AFRICAN ROGUE RALLY

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aving grown up in the era of movies such as Cannonball Run, and more recently the Fast and Furious franchises, it’s no wonder when the opportunity came up to enter the Rogue Rally with over fifty super cars, that I closed my eyes and said yes. The Prestige Magazine entrant into the race was a McLaren MP4-12C sponsored by our mother company, Neo Africa. The rally comprised a 2900 kilometre trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town through the towns of Graaff Reinet, East London, Port

Elizabeth and Knysna. There were specific experiential events in each of the major towns which included timed track events, a hill climb, drag racing, a gymkhana and closed street events.

The legs between the towns were not timed thereby ensuring drivers remained conscious of speed limits with no incentive to do anything that would set the wrong example. For many, who do not necessarily drive these routes, seeing the South African countryside is a revelation and these do rival some of the best sceneries and roads trips globally. It is also an opportunity for people in the small towns to see in the flesh cars that they generally only see in the media.

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The Prestige Mclaren was branded in livery akin to champagne bubbles which was a sight to behold on its own. The car’s performance came into its own throughout the trip and performed in the upper quartile on most of the timed events, not bad considering that we did not shed weight and always had to occupants, compared to many other competitive drivers who wanted to achieve the best figures. We saw the event as experiential. The Rogue Rally organisers we very efficient and well

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co-ordinated as everything flowed smoothly through each leg of the tour. Each evening comprised of entertainment along with food from the region.

This trip was made special by the presence of the McLaren P1 which after the drive I was given in the vehicle, I can safely say is one of the best super cars (now termed hyper cars at this level of performance as a hybrid vehicle with over 900 horsepower) in the world.

For those who have a love of cars, the open road and for mingling with likeminded people, the Rogue Rally 2015 should feature right up there on the list.

The Prestige Mclaren was branded in livery akin to champagne bubbles which was a sight to behold on its own. The car’s performance came into its own throughout the trip and performed in the upper quartile on most of the timed events

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m& BMW’S M3 IS RE-DEFINING THE ART OF A PERFORMANCE

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SEDAN

M B MW’s new sedan has made it as a finalist for the 2015 South African Car of the Year Competition.

And it meets the base criterion of this competition more fairly and squarely head-on than many of the other finalists – because it redefines the category in which it competes and sets new benchmarks.

No other car in this premium performance league offers such a mix of acceleration, composure, rapier driver input precision and sheer class.

And yet the M3 does it all in a manner that retains the essential values of the common-and-parking-lot 3 Series sedan – solidity, a balanced all-round approach to performance motoring and a style that is almost understated.

words: Stuart Johnston

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For me, the biggest factor in the new M3 once again being the clear leader in this category it created – the everyday car with near supercar attributes – is a reversion once again to the in-line six-cylinder engine.

The in-line six was always the exceptional engine in BMW’s line up, the powerplant that defined it from the late 1970s through to the early years of the 21st century – and it’s great to see it making a comeback in the ultimate BMW performance car.

The ultimate BMW performance car? Well, the M3 has been hailed as a classic since the very first example in 1987, when it was pretty much a hairy chested race car for the road. The second generation car, the one we got here in South Africa, was the one that behaved like a junior supercar with real space for four adults. It did it in a manner oh so refined for its time, and that’s what the fifth generation car has done too.

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up The model I tried was fitted with the optional seven-speed M double clutch transmission. You can cruise around in full auto mode all day with this gearbox, content in the knowledge that with full sport mode activated and launch control in use, you can accelerate this car to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.

That’s a coastal figure, but as the new M3 (and of course, its coupe sibling, now called the M4) is now turbocharged, you can bank on getting acceleration times pretty close to costal figures even at high altitude. I love the way the six-cylinder motor sounds when it revs. Despite being turbocharged there is very little muffling of the engine note from inside the car, you hear that supremely balanced sixcylinder motor when hard on it. And it is so much more special than the V8 engine it supplanted. I was never that convinced about the V8’s suitability to the M3

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concept, and I am glad that for this fifth generation, there is a return to BMW’s alltime classic engine design.

The new motor revs to 7 600 rpm, which is high for a turbo engine in this day and age. It produces an excellent power peak of 317 kW, which is slightly up on the V8 it has replaced. More impressive is the 40 per cent hike in torque, thanks to the twin turbo set-up, which is realised over a wide rev band between 1 850 and 5 500 rpm. Rather than using a twin scroll single turbo as in previous renditions of the 335i, for example, the new M3 reverts to twin single scroll turbos for more peak output.

Yet thanks to direct petrol injection Valvetronic variable valve timing and variable camshaft timing on both inlet and exhaust cams, the new motor is surprisingly economical. BMW claims an overall consumption of 8,3 litres/100 km in the EU cycle test, and I managed to

realise about 10,5 litres/100 km when pussy footing around the burbs. Letting rip, of course, changes the consumption figure dramatically.

The race to save fuel amongst all manufacturers and meet forthcoming EU requirements has had the spin-off of making performance cars not only more efficient, but provided a more stable chassis behaviour. There has been a huge switch to aerodynamic research in every new car development, as well as weight reduction, two factors that influence both fuel consumption and performance dramatically.

Thus the new M3 weighs some 80 kg fewer than its predecessor, despite using an engine that, with its long crankshaft, tends to be heavier than a corresponding V8. The new M3 six-cylinder engine uses a forged steel crank that saves weight, as well as arc-spray coating for the cylinder liners, again to save weight.

In the field of aerodynamics there are various subtle channels that manage airflow around the car. One of these is in the ducting for the oil cooler, which creates a venturi effect on the body and reduces front end lift.

In total, thanks to liberal use of aluminium in both suspension and body components, and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (even used for the drive shaft), weight has been kept down to a commendable 1 520 kg. The suspension is stiff, to be sure, but like all previous M3s, the ride is super composed. For me this is what separates the M3 more than anything else from its competitors – its mix of cornering grip and ride quality. Quite simply, no-one else does it better in this league.

Special detailing such as a Gurney spoiler on the boot lid, traditional M vents on the front flanks, the stylised, duct bedecked nose section and of course, special wheels, delineate this car as the most special of 3 Series models. The M Division of BMW completely re-engineered this car in all departments, and it has a very competent base to start from, in the first place!

For the first time the price has now risen to just over the R1-million mark, and that’s before you’ve started adding various options. Expensive for a mere sedan, perhaps, but remarkably cheap for a supercar, which in essence it is.

motoring news STUART JOHNSTON GIVES US THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT’S NEW ON THE MOTORING SCENE

Mercedes-Benz’s cls dazzles down traffic roundabouts, and illuminates to the left and right of the traffic circle as you approach it, picking up any vehicles entering from the left or right.

On dark windy roads the system now has pre-emptive cornering assistance, adjusting the lights to illuminate the road around the bend before the driver has begun to turn the wheel! The system is standard on the CLS 500 and CLS 63 AMG. These examples of the CLS cost R1 120 000 and R1 600 000 respectively.

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CLS owner to drive on full high beam at all times. The system then uses an additional front facing camera to detect how much illumination is needed for the prevailing road and traffic situation.

The most useful safety feature is the multiple LED tech’s ability to mask out areas of illumination to prevent dazzling on-coming drivers. A night time test on the recent launch of the car illustrated the system’s ability to introduce a “patch of darkness” into the light spread ahead wherever it was needed. Conversely, the system also detects situations such as

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any new cars aim to dazzle wouldbe-customers, but Mercedes-Benz has taken the opposite approach with the upgrades to its svelte four-door coupe, the CLS. The latest rendition of the car offers a unique LED lighting package called MULTIBEAM LED, that adjusts the spread of light from its headlamps up to 100 times per second.

The aim of the technology is safety, and what it does is enable the

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hroughout February 2015, Bentley will once again host its Power of Ice experience for Bentley owners throughout the world. The event takes in four days in frozen Finland, enabling Bentley owners to experience ice driving under the tutelage of four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen, Kankkunen is a native of Finland and he has personally designed the special ice track which will be used to test the prowess of Bentley Continental GTs and Flying Spurs, as well as the skills of the Bentley owning attendees. Kankkunen will also take guests for runs in the awesome new Continental GT3-R, a road-going

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version of the race-spec GT3. This car has been built in a limited quantity of just 300 and one of them will be in the far north of frozen Finland to entertain Bentley guests and stretch Kankkunen’s skills to the limit.

The Power of Ice event is to be hosted at the luxurious Chalet Ruka Peak. After strenuous days on the ice, guests will relax savouring Finish cuisine and a traditional smoke sauna, while there will also be a night time husky sled safari experience which will be like a trip back in time, hauling guests by sled to a historic reindeer farm.

A range of accommodation is available, with prices for the package starting at 11 340 Euros. More information can be found at events.bentleymotors.com

Mitsubishi takes to the woods of the most competent specialised 4X4 vehicles you can buy off the showroom floor. En route to the Long Tom Pass we traversed dirt roads of extreme camber changes and ruts and the Mitsubishi amazed the experienced group of journalists with its ability to absorb pitfalls with not so much as a quiver from its rugged underpinnings.

It was a nice chance to re-visit an old-favourite and re-assess just how good the Pajero package remains.

Pricing starts at R639 900 for the Longwheel base version.

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itsubishi recently hosted journalists and their partners to a unique forest driving experience on the slopes of the Long Tom Pass. The event was designed to introduce new upgrades to the Pajero, such as improved sound-deadening in the cabin, a new front end with a redesigned bull-bar, and various other small tweaks.

The Pajero has 12 Dakar Rally wins to its credit and its production SUV is still rated by hard core off-roaders as one

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TECH/GADGETS

COCOONING YOURSELF IN YOUR AUDIO WORLD OF MUSIC, MOVIES OR ONLINE VIDEO MEANS INVESTING IN A SET OF HEADPHONES THAT SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE. CHRIS BUCHANAN SPENT SOME TIME WITH A SET OF BEATS EXECUTIVE BY DR DRE

all about that

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bass y standard gear when listening to music on a mobile device is the headsets that come packaged with the device of choice – an iPhone and iPad in my case. They do the job whether I’m travelling, exercising or transcribing recorded interviews and therein lies the rub – they do the job.

The market is vast when it comes to headsets, each make and model selling its edge based on lifestyle and the cool factor of wearing something on your head that fits your style and image. But what about the professional who wants a solid product with exceptional sound quality, noise cancellation and no lumo pink, green or orange colours?

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Beats Executive by Dr Dre was developed with exactly that in mind – merging the sound quality of the Studio range with the aesthetic of the boardroom.

The build quality is impressive in brushed stainless steel and aluminium with soft black leather on the ear caps and headband. They come packaged in a sturdy and compact carry case with two leads (one with volume controls) and an airplane adapter.

Noise cancellation is activated when switching them on (two AAA batteries needed) with a slight hiss but absolutely no disruption from any external sounds. If you need to hear the safety demonstration then a push on the ‘b’ logo under the on/ off switch to mute the headset.

“I’m all about that bass” by Meghan Trainor sums up the Beats approach to sound in their headsets, often criticised

for too much of the low frequency and not letting the mid and high ranges shine.

Beats Executive, however, stays with the fat bass philosophy but lets the mid and low frequencies into their own. Crank them up and the sound balances out with sharp high frequencies, a full mid-range and good, weighty bass. I loved the vocals with these headsets – prominent, warm and right up front.

This is a classy looking piece of hightech gear, comfortable to wear for long stretches on a plane and top end audio quality to match the look and feel. No lumo here, just understated sophistication, appropriate for the executive who doesn’t look like they’ve borrowed their teenager’s funky sets for the weekend.

The standard sets I normally use do the job yes, Beats Executive ensure the job is a pleasure.

Crank them up and the sound balances out with sharp high frequencies, a full mid-range and good, weighty bass. I loved the vocals with these headsets – prominent, warm and right up front.

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customer care MY, HOW QUICKLY 2014 HAS SAILED BY – IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY THAT WE WERE CELEBRATING THE START OF THE NEW YEAR.

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or many countries it seems that 2014 had gone better than the previous one, thankfully.

However, from recent conversations with business leaders and analysts, many are entering 2015 with a degree of trepidation.

The latest data on Japan’s performance (the World’s third largest economy) points to potential spill over effects in the global economy. Hopefully early corrective action in other areas will assist in ameliorating the impact of this slowdown.

2015 for me is to spend more time focussing on Africa’s growth specifically in developing projects in transport, logistics, energy and public infrastructure. The development of projects in agri-business is also receiving attention as food supply to feed the planet’s rapidly growing population is starting to become a threat to sustainability.

On another note, it appears that the issue of consumer activism is receiving attention. A well-known mobile operator was challenged by an irate consumer who went to great lengths and at substantial cost erecting a banner outside a shopping mall on a busy intersection citing poor service by one of the operator’s stores. The operator elected to sue the customer on this and ended up losing the initial case around urgency. I don’t intend dealing with the legal merits of this matter as I am not a lawyer, however, what was important to note was firstly the amount of irritation the customer experienced to incentivise him to go to those lengths and more important, how large corporations are affected by the consistency and personalities of their public facing employees. This latter subject will sure be brought in more detail under the spotlight.

The nature of customer service is that service must be consistent and should reflect the ethos that the company is trying to portray. In many instances these are failing for various reasons, mostly because

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many organisations are not managing the chain of accountability, responsibility and authority in a manner that will promote standards as well as recognise star performers favourably. Whether it is public or private sector, many organisations fail to implement checks and balances to identify these threats to reputation to timeously intercept problems before they damage the brand. It is also evident that most companies are starting to recognise that the rapid, pervasive nature of social media could irreparably cause damage even before the organisation is aware that a problem exists.

To alleviate this, most companies are adopting a strategy to close the loop with their customers directly through social media channels themselves. However, this may be risky in that should those channels fail to adequately address valid customer issues, the public will lose trust in the organisation’s abilities to deliver.

Being a budding consumer activist myself, as well as often sitting on the other side of the fence as a CEO, I find it interesting to measure how I would have reacted and dealt with the situation should I have encountered an unhappy client. The honest truth is that there is no correct answer – the organisation will respond based on its ethos, values and standards as determined by its own management. The text books however say that “customer is king” and many idioms along those lines. To me, I would want the customer to be happy as long as their issues can be substantiated and to ensure that the customer always feels that their valid concerns are being heard and attended to.

Finally, to my Prestige team, I would like to thank them for a job well done on the re-imagination of the publication. We have been receiving great feedback from our readers and clients and 2015 seems to be starting off with a bang!

Vivien Natasen Publisher

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JEWELLERY

girl’s best friend a

Jewellery from La Dolce Vita Collection by Caratco for Forevermark. and bracelet 8.63ct, 18k white gold ring

by Adara for Forevermark, 1.15ct 18k white gold, dress by Jovani at D’Oré.

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Neckpiece 1 total 4.67ct, earrings 2.33 ct

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for Forevermark and the Forevermark Millemoi Collection, from the diamond brand which is part of the De Beers Group of Companies.

The jewellery is offset by feminine charm and complimented by designer eveningwear from luxury multi-brand fashion house, D’Oré Sandton City.

images: Derek Antonio Serra make up: David Sharp

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I

nspired by the glamour of the fifties, elegant and sophisticated styles are captured by fashion photographer, Derek Antonio Serra on location at one of South Africa’s finest properties: The Pentagon Villa. Showcasing the La Dolce Vita Collection by Caratco

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JEWELLERY

Jewellery from La Dolce Vita Collection by Caratco for Forevermark, Neckpiece 16.32ct, earrings 2.33ct and bracelet 8.63ct, 18k white gold; ring by Adara for Forevermark 1.15ct, dress

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by Jovani at D’Oré.

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Jewellery from Forevermark, 18k white gold; ring from Adara for Forevermark 1.15ct, dress

by Cavalli Class at D’Oré.

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Millemoi Collection by

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depending on factors including road conditions, weather, vehicle load, and driving style.

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BUSINESS

time

out

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN WE TAKE A BREAK AND HEAD TO OUR HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS FOR A FEW WEEKS OF REST AND RECUPERATION. CHRIS BUCHANAN SPOKE TO DR JOHN DEMARTINI ABOUT USING THIS TIME AS PRODUCTIVELY AS POSSIBLE IN THE CONTEXT OF WINDING DOWN FROM THE PAST

I

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YEAR AND PLANNING THE NEXT

t’s been a year of challenges in business with stagnant growth, the possibility of another retraction hanging over our heads, an upturn in the interest rate cycle and the stock market correction of the last months. Add to this a consumer under pressure, a Rand on the slide against the basket of currencies and government policy that is negatively influencing confidence in our economy.

So the holidays can’t come at a better time – a few weeks of staring at the sea and winding down from the stresses of a challenging year. Dr John Demartini calls it a time for reflection and says it should be used to evaluate the past year and plan the next phase of your business and personal development.

• Capture inspiring moments during reflection that can enhance your future If you don’t fill your life with things that inspire you it tends to fill up with things that

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don’t. So by reflecting on things that inspire you, starting with things that you know and letting what you know grow, it becomes more deterministic for yourself.

• Envision further finer detail of your mission and vision Any detail you leave out of your mission and vision becomes a challenge that you face. Use the time to fill in the details and eliminate challenges.

• Keep an inventory of creative ideas and things you want answers to This is a checklist for the things that you want to work on in the next phase of development. “It’s a list of the things you want the answers to; the material information that you need so when you’re in the reflective time you’re able to maximise the greatest productive use of this time.”

Dr Demartini says you should also stop at the end of each creative day and reflect and what you did accomplish and be grateful for it. “Reflect on what you accomplished in the last year with gratitude,

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reflect on what you accomplished that day with gratitude. What did you think out, what did you solve, what did you accomplish and keep records of it.” That way he says you’ll be able to start the next day or year with a purpose and with a set of goals.

• Own the traits of the greats This is all about identifying the people with whom you relate and who have achieved great success or whom you might look up to as having accomplished something you haven’t. He cites the example of two young entrepreneurs who took the creative team at Google and identified where they had the same capacities, talent and creativity. They then used it to crank out a multi-million Dollar idea.

Identifying the traits takes looking inward and realising the traits you’re too humble to admit you have within yourself says Dr Demartini. “What individual, what leader of an organisation or what organisation you look up to and which of if their traits do you possess. Then find out when and where you demonstrate those traits to make you aware that you have the same capacities as the people you admire.

The moment you do that, instead of being subordinate to those individuals, you give yourself permission to play in the same field. So you’re using your reflective time to play a bigger game.”

He says you start the next year with a clear idea of whom or which organisation you want to emulate and often this can only be done while in a period of reflection rather than when you’re working at the coalface.

The final step is to sit down and prioritise all your objectives and delegations. So, if there’s a project that you’ve identified, who in your organisation is going take it and run it. You have to prioritise your own actions and the actions of those who will be running your projects so you can hand it over to them and trust them to take it and make it happen.

Most important during this phase of reflection and planning is to have the ideas of what you want to achieve. The ‘how’ will evolve as the plan comes to fruition. “You want to have as clear a vision as possible before getting back to work but be adaptable and know that tomorrow may bring new insights to

refine the plan. It should never be a solid rigid plan but should be a working plan at all times.”

The biggest challenge to this reflective planning at a time when you’re away from the office is gaining the understanding of those to whom you will be delegating. Dr Demartini believes as a leader, you need to articulate your plans and objectives in a way that they will understand, bearing in mind that they will have also had time to reflect and plan within their own surroundings.

Can sitting on the beach, socialising with family and friends and removing yourself from the workplace be productive?

Sure it can, and it needs to be, if the next year is to start with a defined path and set of goals for you and your organisation.

Dr John Demartini is a human behavioral specialist, educator, internationally published author, consultant and founder of the Demartini Institute. www.DrDemartini.com

Presented by Dr John Demartini: Human Behavioural Specialist, Educator, Author and Business Consultant

Powerful Solutions! It’s All About The Results!

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WINE

Sold!

ANOTHER AUCTION OF WINE IN THE NAME OF CHARITY? NOT AT ALL BECAUSE IT’S NOT AN AUCTION OF WINE ALONE AND THE W W W. P R E ST I G E M AG.C O. Z A

BENEFICIARIES ARE A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE WINEMAKING

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met Mike Ratcliffe on the Friday morning during Winex in Johannesburg. Two nights of promoting two estates and the AfrAsia Bank Wine Auction had left him a bit shell shocked and sounding as though he’d caught a bout of laryngitis.

I was expecting a sales pitch for an auction in the winelands that would help to raise money for under-privileged kids etc, etc, etc. and thought of how I would tell him we could do something small on our website on the day, if the event gathered any significant momentum. I wasn’t expecting to be totally engrossed for an hour and a half in an initiative that was as audacious as it was visionary.

words: Chris Buchanan

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The auction takes place on the 13th and 14th of February 2015 at the Boschendal Estate and it’s important to clarify that, while certain lots contain some very special wines, it’s an auction of experiences and luxury that money can’t buy.

So the Ellerman House Lot offers the following – an incredible collection of the top wines from each of the 100 wines featured on the Ellerman House

Terroir Wall, a three night stay for six guests at the beautiful Ellerman House, and a gastronomic feast prepared for the guests during their stay by the team at Ellerman, paired with incredible South African wines. Some wine, some experience. The Vrede en Lust Lot offers experience only – a once in a lifetime chance of a Polo tutorial from RSA Team Captain Tom de Bruin, a private Box for eight people at the Veuve Cliquot

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You see, Mike Ratcliffe has enormous powers of persuasion and the bull terrier trait of not letting go when he gets hold of something. He’s assembled a Board of Trustees who all have wine and business as key aptitudes and passions. Then he’s got the diverse intellectual property that inhabits the wine industry to sit up and take notice and come to the table willing to make a contribution.

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Polo Masters, a chauffeur driven Bentley, three nights for four people at Singita Lobombo or Sweni Lodge, and a private guided safari by multiple award winning guide Greg Lederle.

There are week long stays in a villa in Tuscany for four people, a luxury villa on the Seychelles business class return and one-off art and sculpture pieces.

The 2015 Honorary Auction Chairs are John and Erica Platter who need no introduction and the Auction Ambassadors are a who’s who within the wine fraternity all with a passion for the industry and the people who contribute its success. The beneficiaries, therefore, are organisations that offer educational opportunities to the communities that serve the wine industry, as well as organisations that develop skills in winemaking.

The catch is that only 300 places are available for attending the auction,

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after that you need to place your bids online but you won’t get to experience the two days of food, wine and atmosphere. Mike emphasises that this is an international event and not limited to Stellenbosch and surrounds, and that the calibre of partners and service providers is testament to that.

Corporate governance is also high on the agenda of the Trustees so PricewaterhouseCoopers is on board to ensure that financial statements are in order and will be on hand for any donations and tax related requests that come in from bidders.

Apart from the auction and all that happens around the event itself, there are bound to be a few surprises that you won’t find in the programme and if last year’s auction was anything to go by, the surprises might just be the highlight of the two days.

If there was an event that combines philanthropy with exceptional wine, once in a lifetime experiences and a whole lot of fun you can be sure it’s the AfrAsia Cape Wine Auction and you can be sure that Mike Ratcliffe will make it an auction to remember.

www.thecapewineauction.com

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MOTORING

paranormal

Activity II VIVIEN NATASEN REVIEWS THE LATEST ITERATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL ROLLS ROYCE GHOST

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The introduction of the Rolls Royce Ghost in 2009 was intended to attract a different segment to the space by allowing younger clients, as well as clients with different requirements, to experience the brand. Whilst not losing that focus on the extremely well-heeled segment, the Ghost targets a client which balances performance in a more practical application even considering that the owner of the vehicle may actually be in the driver’s seat themselves.

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any motor manufacturers did an about turn in the last decade on the issue of simplifying product ranges to reduce production costs. Technological advances in the design and implementation of new models through computer aided techniques have allowed for faster development timeframes with lowered implementation costs. These have led to manufacturers targeting newer market segments and attracting newer customer to their brands.

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Since its introduction the Ghost has done well to carve out its own niche in the market as a vehicle that delivers a balanced yet exciting and a little more ‘affordable’ solution to the market, if that was a consideration in the first place. The Ghost series II was unveiled at the New York Motor Show. In the five years since

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the introduction of the first Ghost, Rolls has had time to refine an already great offering into an even better solution.

The Ghost Series II, like its older sibling, takes its design queues from boating and aviation, using terminology such as “wake channels” and sweeping air intake lines. The new car is distinctly sportier starting with the uninterrupted driving LED lamps, with smoother lines that improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Shod with the optional 21” rims, the Ghost II posts an intimidating stance.

On the interior side, Rolls Royce was emphatic to point out the “lounge suite” configuration with seats subtly pointing in towards each other, making for a more comfortable and inviting atmosphere. To say that the finishes are plush would be an understatement. The

truth though is that most Rolls Royce customers tend to specify a vehicle from scratch with options that stretch as far as using wood from trees in your own yard if you wish.

Rolls Royce have always had the unique ability to discreetly meld massive amounts of modern technology behind traditional yet high quality finishes. The car boasts several features accessible through it’s “one-touch” call button, including internet, email, television and many others allowing for the car’s occupants to remain connected to the outside world without it being too intrusive.

Another interesting development in the human to vehicle interface is the Spirit of Ecstacy Rotary Controller (drawn from the famous figure that adorns the front grille of every Rolls Royce which is

Rolls Royce have always had the unique ability to discreetly meld massive amounts of modern technology behind traditional yet high quality finishes

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Sandton +27 11 301 7000 www.rolls-roycemotorcars-sandton.co.za

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The Rolls Royce Series II is definitely a more refined vehicle. I can safely say with no hesitation that it does not compromise in any way on the luxury, ride or presence of its larger siblings and in many ways a better well-rounded vehicle than the others.

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now over 100 years old). The interface comprises a touch pad that allows for capturing of characters via finger motions. The system recognises English, Latin and Arabic characters as well as Mandarin, to assist drivers in China.

On the drivability side, the Series II is fitted with satellite aided transmission (as a standard item) which it inherited from the Wraith. The car uses GPS information to predict the road conditions ahead and set up the handling of the vehicle accordingly with adjustments on the driver’s handling style. The car features an 8-speed ZF gearbox mated to a 6.6 litre twin turbo. There are dynamic handling options available for the more enthusiastic drivers. Rolls Royce claims a 0-100 kph time of 4.8s with a governed top speed of 250 kph.

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PROPERTY

trophy

homes L LUXURY PROPERTY HAS

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REGAINED SOME OF ITS

SIZZLE THANKS TO A

NUMBER OF FACTORS THAT

ARE MAKING SOUTH AFRICA A HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE

MARKET FOR LIFESTYLE AND VALUE FOR MONEY

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uxury property has regained some of its sizzle thanks to a number of factors that are making South Africa a highly attractive market for lifestyle and value for money. There can be little doubt that this has been the best year for the South African property market since the 2007/8 economic contraction. Better even than the mini revival of 2010 according to Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff property group. And, it is not just the midmarket sector that has regained some of its strength, the luxury home locations too are seeing a resurgence in demand.

With property selling twice as fast and for close to and even full asking price, this year turned the tide from an overwhelmingly buyers’ market to favourable conditions for sellers

sought-after coastal location. The Garden Route and smaller coastal villages such as Hermanus, Witsand and Langebaan too have all seen a resurgence in activity this year.

While buying activity in the R20 million-plus trophy home sector remains highly selective, luxury locations such as Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard and Southern Suburbs and Sandton suburbs such as Sandhurst and Hyde Park are back on the shopping list of wealthy buyers, says Seeff. This is of course very much in line with the latest Knight Frank Wealth Report that notes that the world’s wealthy continue to see property as a safe haven.

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The weak rand and improvement in the UK and Northern European economies also saw a return of buyers from these markets. Foreign buyer activity was further boosted by an influx of African, Middle and Far Eastern buyers looking to invest in South African property, says Seeff.

With buying fever across the primary urban housing sector in full swing, the positive sentiment spread further to the luxury suburbs and even to the secondary coastal markets. From Plettenberg Bay to KwaZulu-Natal’s prestigious Ballito area, top end holiday and investment buyers returned, willing to once again pay a premium for a

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As the market emerges from one of the toughest down-cycles, this remarkable turnaround against the backdrop of a lacklustre economy clearly underscores the resilience of the South African residential market, says Seeff.

With property selling twice as fast and for close to and even full asking price, this year turned the tide from an overwhelmingly buyers’ market to favourable conditions for sellers. Most of the property stock that had been sitting around on the market for the last few years was snapped up and agents were suddenly faced with huge stock shortages and lists of eager buyers waiting for new listings.

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Where sales around the R20 million to R30 million price mark were headline grabbing in recent year, the last year has seen this price barrier breached with top end properties increasingly selling for upwards of R40 million to R50 million.

In Nettleton Road, Clifton, the country’s most expensive street, several homes are now valued at over R100 million and some still under construction are estimated to come in at over R200 million.

What this tells us, says Seeff, is that a prime location along with stunning sea views in the case of the Atlantic Seaboard is obviously a driver of the demand and value of trophy homes.

Whether for residential, holiday or investment purposes, you are investing in a prime real estate belt where values have been growing consistently in spite of the lacklustre economy.

In the market for a trophy home?

Here is a round-up of some of Seeff’s the hottest listings.

www.seeff.co.za/buy/select

PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

BANTRY BAY – R58 MILLION This four-storey steel, glass and timber masterpiece by architects, Van Der Merwe Miszewski is set high up against Lion’s Head in Bantry Bay and comes with fabulous sea views. It is bounded by a magnificent blue gum forest that is masterfully incorporated into the property.

Features include full length glazing for maximum views and a striking threestorey central open void with high-level

bridges connecting the various levels and a walkway that leads to an open deck platform, suspended high above the forest floor.

With timber decks, a private elevator, air-conditioning and heating, fireplaces, five bedrooms, massive living areas, a study, cinema, wine cellar, pool room, sauna and steam room, Yoga studio and a swimming pool with an outside shower, the lifestyle just does not come better.

V&A WATERFRONT – R28 MILLION

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For a picture-perfect penthouse with magnificent sea views, you cannot go wrong with the V&A Waterfront where privacy is paramount with restricted access.

This luxurious penthouse has three bedroom suites, spacious living areas, a gourmet kitchen and a private deck with a Jacuzzi that overlooks the yacht-lined canals. It is beautifully finished and, with massive windows, you have magnificent views as far as the eye can see and, you also get your own yacht berth.

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Located in the Constantia wine valley, the stunning Tarrystone estate was formerly owned by the Earl Spencer and the late Princess Diana often visited here. The home has been renovated and upgraded although the Diana-suite has been preserved.

It comes with two acres of land and a grand 1.100sqm home with large doublevolume rooms, several guest cottages, a manager’s office, staff accommodation, a private vineyard, tennis court, gymnasium, Jacuzzi, koi pond and swimming pool and magnificent views over False Bay. The main house includes an indulgent powder room, multitude of living rooms with bars, a cinema/ media room, study, library, wine cellar and kitchen equipped with Gaggenau appliances and a chef’s fridge.

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CONSTANTIA UPPER – PRICE ON REQUEST

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The main house has four bedroom suites and several more in the cottages that each include a living area and kitchen.

Finishes include imported Venetian chandeliers, fireplaces, marble and solid Oak flooring, under-floor heating, air-conditioning, home automation and sophisticated security.

SANDHURST - R35 MILLION

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With almost 6.000sqm of land and a luxurious mansion with over 2.000sqm in floor space, this exclusive Sandhurst estate is located in the heart of Sandton.

Designed by Architect, Louis Louw, this masterpiece comes with four bedroom suites that include an enviable master suite along with a host of doublevolume living and dining rooms, a full office suite and a billiard room. There is also a fully equipped gymnasium and an indulgent spa with an indoor pool.

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PROPERTY

PLETTENBERG BAY – R20 MILLION A beach house of distinction location in Plettenberg Bay, playground of the country’s rich and famous. With stunning beaches and Polo fields, this coastal town remains ever popular and of course a house right on the beach is just about as sought-after as it comes.

Watch the whales and dolphins play from this private and secluded home with its own direct private access to Keurbooms Beach.

With over 750sqm in floor space, it comes with plenty of living areas and a large outdoor entertainment terrace along with a swimming pool. There are seven bedrooms, six bathrooms and multiple garages.

CAMPS BAY – R35 MILLION

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This luxury villa comes with a private elevator, Jacuzzi and swimming pool, expansive outdoor terraces and magnificent mountain and sea views.

With about 800sqm in floor space and luxury finishes, it offers the best of resort-styled living.

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It includes five bedroom suites including a large, glass-fronted main suite with a private lounge, dressing room and bathroom, two lounges, a dining room, family room with a bar, wine cellar with a dining/tasting area and a four-car garage.

HYDE PARK – R27 MILLION

W W W. P R E ST I G E M AG.C O. Z A

This home has spacious lounge and dining areas and a large wrap-around covered patio on both levels with plenty of outdoor living and dining areas. Aside from a designer eat-in kitchen, there is a fully fitted study, cinema room, pub and billiard room.

Finishes include marble and wooden flooring, fireplaces and more.

A landscaped garden with mature trees and a borehole, a swimming pool, pool house and gazebo and a floodlit tennis complete this luxury property.

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life high INTERIOR ARCHITECT, MAIRA KOUTSOUDAKIS, WORKS

IN AN AESTHETIC HEAVEN,

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HER HYDE PARK BOUTIQUE

OFFICE LOFT REFLECTS THE UNIQUE STYLE THAT TODAY GRACES ISLAND RESORTS, LUXURY AFRICAN SAFARI LODGES AND HER LIFE RESTAURANTS. CHRIS BUCHANAN CHATTED TO HER BEFORE SHE JETTED OFF TO COLLECT YET ANOTHER DESERVING AWARD PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

M

aira’s 20 years in the design business have nurtured a unique process where design is more than problem solving within an aesthetic or special context and has become something of a personal relationship with the project and the client.

The three projects that have earned the LIFE design studio their latest in a string of design accolades encompass luxury leisure in Kenya and the Seychelles, along with the brand of leisure developed by herself and partner John Koutsoudakis – Life Grand Café.

The UK-based International Property Awards 2014-2015 awarded the Segera Retreat in Kenya the best in the category Mixed Use Architecture, the refurbishment of the North Island luxury resort in the Seychelles the best in the category Mixed Use Interior, and the Life Grand Café the best in the category Leisure Interior.

What is the fundamental philosophy behind the Life brand?

Nature is our partner in design and lies at the heart of LIFE’s philosophy. Bringing it into my design ethos is something for which I’ve become known. Since we work in sensitive and exotic natural environments, we design in a way that respects and celebrates the organic form.

Nature will be involved in the evolution of what we design, through the mottling,

h

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fading, and elegant aging that occurs through its exposure to these elements.

You’ve spent 14 years on the North Island project in Seychelles with a refurbishment completed recently, how do remain objective with a client when a project must be so close to your heart?

You don’t!! And it’s that passion that keeps the design and experience moving forward.

I look for inspiration everywhere, especially during offshore travels. Of late the detailed attention to luxury in Milan to the sensorial experience of the Moroccan souks, each would be applied in some form in a future refurbishment.

What have the challenges been in implementing a luxury project with a low eco impact footprint on a small island?

The challenge and our success has been in understanding that eco-friendly does not need to impact on luxury and comfort. It’s when we can maintain the comfort levels but reduce the footprint that eco becomes truly embraced.

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Your client at the Segera project seems a flamboyant character who must have presented some unique design challenges.

Yes he was a very interesting multidimensional character. The challenge was that even though it was a commercial project he treated each aspect as if it was a private residence. The amazing thing is that the end result is a unique experience of the challenge in filtering a lifetime of adventures.

Explain the mantra of the four Cs and how it applies to the project.

The 4Cs celebrate Conservation, Culture, Community, and Commerce. Each design project we touch will promote conservation, cultural engagement and commercial growth, as well as enlist the support of local communities.

How has creating your own brand of Life Grand Café influenced your design approach being both the client and the service provider?

Our aim is to build world-class sustainable brands. We have always been entrepreneurs at heart so even though our process is driven by design and design

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being the core of our philosophy we continually have an eye for the business aspect. So for Life Grand Café design has reinforced our philosophies.

What is the unique offering of Life Grand Café?

As soon as you step inside a LIFE Grand Café its vibrant ambience contains the ideal blend of metropolitan buzz and small-town leisure, reminding you of a charming, upmarket street café in Europe.

Each restaurant manages to combine luxury with leisure as it boasts immaculately designed interiors and décor inspired by old world glamour which

complement the leisurely indulgence.

The style literally brings food to LIFE as each designer destination offers inventive all day dining. Choices range from cosmopolitan tapas to rustic, hearty-style dishes. A sushi & raw bar, tapas bar, salad bar and patisserie counter aim to provide guests with a universal sensory experience.

The Cafés are situated at Hyde Park Corner, the Waterfall corner in Midrand and The Club in Waterkloof, Pretoria.

How would you define your design aesthetic within a South African context?

I have always been fascinated by design in all its forms – food, architecture,

Nature is our partner in design and lies at the heart of LIFE’s philosophy. Bringing it into my design ethos is something for which I’ve become known.

interiors, products, experiences. Growing up between Africa and the Greek islands during my formative years, informed my visual language for rusticity and refinement.

It’s like the air that I breathe. Great design will always be timeless and emotive.

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www.lifeinteriordesign.com www.lifegrandcafe.co.za

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When you are commissioned by a home owner to design and decorate their living spaces how do you combine your design philosophy with their personalities and preferences?

A home is an extension of one’s personality, it is a tool that allows us to live and experience our lives according to our own philosophy. When working with a client it is important that we have a similar view so that the end result is a collaboration of ideas that gives them the home in which they will be comfortable enough to live freely.

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IT STANDS OUT FROM THE REST AND IS IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIABLE, AND IT SEEMS AS IF FASHION FROM THE COLD LAND OF THE VIKINGS IS CAUSING

COOL threads THE ESTABLISHMENT TO TAKE NOTICE

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candinavian fashion design is rooted in the culture and general design ethos of the region. When you look at it you see the minimalist, efficient aesthetic that permeates through all aspects of Scandinavian design – always clean, full of purpose and function, without un-necessary embellishment, and both cold and warm in a single breath.

Danish fashion creative director Rebekka Bay says, “When you go to design school in Denmark they teach you to take things away, rather than adding embellishments and decorations, they try to teach you how to do with very little”.

The following three design houses out of Scandinavia adopt completely different approaches but the aesthetic is perfectly summed up in all that embodies Scandinavian fashion design.

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Tiger of Sweden

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This brand, born out of Stockholm in 1903 as a men’s tailoring brand, has evolved to epitomise the ‘different cut’ in fashion and puts a modern design philosophy spin on traditional tailoring.

For Spring/Summer 2015, Tiger of Sweden Men draws inspiration from cult film, “The Warriors”. The ‘Tiger Gang’ of SS15 looks to the night-time adventures of the film’s New York gangs, with tailoring that exudes a rock and roll attitude and a tough elegance. It is a collection created to be worn all hours, just as with the Warriors’ own 24/7 gangland attire. The colour palette references the night, with a focus on black and white and shades of grey. The city landscape is a key reference, with brighter colours such as petrol and rust breaking through the monochrome and a use of prints, inspired by the street art and graffiti from the film. The dominant silhouette this season is slim, sharp and strong. Blazers are cut short with a slim-cut trouser. Outerwear has evolved to a more relaxed fit for the spring. SS15 notably sees the introduction of a new shape for Tiger, a slightly oversized and elongated suit shape.

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Tiger of Sweden Men draws inspiration from cult film, “The Warriors”. The ‘Tiger Gang’ of SS15 looks to the night-time adventures of the film’s New York gangs, with tailoring that exudes a rock and roll attitude and a tough elegance.

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Tiger of Sweden Women brings you a collection derived from art and purity.

A clean and pure aesthetic combined with an Asian approach to silhouettes illustrate the clash between fashion and art. There is purity in art and there is art in purity.

The sharp lines and clean sculptural forms give new life to the Tiger Women silhouette. The new ideal is cropped proportion, an emphasis on the kimono cut-tee shape, as well as the slouchy wide pant, which goes well in hand with our passion for the clean classics within the masculine tailoring.

The emphasis of clean lines and shapes are juxtaposed with raw graffitiart for a more playful season.

The colour palette has, as always, a predominantly monochromatic base consisting of optical white, chalk white and black alongside nude accents and soft grey. Splashes of blue (from sky blue to midnight blue), paprika red, jade green and ocre yellow emphasise the art influence and brighten the neutrals.

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FASHION

Nina Jarebrink

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Nina Jarebrink has become a favourite among top stylists and edgy celebrities who all love the tailored elegance and demure sexiness of her clothes and accessories.

Started in 2004 as Nina Jarebrink of Sweden, her first success came with her unique jewellery collection. Today, however, the main essence of Nina Jarebrink's design is her elegant knitwear with strong and recognisable patterns.

The brand also offers a wide range of shoes, accessories and jewellery in the same inspiring style.

The Jarebrink woman for SS15 is powerful yet sensual, sexy and seductive.

She does not hold back on anything, takes what she desires and she is not in any way abstemious. She likes to stand out in the crowd and dress up in shiny metallic for a night out and bold colourful prints for daytime leisure.

Interesting textures combined with bright splashes of colour and elastic bodycon fabrics create a modern yet vintage flirtatious look. "Sexy is above all sensual and to be seductive is an art"

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Day Birger et Mikkelsen

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2NDDAY from Day Birger et Mikkelsen is a progressive Danish concept brand with a focus on confident, alluring, inclusive design with an effortlessly feminine personality.

The concept is simple and minimal, focusing on excellent fit and quality. The brand is innovative and is trying to break the norms and rules by creating something not seen before, so you become curious.

This season the 2NDDAY SS15 collection is inspired by the Swedish graphic artist Oscar Reutersv채rd, who is widely acknowledged for his impossible figures. The 3D drawings may appear feasible but yet cannot be physically constructed. The collection has added brutalism with edgy and almost impossible objects. They have worked to design silhouettes, which they thought were not possible and thereby created something innovative.

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These Spring/Summer 2015 Scandinavian collections are available for sourcing from the Brandgroup International Head Office, Vdara 2, 41 Rivonia road, Sandhurst, JHB. +27 11 440 3235

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2NDDAY includes inspiration from scuba diving and surfing in the form of neoprene and transparent mesh qualities.

The collection is minimalistic and playful – on one hand monochrome together with transparent qualities and on the other hand unique sculptural and colourful silhouettes, which creates a raw elegance. The key colours in the SS 15 collection are white, light shades of grey, added are a touch of cobalt blue and red.

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royal

cape TAKE AN HISTORIC

LANDMARK ON THE GREEN POINT PROMENADE, ADD AN ECCENTRIC

VISION OF SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY, AND YOU GET A LUXURY HOTEL WITH A DELIGHTFUL TWIST AROUND EVERY CORNER

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IRISHMAN WITH A

T

he building frenzy pre-2010 World Cup in South Africa saw hotels go up at an unprecedented rate. One of the more controversial establishments, the Cape Royale, went up on the site of the old Claridges Hotel in Green Point and looked like it belonged on a nondescript avenue in Paris, rather than this strip on Cape Town’s seafront with its Art Deco aesthetic and laid back atmosphere.

This is my favourite part of Cape Town. Cafes and bars open onto the street, open parkland lies between the promenade and the sea (with the Cape Town stadium either blocking or enhancing the view) and the suburbs stretch up the hill behind like a picture from the French Riviera. It’s a European flavour in Africa which is probably why Paschal Phelan decided on the Parisian architecture for his hotel.

words: Chris Buchanan

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Unlike most luxury hotels, there are no vast lobbies with breakfast rooms, coffee shops and meeting areas, just a vaulted entrance hall dubbed “The Golden Mile” with concierge staff welcoming you and seating booths for you to wait in comfort. Sales and marketing manager Vincent Bouwer tells me that “the Golden Mile” is there to make guests feel special, as though they’re coming home.

Corridors are non-existent, well certainly the stereotype corridors like rabbit warrens with doors lining either side. A central vault feeds into accommodation areas with short, open corridors leading to the rooms which are all different in layout, furnishings and artwork. But it’s up to the ninth floor we go to one of the two villas on the roof of the hotel with views across the stadium and the V&A Waterfront, and back up Signal Hill and Table Mountain in the distance.

Villa Louise is a 150m2, double storey penthouse with lounge, dining room, fully equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, three bathrooms, a covered veranda, and your own private rooftop garden with pool. You can also throw in a personal butler, driver and private chef.

The lower level has all the living areas in an open plan layout with the second bedroom tucked away for privacy.

The main bedroom and bathroom en suite occupy the upper floor with its French dormer windows that open up

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to the view across the Green Point park, Mouille Point and Table Bay. Vincent tells me the appeal for guests lies in the fact that they can spend much of their time in the villa, hosting friends and being with family as if in the comfort of their own home. The best tourist spots in Cape Town are within walking distance or a short drive from Cape Royale and your butler will happily arrange excursions into the winelands with your driver and luxury car.

The Cape Royale’s resident eatery is the Banting Kitchen and its menu designed with Tim Noakes’s high fat low carb diet in mind. I tried the pork belly and crackling with cauliflower and sweet potato mash but the variations on the Banting theme are diverse and inspirational – like Caulisotto (risotto made with cauliflower) and Banting lasagne. If you prefer your carbs then speak to your host and all variations of potato, bread and pasta are available at all meals.

Cape Royale caters to the leisure traveller who have time on their hands to see the sights of Cape Town and come home to a base that is away from the hustle of the city or the main tourist areas. The appeal for the business traveller is reduced by the perception that Green Point is not close to the action but for me, this makes it more of an attraction, being in a cosmopolitan area of Cape Town, within walking distance of the Waterfront and a five minute car journey from the heart of the city.

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The Banting Kitchen Tel: +27 (0)21 430 0506 wwwthebantingkitchen.co.za

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Cape Royale Luxury Hotel 47 Main Road, Green Point Cape Town, South Africa Tel: +27 (0)21 430 0500 www.caperoyale.co.za

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privparadise ate MAKING IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG CHECKING INTO AN EXCLUSIVEUSE PROPERTY, SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? FROM MILESTONE BIRTHDAY BASHES TO MULTIGENERATIONAL FAMILY REUNIONS, PICK YOUR PRIVATE PARADISE

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IS PART OF THE ALLURE OF

T

hese hand-picked villas in some of South Africa’s most idyllic locations are hard to beat when it comes to life’s true luxuries – masses of space, complete privacy, and flexibility to tweak and plan every aspect of your precious downtime with family or friends.

words: Jane Broughton

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‘place of the blue crane’ in Xhosa, the reserve is a conservation victory – former farmland restored to pristine wilderness – and provides regular sightings of all the predators, big cats and plains game along with more unusual porcupine, aardwolf and aardvark.

Melton Manor, along with Uplands Homestead (an original 1905 farmhouse

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Spanning 22,000 hectares in the Great Fish River valley, Kwandwe is proof that game viewing in the Eastern Cape has the same wow factor of more high-profile reserves further north – just without the crowds. With four lodges in remote locations and a maximum of 44 guests on the reserve at any given time, it feels as if you have the euphorbia and aloe-covered hills to yourself. And it’s malaria free. Meaning

for six), is an exclusiveuse lodge with four suites that includes a private butler, chef, ranger and tracker so that you can tailor make your days in the bush depending on the age of your kids, your interests, and the season.

Besides twice daily game drives, bush walks, and impromptu picnic lunches and sundowners overlooking the river, are all possible. Back at the house, kids can paint, bake, and safely play games on the lawn as the lodge is fenced.

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Melton Manor, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

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The Villa at Grootbos, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve It’s not as if staying at one of the two lodges in this private nature reserve is second prize. Groves of gnarled milkwoods, pristine fynbos and glorious ocean views set the scene for a luxurious getaway that is as action packed or as lazy as you choose, enhanced by perceptive service and inspired cuisine paired to local wines. What the villa offers is all this, just with more space (1000 square metres), more staff, complete privacy for parties of up to 12, and its own landing strip. It also comes with a private guide and vehicle, always at the ready to take you on one of the many adventures in nature that make Grootbos such a desirable year-round destination. Activities range from fynbos safaris, nature walks and horse riding to shark cage diving off Dyer Island, boatbased whale watching, and exploring archeologically rich sea caves and long, deserted beaches. Camouflaged in the fynbos, you wouldn’t know that the villa

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existed unless someone pointed it out.

Once inside its contemporary, art-filled interiors, uninterrupted views of the rugged Overberg coastline, known for its prolific marine diversity, ancient history and shipwrecks, draw you outdoors to that mesmerising, misty view.

www.grootbos.com/en/ accommodation/villa

wind-free beaches, and minutes from the city centre and V&A Waterfront. Carved into the mountainside below Lion’s Head, the three-bedroom villa is built on multiple levels with an entertainer’s kitchen and living spaces that lead to an infinity pool and Atlantic Ocean views. A sculptural spiral staircase links the villa to an interactive wine gallery – it’s exclusive to in-house guests – with enormous collections of rare wines and a Dom Perignon cellar.

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One of two luxury villas on the same ocean-view property as Ellerman House, the privately staffed Villa Two offers all the benefits of being attached to a small hotel (access to the spa, gym, restaurant, phenomenal wine and art collections) with the advantage of living like a local in one of Cape Town’s most exclusive residential enclaves. It’s a quick drive to Table Mountain’s lower cable way station, within walking distance of Clifton’s four

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Villa Two, Ellerman House, Bantry Bay

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The Homestead at Oldenburg, Banghoek Valley, Stellenbosch A winning location for lovers of good food and wine, this 200-year-old farmhouse in a private vineyard is not only midway between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, it is within strolling distance of the tasting room at Oldenburg Vineyards. An inviting eat-in kitchen, leading outdoors onto an oak-shaded terrace, is conducive to cooking and entertaining at home with estate wines and gourmet ingredients picked up at one of the weekend markets in the vicinity. At least a dozen topend restaurants are within easy driving distance, each specialising in farm-totable menus showcasing the best of the Cape paired to excellent wines. Elegant and filled with natural light, the house has been carefully restored to create a sleek, neutral backdrop against which the owners’ eclectic collection of art, heirloom treasures and locally sourced furniture, are artfully displayed.

www.oldenburgvineyards.com

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Elegant and filled with natural light, the house has been carefully restored to create a sleek, neutral backdrop against which the owners’ eclectic collection of art, heirloom treasures and locally sourced furniture, are artfully displayed

Halfway between the beautiful beaches of Plettenberg Bay and Nature’s Valley, Kurland makes a fine base from which

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www.kurlandvilla.co.za

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Kurland Villa, Kurland Hotel and Polo Estate, The Crags, Plettenberg Bay

to explore the Garden Route. Besides the hotel, which has gracious country living down to a fine art, there is also the private residence of Peter and Dianne Behr to hire. Bordered by indigenous forests in the foothills of the Tsitsikamma Mountains, it offers a secluded, authentic taste of farm life without skimping on luxury or creature comforts. With a pizza oven, wine cellar and private spa facilities, parents will be happy, while everything about this sophisticated home is kid friendly. The hotel is within walking distance for lavish afternoon teas on the veranda, candlelit dinners, horses and quad bikes for exploring the farm, tennis, a games room and a spa are on your doorstep. But when it’s peace and privacy you crave the Cape Dutch-style house is your castle - the main house has five bedrooms and an adjoining wing has three bedrooms - ideal for giving teens, au pairs or grandparents extra privacy.

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CHRIS BUCHANAN TRAVELS TO THE EARTH’S NETHER REGIONS AND FINDS ABSOLUTE BEAUTY JUXTAPOSED WITH AN UNFORGIVING SUB-POLAR ENVIRONMENT

way down

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hen Jules Verne saw a picture of the lighthouse on Isla de los Estados, the eastern extreme of Cape Horn, it inspired the story of pirates who laid siege on keepers Vasquez, Moriz and Pilipe in his posthumously published novel ‘The Lighthouse at the end of the World’.

This lighthouse still exists but the one that has usurped its name watches over the Beagle Channel at the entrance to the bay of Ushuaia – ‘the city at the end of the world’.

Ushuaia huddles at the foot of the southern

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When Jules Verne saw a picture of the lighthouse on Isla de los Estados, the eastern extreme of Cape Horn, it inspired the story of pirates who laid siege on keepers Vasquez, Moriz and Pilipe in his posthumously published novel ‘The Lighthouse at the end of the World’

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Andes, where glaciers once edged their way into the sea and sculpted a dramatic landscape of deep-cut valleys and their peat bog floors. The weather dictates life here and inhabitants of the city remind you constantly to be prepared for a daily dose of sun, rain, wind or snow, autumn through to spring (Apr-Oct).

“Summer is quite warm”, our guide Laura Gallardo tells me, ”it reached a close record of 26 degrees in January”.

This was autumn and it wasn’t going to get past ten, the long, cold shadows ushering in sunset at four in the afternoon.

Another constant reminder in the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, is that of Islas Malvinas.

Ushuaia has a military and naval history and one of the departments within Tierra del Fuego incorporates the disputed territory of the Falklands, 700km to the north-east. The recent stirring of sentiment has opened old

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The train runs today as “The End of the World Train” ferrying tourists into the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world’s southernmost national park

of Argentina’s most dangerous thieves, murderers and notorious political dissidents was the ‘big eared short man’, a career serial killer of children in Buenos Aires who was eventually beaten to death by his fellow inmates for drowning the prison cat.

The train runs today as “The End of the World Train” ferrying tourists into the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world’s southernmost national park where you can send your loved ones a post card from the ‘post office at the end of the world’.

The Autumn might dish out unpredictable weather and shorter days but it delivers poetry in a landscape.

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From the helicopter you can see how the city has sprawled from its roots as an Anglican mission turned penal colony, to industrial manufacturing hub, building cell phones and tablets on behalf of the Koreans.

The least illustrious but most influential era of its history are the 70 years as a penal colony modelled on Devil’s Island in French Guiana and the British equivalent in Australia. Argentina needed to maintain a visible presence in the strategically vital Magellan Straight, Beagle Channel and Cape Horn, and they needed to get there before the Chileans.

Problem was, nobody wanted to live in a sub-polar climate where nothing grew and so began the years of hard labour and vile, inhumane conditions synonymous with penal outposts.

A narrow gauge train took convicts into the mountains where they would fell trees or quarry stone for heat and building materials. Among the group

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wounds, so you’re better off telling locals you’re South African when they hear you speaking English. For Gustavo, an outdoor adventure tourism operator, the Malvinas legacy cuts deep. He has watched and held cause with demonstrators preventing tourists disembarking from cruise liners flying the Union Jack. A seemingly insignificant moral victory over the English but there would be no paying tour that day.

And tourism keeps this southernmost city relevant as a gateway to the Antarctic Peninsula, 1 400km south across the Drake Passage. It’s pitching itself as an extreme destination – skiing and snowboarding in the winter months and rock climbing, 4x4 trails and canoeing in the summer. The world’s most southerly commercial helicopter flip operates out of Ushuaia’s old airport offering flights into the high Andes and the futile remains of the glaciers that shaped these lands.

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A pair of Andean Condor circled high above Bahia Lapataia as I imagined a life in this unforgiving but

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majestic lan

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Charles Darwin, as a young naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle in 1832, first saw them here and found them to be “the most abject and miserable creatures I anywhere beheld”.

The Beagle’s Captain Robert FitzRoy and missionary Lucas Bridges tried to clothe and educate these people who preferred to rub their bodies with seal fat and who had their own vocabulary of 30 000 words. Their fragile immune systems guaranteed their extinction, unable to fend off measles and tuberculosis.

Eighty three year-old Cristina Calderon is said to be the last living Yamana and is sometimes coaxed from her home in Chile to cut ribbons and inaugurate memorials to her lost kin.

A pair of Andean Condor circled high above Bahia Lapataia as I imagined a life in this unforgiving but majestic land at the “uttermost part of the earth”. From here Argentina’s National Road Number Three joins Ushuaia at the end, or the beginning depending on the direction you’re heading, of the Pan American Highway and an information board puts Prudhoe Bay in Alaska 17 848km away.

Buenos Aires is only 3 079km up the road across the Garibaldi Pass and the Magellan Straight but it made more sense to fly, so the Falklands rears its head again at Ushuaia’s new Malvinas

Getting there SAA only flies to Sao Paulo so you’ll have to connect to Buenos Aires and then Aerolineas has two flights daily from Jorge Newbery city airport, Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Ushuaia is a popular cruise stop-over port in the summer months and 95% of tourist traffic to the Antarctic Peninsula originates here.

No tourist or business visa is required as a South African for a stay of up to 90 days, and passports must be valid for a further 90 days after your departure date from Argentina.

When to go Tourist seasons peak in summer (NovMarch) and mid-winter (July) depending on your choice of holiday – outdoor adventure or skiing. Autumn and spring are cheaper and will offer you all the seasons in a day.

Where to stay Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa is a member of the Small Leading Hotels of World and offers absolute luxury with superb views across the Beagle Channel and the Chilean mountains. www.loscauquenes.com

Things to do

airport. Built in the middle of the Beagle Channel on an island only as long as the runway, it guarantees drama on arrival and departure – the city’s history, geography and determination sustain the drama throughout your stay in this land of fire and ice.

Chris Buchanan was a guest of INPROTUR – The National Institute of Tourism Promotion Argentina.

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Glacial lakes, roughed up by the wind, the mountains as a backdrop and the colours of the forest as it sheds its canopy for the winter, have changed little since the indigenous Yamana people crouched, naked in their foxholes, keeping the weather at bay with constant fire – Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) was given its name by Ferdinand Magellan because of this.

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Bird watching and wilderness areas, including Yamana settlements, are accessed in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Take the End of the World Train with its South African built engine. www.trendelfindelmundo.com.ar/ Ushuaia Outdoors adventure tourism adds extreme to the trip with 4x4 trails, rock climbing and canoeing into inaccessible areas. www.ushuaiaoutdoors.com The helicopter flip over the city and the mountains is spectacular but very weather dependent. www.heliushuaia.com.ar

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CHRIS BUCHANAN TRAVELS TO THE EARTH’S NETHER REGIONS AND FINDS ABSOLUTE BEAUTY JUXTAPOSED WITH AN UNFORGIVING SUB-POLAR ENVIRONMENT

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hen Jules Verne saw a picture of the lighthouse on Isla de los Estados, the eastern extreme of Cape Horn, it inspired the story of pirates who laid siege on keepers Vasquez, Moriz and Pilipe in his posthumously published novel ‘The Lighthouse at the end of the World’.

This lighthouse still exists but the one that has usurped its name watches over the Beagle Channel at the entrance to the bay of Ushuaia – ‘the city at the end of the world’.

Ushuaia huddles at the foot of the southern

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When Jules Verne saw a picture of the lighthouse on Isla de los Estados, the eastern extreme of Cape Horn, it inspired the story of pirates who laid siege on keepers Vasquez, Moriz and Pilipe in his posthumously published novel ‘The Lighthouse at the end of the World’

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Andes, where glaciers once edged their way into the sea and sculpted a dramatic landscape of deep-cut valleys and their peat bog floors. The weather dictates life here and inhabitants of the city remind you constantly to be prepared for a daily dose of sun, rain, wind or snow, autumn through to spring (Apr-Oct).

“Summer is quite warm”, our guide Laura Gallardo tells me, ”it reached a close record of 26 degrees in January”.

This was autumn and it wasn’t going to get past ten, the long, cold shadows ushering in sunset at four in the afternoon.

Another constant reminder in the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, is that of Islas Malvinas.

Ushuaia has a military and naval history and one of the departments within Tierra del Fuego incorporates the disputed territory of the Falklands, 700km to the north-east. The recent stirring of sentiment has opened old

PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

The train runs today as “The End of the World Train” ferrying tourists into the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world’s southernmost national park

of Argentina’s most dangerous thieves, murderers and notorious political dissidents was the ‘big eared short man’, a career serial killer of children in Buenos Aires who was eventually beaten to death by his fellow inmates for drowning the prison cat.

The train runs today as “The End of the World Train” ferrying tourists into the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the world’s southernmost national park where you can send your loved ones a post card from the ‘post office at the end of the world’.

The Autumn might dish out unpredictable weather and shorter days but it delivers poetry in a landscape.

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From the helicopter you can see how the city has sprawled from its roots as an Anglican mission turned penal colony, to industrial manufacturing hub, building cell phones and tablets on behalf of the Koreans.

The least illustrious but most influential era of its history are the 70 years as a penal colony modelled on Devil’s Island in French Guiana and the British equivalent in Australia. Argentina needed to maintain a visible presence in the strategically vital Magellan Straight, Beagle Channel and Cape Horn, and they needed to get there before the Chileans.

Problem was, nobody wanted to live in a sub-polar climate where nothing grew and so began the years of hard labour and vile, inhumane conditions synonymous with penal outposts.

A narrow gauge train took convicts into the mountains where they would fell trees or quarry stone for heat and building materials. Among the group

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wounds, so you’re better off telling locals you’re South African when they hear you speaking English. For Gustavo, an outdoor adventure tourism operator, the Malvinas legacy cuts deep. He has watched and held cause with demonstrators preventing tourists disembarking from cruise liners flying the Union Jack. A seemingly insignificant moral victory over the English but there would be no paying tour that day.

And tourism keeps this southernmost city relevant as a gateway to the Antarctic Peninsula, 1 400km south across the Drake Passage. It’s pitching itself as an extreme destination – skiing and snowboarding in the winter months and rock climbing, 4x4 trails and canoeing in the summer. The world’s most southerly commercial helicopter flip operates out of Ushuaia’s old airport offering flights into the high Andes and the futile remains of the glaciers that shaped these lands.

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A pair of Andean Condor circled high above Bahia Lapataia as I imagined a life in this unforgiving but

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majestic lan

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Charles Darwin, as a young naturalist aboard the HMS Beagle in 1832, first saw them here and found them to be “the most abject and miserable creatures I anywhere beheld”.

The Beagle’s Captain Robert FitzRoy and missionary Lucas Bridges tried to clothe and educate these people who preferred to rub their bodies with seal fat and who had their own vocabulary of 30 000 words. Their fragile immune systems guaranteed their extinction, unable to fend off measles and tuberculosis.

Eighty three year-old Cristina Calderon is said to be the last living Yamana and is sometimes coaxed from her home in Chile to cut ribbons and inaugurate memorials to her lost kin.

A pair of Andean Condor circled high above Bahia Lapataia as I imagined a life in this unforgiving but majestic land at the “uttermost part of the earth”. From here Argentina’s National Road Number Three joins Ushuaia at the end, or the beginning depending on the direction you’re heading, of the Pan American Highway and an information board puts Prudhoe Bay in Alaska 17 848km away.

Buenos Aires is only 3 079km up the road across the Garibaldi Pass and the Magellan Straight but it made more sense to fly, so the Falklands rears its head again at Ushuaia’s new Malvinas

Getting there SAA only flies to Sao Paulo so you’ll have to connect to Buenos Aires and then Aerolineas has two flights daily from Jorge Newbery city airport, Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Ushuaia is a popular cruise stop-over port in the summer months and 95% of tourist traffic to the Antarctic Peninsula originates here.

No tourist or business visa is required as a South African for a stay of up to 90 days, and passports must be valid for a further 90 days after your departure date from Argentina.

When to go Tourist seasons peak in summer (NovMarch) and mid-winter (July) depending on your choice of holiday – outdoor adventure or skiing. Autumn and spring are cheaper and will offer you all the seasons in a day.

Where to stay Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa is a member of the Small Leading Hotels of World and offers absolute luxury with superb views across the Beagle Channel and the Chilean mountains. www.loscauquenes.com

Things to do

airport. Built in the middle of the Beagle Channel on an island only as long as the runway, it guarantees drama on arrival and departure – the city’s history, geography and determination sustain the drama throughout your stay in this land of fire and ice.

Chris Buchanan was a guest of INPROTUR – The National Institute of Tourism Promotion Argentina.

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Glacial lakes, roughed up by the wind, the mountains as a backdrop and the colours of the forest as it sheds its canopy for the winter, have changed little since the indigenous Yamana people crouched, naked in their foxholes, keeping the weather at bay with constant fire – Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) was given its name by Ferdinand Magellan because of this.

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Bird watching and wilderness areas, including Yamana settlements, are accessed in the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Take the End of the World Train with its South African built engine. www.trendelfindelmundo.com.ar/ Ushuaia Outdoors adventure tourism adds extreme to the trip with 4x4 trails, rock climbing and canoeing into inaccessible areas. www.ushuaiaoutdoors.com The helicopter flip over the city and the mountains is spectacular but very weather dependent. www.heliushuaia.com.ar

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summer

lovin’ VIVIEN NATASEN

AND HIS ENTOURAGE

TAKE TO THE FRENCH

RIVIERA IN THE HEART

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OF SUMMER

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hen I was growing up, I always dreamed of driving along the coastline of the South of France on those wonderfully winding coastal roads that present some of the best Gran Turismo experiences in the world. This year, some friends and I got to fulfil that dream.

Our entry point into the South was via C么te d'Azur airport in Nice. Just as a caution, it is important during the peak season to plan for delays through the airport, especially at the car rental

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sections. It also is useful, if one was renting a convertible to book these well in advance as these cars are taken up well before each holiday season. Obviously one could do a chauffeured option, but any truly passionate driver would want to take to the curvy mountain and seaside roads of the French Riviera behind the steering wheel themselves.

We were unlucky to time our drive from Nice to Port Grimaud during the start of a long weekend. So the visions of long stretches of open roads were quickly dashed on the first day as the traffic resembled peak hour traffic of any metropolitan city, compounded by the fact that the entire coastline is dotted by toll roads with many toll stations with queues.

We elected to make the little town of Port Grimaud our home base and

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rented a private villa on the outskirts of the complex very close to a secluded private beach. Something quite difficult to secure during the peak season. Port Grimaud has been nicknamed little Venice as replicates the architecture and design of Venice through a network of canals and bridges where residents live in a closed estate lifestyle. The pricing of homes in the estate makes it exclusive and many owners berth some lovely yachts off private jetties in the estate, providing excellent value for money investments.

Our lovely 4 bedroomed unit was one hundred metres from the beach with excellent views over the outer canals and the open sea, quite a vista to behold. The weather that this time of year is extremely hot and humid, so one should pack accordingly. Getting around Port Grimaud

itself is made easier through a ferry facility that residents have convenient access to throughout the estate.

St Tropez in the heart of Summer is always a wonder to the eye. Super yachts line up on the promenade with many prying eyes attempting to get a peek at the residents therein. The promenade also has several restaurants that have become institutions themselves. Seafood being the order of the day many restaurants pride themselves with having some unique seafood dish that sets them apart from the rest.

We found meandering the streets of St Tropez an enjoyable exercise with some really exclusive and interesting restaurants hidden away with better dining experiences and some of the more touristy spots than on the promenade itself.

The pricing of homes in the estate makes it exclusive and many owners berth some lovely yachts off private jetties in the estate, providing excellent value for money investments

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The village has a maze

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of winding No trip to the region is complete without a visit to the wine country. The region is famous, especially during this time of year for its delectable Rose’ wines.

Gassin, perched high up on a rock, is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in south eastern France. It is situated in the centre of the St. Tropez peninsula, less than 4 km from the sea and the port of St. Tropez. It is known as 'the most beautiful village of France' and has an unrivalled panoramic view of the Golfe de St. Tropez, the Iles d'Or and the surrounding hills. From the rocky summit at an altitude of 200 metres, you can see the coastline including the towns of La Croix Valmer, Grimaud, St. Maxime and Les Issambres and in the other direction, the Maures Mountains and the snowy peaks of the Alps. The village has a maze of winding streets and ancient houses and approximately 3,000 people live in Gassin all year round, however significantly more come for the duration of the summer months to enjoy

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streets and ancient houses and approximately 3,000 people live in Gassin all year round the Côte d'Azur lifestyle for which the area is enviably famous. There are several wine estates close by for wine tastings.

However, we enjoyed strolling through the maze of little streets in the town and other nearby towns much more.

The drive to Monaco was one of our best. With its winding roads including intersections in tunnels, which we found unusual it made for some interesting driving. Since we were in more than one

car, we decided to replicate the famous formula one circuit and created our own street race. One can only imagine doing this route in a formula one car, with little room for error, especially at those speeds. No trip to Monaco is complete without a little flutter in the casino so we popped into the Casino de MonteCarlo. This world renowned casino featured in two Bond movies. Its rich historic architecture and décor is well preserved and is a worthy pop in. Just past the casino is a street with high end boutiques with an amazing view over the port and makes for a leisurely stroll down to the waterfront, which during the Summer is filled with party venues and club hotspots also well worth a visit.

We spent just over a week in the region and other towns worth a visit are Cannes, Antibes, Nice itself and if one has the time to venture out west to Toulon and Marseille. For me, this region is now no longer a bucket list item but one that I will long to come back to visit again. So much to see, so little time!

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exploring

SriinLanka style ENSCONCED IN LUXURY, SURROUNDED BY LUSH NATURE AND PAMPERED WITH IMPECCABLE SERVICE, ULAGALLA IS THE PERFECT BASE FROM WHICH TO EXPLORE PART OF THE CULTURAL TRIANGLE

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ri Lanka is a vibrant, colourful country with warm people, lush vegetation and intriguing sights, begging to be explored. Dotted throughout this fascinating, yet lesser known land, are some stylish boutique hotels - often owner run- where you are pampered in tropical splendour or venture out to explore the exotic surrounds.

Ulagalla – one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World – is 150-years old and a former ancestral home of a

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Every full moon evening is a public holiday in Sri Lanka, known as Poya day, when meditations are held in Buddhist temples all over

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the country local noble family, which hosted British governors in colonial times. Each of the 19 villas is set amidst verdant jungle vegetation with tangled vines, frequented by toque macaque, giant squirrel and

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an abundance of birds, including Indian peafowl in full iridescent plumage.

The spacious bedroom, with a king sized bed, the finest linens, silk pillows and throws, leads to a comfortable living room with hardwood floors. Both rooms lead onto a furnished deck and private plunge pool, where you can have a traditional English high tea or a meal, if you don’t feel like a stroll or golf-cart ride to the dining room area.

To maximize the magnificent view of the greenery, Ulagalla’s Villas have huge glass windows instead of walls, with grass blinds, should you wish to block out the sunlight at any time of day. At night, you can lie beneath your canopy of mosquito netting and gaze at the moon and the myriad stars.

Each evening floating scented candles are placed in bowls in the modern bathroom, and a fresh selection

The dining area on the top of the original Wallawwa, or manor house, is open to a light breeze and looks out over a vast swimming pool, flanked by leafy trees

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of the finest Ceylon teas and organic ground coffee is laid out for you.

Homemade chocolates presented in a pretty box, await you on your downturned sheets.

Meals at Ulagalla are leisurely, protracted and unforgettable. In the Liya Wela Restaurant, both European and Sri Lankan fare is available, imaginatively presented and made up of fresh ingredients picked from their thriving vegetable and herb garden. Dining on curry is an event

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in itself here, as several small bowls are brought to you, each with a different individual variety of curry, like dahl, prawn, ladyfinger, aubergine, chickpea or several other options from which you may choose. Accoutrements include papadams, stringhoppers (a kind of rice noodle), pol rotti (coconut flat bread), rice, as well as delectable fruity atcha. You may need to tell them you are South African, if you like spicy curry, as they do temper the chili for European palates.

OTHER RECOMMENDED PLACES TO STAY: Casa Colombo A quirky hotel in Colombo, with zany décor and outstanding food, where you have a personal butler. www.casacolombo.com Wallawwa Close to the international airport, with a long swimming pool in a verdant garden and an excellent restaurant. www.thewallawwa.com Why House Near Galle Fort and the beach, this is a haven with beautiful furnishings, manicured gardens and kind staff. www.whyhousesrilanka.com Bougainvillea Set in Victoria Golf and Country Resort, Rajawella, Kandy, with a magnificent view of a river and the foothills of Knuckles mountain range. www.bv-retreat.com Elephant Stables Perfectly sited in Kandy with lush gardens drawing birds and great views of the hills beyond. www.elephantstables.com Ceylon Tea Trails A Relais & Châteaux member property in a high altitude area, which has four authentic bungalows in tea plantations with spectacular views from walking trails. www.teatrails.com Leopard Safaris Stay in this comfortable safari tented camp, close to Yala National Park – with its high density of the Sri Lankan leopard and wide variety of Asian game and birds – to enjoy being pampered in a customised vehicle with an well informed naturalist. www.Leopardsafaris.com

Ulagalla of Uga Escapes www.ugaescapes.com/ulagalla Sri Lanka in Style is skilled at organising bespoke trips, for discerning travelers who want excellent service in well –run boutique properties. www.srilankainstyle.com

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Suite

Every full moon evening is a public holiday in Sri Lanka, known as Poya day, when meditations are held in Buddhist temples all over the country.

You can join in this celebration, where hundreds of candles are lit in the nearby Veheragalla Temple and a friendly Ulagalla staff member will translate the proceedings for you.

On the Ulagalla estate, a leisurely early morning walk with a guide takes you out onto Ulagalla Lake and Wannamaduwa resevoir, where you are likely to see hundreds of species of birds, many of which are endemic. At that time of day you can see brown fish-owl and hear the evocative cry of the grey-headed fish eagle. It is a beautiful time of day to enjoy the pure air, remarkable trees and peaceful atmosphere.

Sri Lanka is a destination to be enjoyed now, while it is still unspoiled and under-commercialised. Ulagalla, in particular, is unusual and unforgettable for a peaceful laze in stylish surroundings, or for the captivating activities organised by charming people.

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The dining area on the top of the original Wallawwa, or manor house, is open to a light breeze and looks out over a vast swimming pool, flanked by leafy trees, in manicured gardens where purplerumped sunbird flit and black-hooded orioles sing. Sun loungers and a hammock may lure you to their inviting embrace.

Although it is tempting to linger in the serenity and comfort of Ulagalla, a cycle ride through Anuradhapura – a nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site and Buddhist pilgrimage site – is a must.

Accompanied by a gentle, well-informed guide from the resort, you explore the ruins of the largest and greatest of all Sri Lanka’s ancient cities, from a great civilisation some 2000 years ago, unearthed by archaeologists.

Next to a large pool with stone steps and sides – known as the Elephant Pond, where thousands of monks used to bathe - you have a picnic snack and drink. At sunset, the impressive Buddhist temples glow in the fast-fading light and thousands of fruit bat – Indian flying fox – stream out of trees to fly past the emergent moon, as monks are chanting.

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tiny bubbles THE FESTIVE SEASON IS ONE FOR

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CELEBRATION, RELAXATION AND SPENDING VALUABLE TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. IT’S MADE ALL THE BETTER WITH A GLASS OF BUBBLES FROM THE VERY REGION THAT GAVE THIS DRINK IS NAME – CHAMPAGNE

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s the song lyric says, “Tiny bubbles, in the wine.

Ah, make me feel happy. Make me feel fine.”

And so they should considering the time it’s taken for these precious beads of carbon dioxide to permeate the wine, inducing the explosive sensation on the palate as they release the intense flavours of the grape.

So, grab the sabrage sword, taking care not to injure anyone, and let the bubbles free….no special occasion needed, no excuse, no justification.

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Moët & Chandon “So Bubbly Bath”

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In its inimitable fashion, Moët & Chandon reveals the “So Bubbly Bath” – a festive ritual featuring a generous jeroboam bottle of the iconic Moët Impérial champagne. For the special occasion, Moët & Chandon has adorned its iconic Moët Impérial with a burst of bubbles that will enliven the season’s most luxurious parties.

You can expect your jeroboam of Moët Impérial plunged into a luminous bath amongst a profusion of golden “bubbles” that delicately chill the champagne, accompanied by six large golden glasses – making “So Bubbly Bath” the perfect complement to every end-of-year celebration.

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Like Moët & Chandon champagne, the Maison’s So Bubbly Bath overflows with golden “bubbles” that elevate life’s most meaningful moments with style.

Its bubbles bring the festivities to life, and remind us to share in the joy and celebration of the season.

The style continues in the campaign for the limited edition So Bubbly Bath, featuring visuals by Italian photographer Ilaria Orsini.

Available from selected retailers nationwide: from R24, 900

The Dom Pérignon Vintage 2004 Metamorphosis gift box and label of the bottle are inflected with green in all its vibrant exuberance. For the Dom Pérignon brand, the green-dark colour is an important code and chromatic expression. This penetrating darkness is a reflection of the soul of the wine, and its intensity, depth and complexity.

Available from leading liquor merchants nationwide: from R1 649.00

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To mark the upcoming 2014 end-ofyear season, Dom Pérignon has evoked anew the power of creation at the heart of its universe – but this time, with a fashionable flourish. On the eve of New York Fashion Week, Dom Pérignon champagne announced its promising new collaboration with world-renowned designer Iris van Herpen: Dom Pérignon Metamorphosis by Iris van Herpen.

This new collaboration combines Iris van Herpen’s forward-thinking aesthetic with the Dom Pérignon champagne’s playful expression, limitless innovation and taste for reinvention. She won the prestigious ANDAM fashion award.

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Dom Pérignon Metamorphosis

by Iris van Herpen

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A

Ayala Rosé Majeur NV (non vintage)

Founded in 1860 and located in Aÿ, in the very heart of Champagne, Ayala has remained like a small jewel. Its relatively limited production and the passion of the team are key factors for outstanding quality. Ayala specializes in zero or low dosage Champagnes. Only the very best wines can be presented without any sugar – proof of the quality of Ayala.

A very unique style of Champagne with a high proportion of Chardonnay (50%) for freshness and finesse, 40% Pinot Noir (including 9% red wine) and 10% Pinot Meunier, the Ayala Rosé Majeur is aged for an average of 3 years on the lees and has a very low dosage of 7 g/l. Pale with a delicate pink hue, lovely aromas of strawberries and peaches, flavours of red gooseberries and raspberries with a lengthy and voluptuous finish, it is feminine, generous and elegant. This is a beautiful Champagne to enjoy on its own, however, Ayala Rosé Majeur will be the perfect companion for salmon fillet cooked rare, roast lamb or a red berry tart.

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Ayala Rosé Majeur NV retails nationally for approximately R670.

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Bollinger Rosé NV (non vintage)

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Veuve Clicquot Mailbox Giving the vintage American mailbox a “So Clicquot” twist, this lightweight metal box – in Veuve Clicquot yellow, of course – comes complete with a rounded barrel top, an open-and-shut flap door, and a moveable little red flag, to announce that its contents have arrived!

The mailbox also includes a window frame for easy personalization (so it’s also a perfect present), and the Veuve Clicquot name and anchor are rendered in raised black lettering. It is perfectly built to accommodate one 750ml bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label.

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Since its creation in 1829, the House of Bollinger has relayed its creation of a unique style of Champagne from one generation to the next, compelling admiration from the greatest critics. Bollinger represents an exacting but delicate blend of terroir, traditional values and talent, the Champagnes asserting themselves as exceptional wines characterized by their richness, vinosity, great structure and long finish.

Bollinger Rosé, a blend of 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay and 14% Pinot Meunier, is cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation. It is very appealing to the eye with lovely bronze tones combined with the intense depth of a great red wine, and bubbles as fine as velvet. The nose displays the nobility of red berries: hints of red currant, cherry and wild strawberry with a spicy touch, leading to an abundance of wild berry flavours on the palate which shows a subtle combination of structure, length and vivacity, with a tannic finish due to the adjunction of 5-6% red wine.

Bollinger Rosé can be served for afternoon tea, Bollinger-style. It is also perfect for a picnic on a summer afternoon, as a pre-dinner drink and as an accompaniment to crayfish, salmon, Japanese cuisine and not-so-spicy Asian cuisine, and is delicious served with raspberries or a strawberry tart.

Bollinger Rosé can be served for afternoon tea, Bollinger-style. It is also perfect for a picnic on a summer afternoon, as a predinner drink and as an accompaniment to crayfish, salmon, Japanese cuisine and not-so-spicy Asian cuisine

Available from leading liquor merchants nationwide from: from R529.00

Bollinger Rosé retails nationally for approximately R1 060.

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CHAMPAGNE

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Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque 2006 Since its foundation in 1811, PerrierJouët Champagne has maintained a creative spirit and quest for perfection.

The Champagne house founded by Pierre-Nicolas Perrier and his wife Adèle Jouët has become synonymous with crafted elegant, floral wines of rare finesse with a Chardonnay hallmark.

It was in 1902, that the house of PerrierJouët commissioned Émile Gallé a leader in the art nouveau movement to design a new bottle, the Belle Époque range which were hand painted decorated with her elegant Japanese anemones.

With this airy arabesque dotted with Japanese anemones, echoing Emile Gallé's design, Makoto Azuma has fashioned a highly delicate composition, homage to the colourful world of PerrierJouët.

An enchantingly perfect expression of the Perrier-Jouët style: floral, sleek and diamond-cut.

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Appearance A beautiful pale yellow, clear with hints of green and a lively mousse.

Available at distinguished liquor merchants for R1 700.00

Appearance A deep colour with golden-yellow and amber glints, it has an abundance of lively bubbles.

Nose The nose reveals aromas of peach and pear jam, nougat and fruit jelly with fragrances of honey and gingerbread, developing into notes of dried fruit.

Palate Very round, smooth and sweet with hints of honey candy, G.H.MUMM DemiSec combines this sweetness with a distinctive freshness in the finish. After cellar-aging for several years its notes of dry fruit become more definite.

Available at leading liquor outlets for R510.00

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Palate The attack is lively, with a marked minerality that feels both elegant yet rounded. Sensual and silky, harmonious and beautifully balanced, the flavours mingle to leave a long, fine finish.

The product of a centuries old Champagne making tradition, Demi-Sec reflected the tastes of 19th century consumers who enjoyed very sweet wine, sometimes exceeding 150 grams of sugar per litre.

Updated for today’s tastes, G.H.MUMM Demi-Sec is the House’s gourmet signature champagne: a Cuvée that perpetuates the fine tradition of dessert champagnes.

This Cuvée is crafted predominantly from Pinot Meunier (60%), a highly aromatic grape variety that is valued for its intense fruitiness. It is completed with a subtle blend of Pinot Noir (35%) and Chardonnay (10%) as well as reserve wines to provide depth. These are mainly Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, selected from amongst the most mature reserve wines for their honeyed flavours. It is then transformed by 15 months of cellar aging into a rich, subtle and elegant champagne that is sought after for its fruitiness, roundness and generosity. A high dosage of 40 grams per litre reveals the full flavour of ripe fruit and sugar.

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Nose Aromas of white fruits - lemon, white peach, pear and grapefruit - give way to hints of pineapple and fresh spring flowers. This is followed by richer aromas of nuts, marzipan and sweet spice.

Delicate, yet generous.

G.H.MUMM Demi-Sec

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Powerful and distinguished, Palmes d’Or Brut Vintage encompasses the elegance and finesse of Chardonnay combined with the full body of Pinot Noir.

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Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’or Brut Vintage 2004 The Champagne House flagship, the Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d'Or Brut Vintage is one of the most recognised bottles of wine in the world with its distinctive dimples reminiscent of black pearls. Powerful and distinguished, Palmes d’Or Brut Vintage encompasses the elegance and finesse of Chardonnay combined with the full body of Pinot Noir. Always a vintage, only made in exceptional years, the Palmes d'Or Champagne Brut is aged for a minimum of nine years in the cellar.

Appearance Bright and perfectly clear, revealing a wonderful shade of tarnished gold.

Lovely graceful gossamer bubbles swirl in the glass forming a perfectly balanced string of pearls.

Bouquet A seductive wave of delicate cinnamon loaf spices and vanilla cream aromas introduce the bouquet. Aromas of pine cones and sandalwood come and go.

Peony notes blossom and flourish, gradually replaced by preserved lemon rind. Roasted notes add a pleasing touch to the overall effect.

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Palate Mature, intense and generous, this Champagne reveals intricate citrus flavours, honey and a hint of grapefruit with lifted notes of almond paste and marzipan. Long and lingering showing beautiful balance, it has attractive freshness on the finish and appealing apple acidity. All in all, it is an exquisite Champagne.

The Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or 2004 is available at fine wine retailers at approximately R1600 (750ml bottle).

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Gosset Grand Rosé NV (non vintage) Delicately structured for exemplary length, the finish is delicate and refined, with subtle gingerbread aromas.

An ideal accompaniment to foie gras, line fish garnished with rich spices, and as well as small game, including pheasant, rabbit and venison. Also enjoy with desserts made with berries and other fresh fruits, especially ripe, juicy fresh strawberries.

Gosset Grand Rosé NV retails nationally for approximately R878

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Founded in Aÿ in 1584 by Pierre Gosset, Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne and one of the most prestigious. Gosset’s inimitable style – powerful and full-bodied, of unrivalled richness and staying power – has changed very little over the centuries.

A blend of 58% Chardonnay; 35% Pinot Noir plus 7% red wine (Pinot Noir), the wine spends an average of 4 years resting on the lees prior to release. A beautifully accessible Champagne when young, but cellaring will even intensify its beauty.

It has a bright, vibrant salmonpink hue, over ruby-red reflections, with generous, persistent bubbles. The nose displays ripe summer fruit aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries and redcurrants mingling with nuances of sweet spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg. On pouring, a bouquet of freshbaked brioche and fresh cream emerges, followed by hints of wild roasted almonds and mandarin peel. Opulent, concentrated, and infinitely silky, this Champagne’s elegant perfume and velvet bubbles caress the palate. It is generous, ripe and full-bodied in the mouth and bursting with rich, red fruit flavours.

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the headline

whiskies of 2014 PATRICK LECLEZIO TOASTS THE

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STANDOUTS OF A QUALITY YEAR

hisky, amongst the many services it renders, often provides us with insight into the rampant consumerism of modern society – a view from which I take delight and despair in equal measure.

This is a space in which new products are constantly clamouring for our attention, and whilst it’s exciting to discover and explore new things, there’s also a numbing futility to be repeatedly chasing after the shiny new toy.

Here in South Africa we’re both unlucky to be isolated, and fortunate to be insulated, from the world’s whisky mainstream. Swings and roundabouts. We can’t get our hands on the hottest style in the market (read rye whiskey), but then again we’re shielded from a lot of the noise.

I’ve started to look at the bright side. This enforced moderation gives us the opportunity for more considered appreciation. The last twelve months in particular have been relatively quiet but they’ve served up the four whiskies featured below - each different and distinctive, each exceedingly enjoyable, each memorable, and each deserving of and able to, be given meaningful attention.

Less is sometimes more. May the dram be with you.

Black Bottle Black Bottle, the brand, is not new. It’s been around for a while – as evidenced by the large “Estd 1879” embossed on the bottle. I’m not going to go into its history, save to say that it has one and that it’s colourful, in obligatory whisky fashion.

However, Black Bottle, the product, the one you’ll now find on the shelves of your PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

local bottle store, is indeed new.

There’s been an overhaul to the packaging and the liquid, both inspired. The bottle has returned to its roots – back in black glass for the first time since circa 1914.

It was unveiled before us in a 1930’s era speakeasy (a.k.a. the basement of the Cape Town Club) - the launch taking the form of a striking piece of experiential theatre, conceived and coordinated by 3 Blind Mice’s Patrick Craig, with whom Black Bottle is also teaming on his legendary music events. These though - the robe, the showmanship - were distractions which pale in comparison to the monumental transformation undergone by whisky itself.

Previously thin with a somewhat grating smoky dominance, it is now a rich and complex blend. Most interesting, whilst the phenolic content is unchanged, the smoke is less apparent – being superbly counterbalanced by flavours of fennel, fruit and spice. This is a complete blended Scotch whisky that ticks all the boxes.

Superb value priced in the mid R200’s

Glenfiddich 26YO I’ve never tasted a Glenfiddich that’s disappointed me, and I don’t ever expect it I will. It’s the best-selling single malt in the world for good reason. The 12YO, my faithful long-haul flight companion (thanks Emirates), and the 15YO Solera,

my anytime-anyplace companion, are personal favourites. In the malt whisky world Glenfiddich is as reliable as it gets.

It was presented to us by Global Brand Ambassador Ian Millar during a fabulous launch function at the Pot Luck Club. Interestingly the whisky is exclusively matured in ex-bourbon casks. The result is a soft, sweet liquid with pleasing depth and hints of spice and sherbet.

The litmus test of a great whisky though is its ability to make a connection with people. And if I’d had any doubts about Glenfiddich (which I hadn’t) they would have been quickly dispelled when the whole restaurant accompanied Ian, unreservedly, in full voice, in a rendition of the Glenfiddich theme song - to the tune of “Volare”. Ignition baby! I can’t definitively say that it’s “better than all the rest” as the lyrics suggested, but it’s good, damn good.

Glenlivet Guardians Chapter: Exotic I’ve made no bones about the fact that I’m suspicious of multi-vintage No Age Statement (NAS) whiskies. The concept – as it’s currently being applied – is an industry swindle. I’ve also not been shy to shower praise on good NAS whiskies. This is one of those. It rates a mention not only because of its quality, but also because it’s a fascinating approach to whisky making.

The brand reached out to its fans – via their Glenlivet Guardians program and at special events – and effectively invited them to participate in the blending process.

I’d always thought that “ask the audience”

was the best lifeline. This whisky proves it. The nose is spectacular, one of the best in recent memory, redolent of chocolate, cinnamon, zesty fruit, and moist cake.

There are flashes of immaturity in the body, but not enough to detract from its thick juiciness. Well executed, and great value at approximately R1200. It’s a limited edition so don’t procrastinate.

Single pot stills

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Ok, so I misled you slightly when I alluded to four whiskies earlier. My fourth isn’t a whisky but a range of whiskeys.

Much awaited, much anticipated, the Irish Distillers single pot stills headed by Redbreast, were finally made officially available in the country earlier in the year.

These whiskeys come with a wellmerited reputation – a cult status. I’ve enthusiastically sloshed and swigged each of the range recently, abandoning myself to the pure pleasure of it on these occasions. When the opportunity came through for more reflective consumption I focused on the progenitors, the groundbreakers responsible for resuscitating this fine, uniquely Irish style of whiskey – these being Green Spot, Redbreast 12YO, and Redbreast 15YO. Apple flavours, progressing from ripe Granny Smiths in Green, to baked and then caramelised in the two Redbreasts, swim on a filmy, oily texture, amidst fainter appearances of cut grass, sultanas and apricot.

It’s insane that the style almost died out – a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions narrowly averted. If you’re limiting yourself to one new whisky during this festive season look no further than the green hills of Ireland.

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Martinis I WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF, MEN FROM THE BOYS. PATRICK LECLEZIO STEPS UP TO

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THE MAJOR LEAGUES

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t’s difficult to take cocktails seriously. They’re frivolous and insubstantial, and they’ve always struck me as a bit juvenile – equivalent to chocolate milk for children who won’t have it straight.

Ok, I’m being harsh. Cocktails have their time and place – and, absolutely, there’s something orchestral, magical even, about marrying disparate ingredients into a harmonic and delicious whole. I’m painting all cocktails with the same brush and that’s just grossly unjust.

There are some cocktails, few to be sure, but some nonetheless, that wear their spirituous authority like they were born to it, that lack for nothing in a measure of their gravitas, and that in a contest of class, concede to no other drink. First amongst these is the Martini.

The origins and originator of the Martini are a bit uncertain. The strongest claimant is probably the brand of the same name (dating to 1863), the Italian vermouth producers now forming part of the BacardiMartini group. The drink’s greatest proponent though, its unparalleled ambassador, is utterly without doubt Bond, James Bond. The source of Bond’s proclivities seems to have been the hard-drinking culture, as observed by Ian Fleming, which pervaded in MI6 in the period during and then after World War II:

floating through the war on a river of booze was how one operative described it…or with words to that effect.

The notorious double agent Kim Philby in particular was known to drink martinis in copious volume, and to serve them from a jug, as was the fashion in those days. Bond himself then was styled as an impressive drinker in the secret intelligence service mould – strong drinks, wide repertoire, steady legs, and cool demeanour – and one for whom the martini played an integral role.

Whilst I’m a great 007 admirer, and whilst I acknowledge his immense contribution to the Martini and its status, I hesitate to endorse his Martini preparation practices. Vodka?

Really? It doesn’t make sense. Bond is nothing if not discriminating. So why would a man of such impeccable taste favour vodka over the vastly more interesting alternative - gin? In actual fact book Bond drinks both vodka and gin martinis, almost equally, whilst movie Bond, having clearly been forced to sacrifice his good sense to big product placement budgets, favours vodka.

Bond’s technique is almost as questionable as his ingredients.

“Shaken, not stirred” is arguably the dominant drinks related phrase in our collective consciousness. Unfortunately it’s also ill advised. There are those who claim that shaking “bruises” the gin

• Three tots Bombay Sapphire Gin • A dash of dry French vermouth to coat the inside of the martini glass • Swirl or stir the gin over ice in a cocktail shaker • Strain into the martini glass • A green olive (or two) on the end of a toothpick and effortlessly, all-encompassingly accomplished. It is the invitation to the ball, the inner circle, the reward on arriving. If you are what you drink, then I can’t think of much that’s more complimentary than a Martini.

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which to experiment and enjoy. Our ability to do the same with vermouth is unfortunately more restricted, at least here in South Africa. There are no dry French vermouths or premium dry vermouths available. In the midst of this Martini drinker’s nightmare however, as you glimpse fleeting mirages of Noilly bottles during despairing moments, hang onto this little bit of hope. I recently learnt that Swartland winemaker Adi Badenhorst is reviving the old Caperitif brand, and will be producing a dry vermouth under its label sometime in 2015.

Book Bond, for whom I now have more respect than movie Bond, epitomises what the Martini is all about. It is utterly ruthless, unflappable, cultivatedly amusing,

The Prestige Magazine Martini

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(and one would think the vermouth as well), but this has been disputed. And admittedly it does sound a little precious.

It’s beyond argument however that shaking introduces aeration and additional ice-melt, and detracts in the presentation.

So the alternative, seemingly, as Somerset Maugham was known to recommend, is that "a martini should always be stirred, not shaken, so that the molecules lie sensuously on top of one another”. This though would deprive us of the theatrical centrepiece of the Martini experience. Allow me to then to propose a remedy – neither shaken nor stirred, but swirled: languidly sophisticated, and functionally sound. Done.

We’ve touched on the ingredients, but without really getting into the meat of it. The central requirements for a classic martini are gin, dry vermouth, and a garnish of either lemon peel (a twist) or olives, of which the most important, the bulk of what you’ll be ingesting, is the gin.

I tend to favour a soft gin for a Martini. It’s strong in alcohol, like I said – serious, so you don’t want the flavour to be overpowering. I personally also want the vermouth get a shout – in contrast to Noel Coward who famously said that “a perfect martini should be made by filling a glass with gin, then waving it in the general direction of Italy”.

Something like Bombay Sapphire is ideal – velvety soft and smooth, and wellbalanced with plump juniper and a slight citric edge. But this is a subjective choice and it may, and indeed should, change from person to person and mood to mood.

We’re lucky to be living in a ginloving era, as a result, the marketplace is replete with many fine exponents with

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darling

buds THE COMBINATION OF

EXCEPTIONAL WINE, MASTERFUL ARCHITECTURE, SUSTAINABILITY

AND A FRANCO/SOUTH AFRICAN LEGACY, MAKE FOR AN INTRIGUING STORY. CHRIS BUCHANAN SPENT AN AFTERNOON AT GLENELLY ESTATE AND GOT VERY CLOSE

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TO A SALVADOR DALI

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he name May de Lencquesaing is well known in two of the world’s most reputable wine producing regions, Bordeaux and Stellenbosch. In 1978 she took over the Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux which had been in her family since 1925. Her vision for the 300 year-old Chateau saw a modernising programme introduced over 30 years of personal management of the estate.

Madame de Lencquesaing’s passion as an ambassador for Bordeaux style wines and quest for new markets brought her to South Africa in 1988 where she saw the potential for blended wine in a sanctions starved market of single varietals. Her eye turned to the Ida Valley in Stellenbosh and a fruit farm on a terroir as old as the Chateau she owned in France, and she bought Glenelly in 2003. It’s on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg mountain and has east and west aspects that are perfect for different varietals needed for blending.

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Glenelly’s innovation lies in the cellar – a Modernist structure that settles into the hillside, providing ideal conditions for an energy efficient, gravity flow winery

The fruit trees were removed and extensive soil analysis saw the planting on half of the property of Cabernet Sauvignon 41.7%, Syrah 19.2%, Merlot 13.3%, Petit Verdot 8.3%, Cabernet Franc 8.3% and Chardonnay 9.2%. Planning also began on a production facility and cellar while wine was made with grapes from surrounding properties.

Luke O’Cuinneagain arrived as winemaker from working experience locally, Rustenburg and abroad, Chateau Angelus, and he and Madame de Lencquesaing shared the vision immediately.

Luke says the soils on these slopes are particularly old, made up of decomposed granitic quartz on top of lower levels of clay. Clay, he adds, is important on the eastern slopes because Merlot likes to PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

get its feet wet and the clay holds the moisture. The new vines also mean no viruses, minimising infection in the fruit and allowing an earlier harvest.

Glenelly’s innovation lies in the cellar – a Modernist structure that settles into the hillside, providing ideal conditions for an energy efficient, gravity flow winery.

“Winemakers spend a lot of time in dark places” says Luke so natural light was a priority in the winery.

An ambitious concrete structure houses four levels of production under South Africa’s largest single span concrete roof. A hydrothermal system keeps the massive spaces at ideal cool temperatures for wine production despite the glass façade that opens it up to natural light.

“The grapes go in at the top and the bottles

come out at the bottom”, says Luke and that makes for very little pumping and a 70% energy saving.

The tasting room is also housed in the building, as are the glass museum and the vintage library. Madame is an avid glass collector, recognising the relationship between glass and wine, and pieces dating back to early Roman times sit beside modern works, including Salvador Dali’s Cross Leibniz.

Luke believes wines are judged by their vintages and a space within the complex is set aside to store Glenelly’s vintage wines in controlled conditions. You won’t get to see this on a day’s tasting because it’s a piece of history in the making and the less interference these wines experience the better.

“Holding vintage wine equals cost and space”, but that seems to be the ethos of Glenelly – to ensure that wine making remains an art form, allowing the wine to express itself under the many circumstances that influence it.

Lady May 2011

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot

Grand Vin de Glenelly Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009

Glass Collection Chardonnay 2013 (Unwooded)

The Grand Vin Chardonnay displays a wonderful bright crisp colour. The nose displays vibrant lemon and lime zest, with hints of apple, pear drop, lychee and rose which overlays the minerality. The palate is lush, the creamy texture is underpinned with beautiful mineral notes and hints of toasted almond and vanilla.

The finish is fresh with great minerality and has a nervous energy about it.

The Glass Collection Chardonnay has a bright and brilliant colour with a slight green hue. The wine has complex aromas of citrus, lime zest, marmalade and melon. On the palate there is a beautiful round comforting texture with wonderful length and intense fruit complexity and a mineral oyster shell finish.

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Grand Vin de Glenelly is the signature red blend of the estate. The wine has a deep, dark and rich colour.

The wine offers an elegant complex bouquet developing aromas of cassis and spicy plums, cedar and blond tobacco with notes of toast in the background. The palate has a great intensity and concentration with fantastic freshness and fine, elegant, but well-structured tannins, which lead to a long luscious finish.

Grand Vin de Glenelly Chardonnay 2013

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Lady May is Glenelly’s Flagship Estate wine.

Elegant and complex, the wine develops flavours of cassis, blackcurrant, dark cherry, touch of graphite and delicate spicy plum. Fresh and vibrant, the evolution of the wine introduces flavours specific to Glenelly’s terroir.

Deeply coloured and perfectly balanced, the wine displays an exquisite structure with velvety tannins and a very good aging capability. Can age during 12 to 18 years.

42% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot

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The Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon develops a very complex nose with flavours of Cassis, blackcurrant, cherry, a touch of spices and chocolate. The wine has a good tannin structure, perfect balance and length, with layers of flavours which have followed through from the nose to the palate.

Glass Collection Syrah 2011

Glass Collection Merlot 2012

The Glass Collection Syrah has a wonderful dark and rich colour with deep purple undertones, yet there is still brilliance to the wine. The aromatics of the wine are intense with floral tones such as Yasmin and Violet coming through with white pepper spice, spicy plum and dark berry core. The palate is well balanced and textured with soft round tannins and a pure fruit core shining through.

The Glass Collection Merlot is a deep rich coloured wine. It displays intense dark fruit aromas and spicy plums with touches of spearmint on the edge. This Merlot shows tremendous concentration, richness and generous fruit on the palate with fine but well structured and balanced tannins to embrace it all.

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Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

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