Prestige magazine October 2014

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PRESTIGE MAGAZINE |

@PRESTIGEMAG_SA

78

FA S H I O N | DESIGN | J EW E L L E RY |

your life

T R AV E L |

in luxury

BU S I N E S S | P RO PE RT Y

00077

HOME GROWN LUXURY FASHION • TOP PROPERTY INVESTMENTS • BECOME A GLOBAL CITIZEN • FLAWLESS DIAMONDS • SAILING IN LUXURY • AN ISLAND TO YOURSELF

9 771996 708003 R49.00

ISSUE 78

AFRICA’S PREMIER LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

www.lg.com/za

/LG South Africa

@LGSouthAfrica

B O U T I Q U E

G U E S T H O U S E

In the buzzing metropolis of Johannesurg lies a unique guesthouse, One on Colenso, positioned in the tranquil suburb of Paulshof, Sandton. This Boutique Guesthouse, situated just off Witkoppen, is only minutes away from the office parks of Woodmead, Sunninghill, Fourways and Bryanston.

The lavish design captures the essence that makes Baroque Décor so enchanting. Each suite exudes warmth brought alive by vibrant colours. All rooms have private entrances which lead off onto the grandiouse verandah overlooking the gazebo, pool and koi pond which makes for a restful atmosphere.

Special occasions are all about memorable experiences. One On Colenso offers a beautiful intimate setting for all your celebrations for up to 200 people. Exclusivity allows you to make use of the entire property for the day, which includes the kitchen, lounge, dining room, verandah, gazebo and gardens. Wedding vows are often done in the gazebo.

One On Colenso offers amenities for exclusive workshops, training, executive planning sessions and private meeting facilities for corporates.

A small private gym is available to exercise those cares away.

1 Colenso Road, cnr Colenso & Stonehaven Roads Paulshof, Sandton, 2191 Cell: 079 524 8163 / 82 550 1500 • Tel: 011 484 2833 • email: info@neoafrica.com www.oneoncolenso.co.za

PRESTIGE

CONTENTS

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56.

62.

34.

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48.

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PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

in this

issue UPFRONT Ed’s letter – page 6 Lifestyle – The latest luxury products pages 8 – 17

INSIDE

Bentley, doing it their way – Vivien Natasen attends the world debut of the Bentley Continental V8s in California – page 18

38.

Beating the Lows – When the economy looks like its imploding and the cycle turns against you, Dr John Demartini says keep your perspective – page 26

52.

The Global Citizen – Many UHNWIs are looking to move their families to countries that offer alternative lifestyles and Arton Capital is helping facilitate this trend – page 30

30.

Living Smart – Design and sustainability are the hallmarks of Stand 47 at Monaghan Farm organic eco estate outside Johannesburg – page 34 Hot Property – Cape Town and Mauritius are providing attractive locations for the luxury property investor at reasonable prices and with great views to boot – page 38 Life at the Top – Penthouse living on three levels in the heart of the Sandton CBD – page 44 In Private – The Privé Loyalty Club, offered by D’Oré in Sandton City offers personalised and bespoke luxury fashion to the discerning client – page 48

Getting away from it all

Island Style – Life on Azura’s Quilalea Island is one not governed by time but by the ebb and flow of the tide, and the warmth of its people – page 56

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10.

All the Tea – Since the 80’s China’s economic reform has hardly skipped a beat, and its sophisticated, pacey cities are boldly showing it all off – page 62

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Follow the Sun – Sun Goddess is fashion sculpted from the African continent and made with a piece of Africa at its heart – page 52

PRESTIGE

CONTENTS

Dashing Disciple – Cape Town’s 12 Apostles Hotel and Spa has a piece of the world’s most beautiful coastlines all to itself and the luxury is unprecedented – page 70

70.

Wild, Untamed Beauty – In Malawi’s Liwonde National Park is the Mvuu Lodge where the surrounding water gives life to the birds and wildlife on offer – page 74

90.

Food and Wine

Marvelous Meat – The winner of the Wolftrap Steakhouse Championships 2014 as selected by the judges of Masterchef SA – page 78 Out and About with Whisky – Patrick Leclezio visits Speyside for a whisky tour where 49 single malt distilleries reside and comes to terms with a 50 year old – page 82 The Rituals of Drinking – Hip flasks with a favourite tipple at rugby matches, Martinis shaken or stirred, a cigar with your brandy – page 84

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Midnight Special – Shepard Fairey has designed the bottle on Hennessey’s new Very Special Limited Edition Cognac – page 85 The Truth about Terroir – The wines from Avondale are a true expression of ‘terroir’, thanks to Johnathan Grieve’s belief in the magic of biodynamic farming practices with a little scientific evidence thrown in for good measure – page 86 Blending In – Christiaan Groenewald has taken a little known cultivar and turned it into a star, and it won him the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year – page 90

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Getting Around

Are we there yet? – Is it a sports car or an SUV? Well, it’s both and the Porsche Macan sets the test for the ultimate combination – page 96

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Old Steel, New Feel – The Heritage Works at Aston Martin brings the icons back to life with meticulous craftsmanship and a price tag to match – page 100

Final Say

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Last word from Prestige publisher Vivien Natasen – 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

PRESTIGE

UPFRONT

ed's

letter going home

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nteresting that the Wealth Report 2014 by Knight Frank puts the investment in property

by UHNWIs as 24% of their overall investment portfolios on average and that residential property is the biggest item of discretionary spending with their primary and secondary homes making up 30% of their wealth.

More interesting perhaps is that Africa, behind only Asia, will see the highest growth in UHNWIs, centamillionaires and billionaires in the next ten years. But another trend is on the rise, that of UHNWIs looking to relocate from their countries of origin to alternative residencies or nationalities. And they’re coming out of the very regions that show the highest growth over the ten years – Asia, Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Relocation and property go hand in hand because you need a primary residence and your money spent in different cities will buy a whole lot more or less, depending on where you’re coming from. A million US dollars will buy you 15m2 of luxury property in Monaco, 25m2 in London, 41m2 in Sydney and 215m2 in Cape Town and, while you may be better off from an international mobility standing being a resident of Monaco, the catch is that your primary residence will be a lot smaller.

The secondary residence market happens for different reasons revolving around leisure and investment. Comments from the Wealth Report’s panellists range from London, which has a good combination of the two, to Ibiza which is leisure only, and Dubai which is business oriented. This is perhaps where locations within Africa could capitalise.

The attraction of Cape Town as a comparatively inexpensive residential property location certainly cannot be overlooked, as might be a destination like Mauritius which also offers a residency investment scheme. That’s two African destinations giving you a good combination of leisure and investment.

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The perception exists that the big money properties being sold in Camps Bay, Clifton, Bantry Bay and Bishopscourt are being snapped up by foreign buyers with the best rand conversion on their dollar in seven years.

The truth is that it’s South Africans buying up these properties as Samuel Seeff will testify.

He told us at the occasion of their 50th anniversary in the property game, that there’s an increase in activity in the R20m+ category and that local UHNWIs are the majority of buyers.

Seeff Property record prices in recent years include the One&Only Penthouse for R110m and a luxury apartment in Bantry Bay for R42.5m.

This issue of Prestige looks at luxury property in Cape Town, Mauritius, the Sandton CBD and JHB North, as well as the question of whether the South African environment is good enough for you to live, work, play and educate your children, or whether there’s a country with a better quality of life and perhaps a better investment environment that would attract your well earned money.

There’s also good, home grown African fashion, winemakers who are stirring the pot in the fields of organic farming and blending with a difference, new cars from Porsche and Bentley, and a trip to a Mozambique island where time stands still and you feel as though you have it all to yourself.

Remember, luxury is as much about your surroundings and your inner being as it is about what you wear on your wrist or what car you drive. Make sure your experience of luxury is one of environmental and social coginsance because the vast amount of money represented by the producers and consumers of luxury goods and services, stands a better stead of making the vital difference.

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, Gwynne Conlyn, Helen Grange, Stuart Johnstone , Patrick Leclezio, Gillian McLaren, Denise Mhlanga PRINTING Paarl Media SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, email kari@prestigemag.co.za 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

I RECEIVED A CALL RECENTLY ASKING IF WE AT PRESTIGE HAD

CONSIDERED USING AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) TECHNOLOGY

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WITH OUR DIGITAL OFFERING.

n case you’re wondering, AR uses rich media (video, audio, animation) which is activated via your cellphone/ tablet camera or GPS system.

An example is the Stella Artois App which opens up a Stella dialogue box showing the bars or restaurants that sell the beer when you point your camera down a street or at a restaurant complex.

A possible use for Prestige would be publishing a logo on a motoring page and, when the reader points their device camera at the logo, it starts a video on

solutions

diaries

your device of the car in action or a 3D perspective of the car. AR is really a posh version of the QR codes you scan to join BBM groups or enter competitions.

Consumption of content comes on many platforms and in many guises, and if you want to get marketers or content providers like ourselves interested, make the content interactive. AR is a step in that direction but truly interactive means exactly what it says, interactive between the user and the content provider.

It’s important that we establish a growth path for sophisticated content, starting at a base from which we grow

– the “can’t walk before you crawl” philosophy. Our limited bandwidth still comes at a premium in South Africa which is likely to dull the user experience with complex rich media.

The base from which Prestige digital is launching, is one of rich multimedia and the ability for you to interact with our content by sharing it, commenting on it and appreciating it. The AR will come but we’ll wait until the experience is everything you expect from Prestige – In the Lap of Luxury.

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

LIFESTYLE

20 000

Leagues ROLEX CELEBRATES ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH JAMES CAMERON’S HISTORIC 10 908 METRE DIVE BY LAUNCHING A NEW VERSION OF THE ROLEX DEEPSEA.

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n the occasion of the release of National Geographic’s DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D film about the expedition to the deepest reaches of the ocean by explorer and filmmaker James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar), Rolex has introduced a new version of its Rolex Deepsea. This ultimate divers’ watch, resistant to extreme pressure, is equipped with a “D-blue” dial representing the colours of the deep.

The deep blue to pitch-black gradient dial is reminiscent of the ocean’s twilight zone where the last trickle of light from the surface disappears into the abyss, echoing James Cameron’s DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition. As a tribute to the partnership between Rolex and Cameron, the “DEEPSEA” marking on the new dial adopts the colour of the explorer’s green submersible as it is perceived underwater.

The new Rolex Deepsea was introduced in August in New York, during the US premiere of the documentary film in the splendid Hall of Ocean Life at the American Museum of Natural History, in the presence of James Cameron and many other personalities from the worlds of underwater exploration and cinema.

DEEPSEA CHALLENGE 3D traces Cameron’s historic dive into the Mariana Trench with the support of Rolex and National Geographic.

Specifications Model case Oyster, 44 mm, steel Oyster architecture – Monobloc middle PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

case, screw-down case back and winding crown. Rolex Ringlock System case architecture with Helium escape valve Diameter – 44 mm Material – 904L steel, case back in grade 5 titanium Bezel – Unidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated, scratch-resistant Cerachrom insert in ceramic, numerals and graduations coated in platinum Winding crown – Screw-down, Triplock triple waterproofness system Crystal – Domed, 5 mm-thick scratchresistant sapphire Water-resistance – Waterproof to 3,900 metres / 12,800 feet, helium escape valve Movement Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding Calibre – 3135, Manufacture Rolex Functions – Centre hour, minute and seconds hands. Instantaneous date with rapid setting. Stop-seconds for precise time setting Precision – Officially certified Swiss chronometer (COSC) Oscillator – Paramagnetic blue Parachrom hairspring Winding – Bidirectional self-winding via Perpetual rotor Bracelet Oyster, flat three-piece links Bracelet material – 904L steel Clasp – Folding Oysterlock safety clasp with Rolex Glidelock extension system.

Fliplock extension link Dial D-blue Details – Highly legible Chromalight display with long-lasting blue luminescence

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Rolex watches are available from authorised dealers throughout South Africa.

Price available on request Visit www.rolex.com for further information

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LIFESTYLE

token of

Extreme

EXTREMELY PIAGET IS A COLLECTION THAT FOCUSSES ON COLOUR AND THE SPARKLE OF DIAMONDS. AS SUMMER APPROACHES, WE THOUGHT A BIT OF COLOUR WAS NEEDED TO SET THE TONE.

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T Cuff watch in 18K white gold snow-set with 1,699 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 20.50 ct). Natural blue opal dial.

Piaget 56P quartz movement.

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he splash of colour comes from the precious stones and the hard stones too: natural turquoises, opals, heart of ruby, jade, onyx and lapis lazuli.

Necklace in 18K white gold set with 46 turquoise beads (approx. 301 ct), 48 chrysoprase beads (approx. 42 ct), 1 emeraldcut cabochon (approx.

23.14 ct), 8 pear-shaped chrysoprases (approx.

15.23 ct), 8 pear-shaped turquoises (approx. 7.43 ct) and 388 brilliantcut diamonds (approx. 5.60 ct).

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Enquiries: RLG Africa +27 11 317 2600 PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

PRESTIGE

LIFESTYLE

Forever 12

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orevermark was born in 2008 as a diamond brand from De Beers, inscribed with a promise - a promise that goes beyond the traditional 4Cs to include rigid quality and integrity standards. With a heritage that can be traced back to its origin in Kimberley, South Africa more than 125 years ago, De Beers identified a need in today’s market for a unique diamond and wanted to offer consumers new standards.

Subsequently the slogan evolved - “The Diamond. The Promise”, emphasising the unique promise inscribed on Forevermark diamonds and the associated value, as each diamond meets strict standards of beauty, rarity and responsible sourcing.

With Forevermark, De Beers continues to look after the “diamond dream” and a very high bridal demand by establishing diamonds, the ultimate jewels, as a branded product and Forevermark representing beauty and integrity.

PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

THE FOREVERMARK INSCRIPTION – PROOF OF THE PROMISE

Using highly advanced, proprietary technology, each Forevermark diamond is inscribed with an icon and individual number as proof of the promise that it has met Forevermark’s standards of beauty, rarity and responsible sourcing.

FOREVERMARK COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBLE SOURCING The journey of a Forevermark diamond begins in countries such as South Africa, Botswana and Namibia where rough diamonds are sourced in partnership with the local communities. Less than one per cent of the world’s diamonds are eligible to become a Forevermark diamond and they are carefully selected from mines committed to the highest standards.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, DIAMONDS HAVE BEEN USED AS A SYMBOL TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS OF AFFECTION AND COMMITMENT AND MOST OF ALL, LOVE. DE BEERS, THE WORLD'S LEADING DIAMOND COMPANY FOUNDED IN 1888, SPREAD THE SLOGAN “A DIAMOND IS FOREVER” WORLDWIDE.

FOREVERMARK IS A DIAMOND WITH A CONSCIENCE In addition, Forevermark diamonds have a conscience – they need to benefit the people and the communities from which they originate and to be a powerful source of development.

Projects such as the building of orphanages, schools and funding towards the provision of skills and education are commonplace in areas where Forevermark diamonds are mined.

Just as a Forevermark diamond can only come from an approved mine, it can only be cut and polished by an approved Forevermark “Diamantaire.”

Forevermark diamonds, entitled “La Dolce Vita” Collection. Recently, “La Dolce Vita” by Caratco was used in an internal film by De Beers, which was filmed in South Africa and starred South African actress, Tanya Van Graan. A retail scene, also part of the De Beers film, was shot on location at Jewel Africa in Cape Town.

Jewel Africa is Caratco’s retail brand, and their stores in Cape Town and Johannesburg are flagship Forevermark showrooms.

FOREVERMARK ON THE RED CARPET

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For more details, visit www.caratco.co.za www.jewelafrica.com

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A magnificent Forevermark diamond Sautoir designed by the late L’Wren Scott was worn by Nicole Kidman to The Academy Awards in 2008 and since then, Forevermark diamonds have continued to grace Red Carpets around the world, appearing on a diverse selection of talented women praised for their beauty, talent and poise.

Celebrities who have worn Forevermark diamonds on the Red Carpet include actresses Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Alba, Michelle Williams, Jennifer Garner, Margot Robbie as well as Grammy awardwinner Alicia Keys and Pink. In addition, Joely Richardson and Uma Thurman have worn Forevermark Encordia™ earrings and Carey Mulligan also chose Forevermark for her debut appearance at the Oscars.

Caratco, exclusive distributor of Forevermark and one of the largest diamond companies in South Africa, has manufactured a beautiful collection using

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LIFESTYLE

Beautiful protector

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dream catcher for one’s innermost wishes. This charmed piece of jewellery takes the most seductive forms.

A bejewelled capsule of mother-of-pearl, onyx or diamond paving, it enchants from the first click of its clasp, and continues to mesmerise with its openwork back and a host of hidden talents.

AMULETTE DE CARTIER IS A STRICTLY PERSONAL CHARM. A MAGICAL TALISMAN.

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Visible At first glance it is a target, a disc of onyx, white mother-of-pearl or diamond paving with a gem at its centre.

Invisible Look closer and it becomes much more, a cluster of surprises, among them the arc of solid gold that literally opens like a padlock, leaving room for a wish and the option of attaching the piece to one’s person.

A pendant, a magnetic sphere with pebble-like curves, crafted from motherof-pearl, onyx or diamonds, with either a diamond or an onyx at its centre.

This bejewelled pendant kisses the skin in a variety of precious forms. A

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treasured gift to give to oneself or others.

A sautoir necklace, each of its precious beads a wish.

Miniature bracelets to stack and collect, adorable talismans of onyx, mother-of-pearl or diamonds that encircle the wrist in one’s innermost dreams.

Boutique Cartier Johannesburg Sandton City Shop U13 Sandton City Phone: +27 11 666 2800 www.cartier.com

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LIFESTYLE

take

flight

LUXURY TIMEPIECES AND AVIATION HAVE BECOME SYNONYMOUS THROUGH THE YEARS WITH FEW SPECIAL RELATIONSHIPS EMBODIED IN THAT OF IWC AND JUNKERS.

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WC Schaffhausen and the Swiss airline JU-AIR have cultivated a partnership based on a mutual admiration of the Junkers JU-52 aircraft. Of just eight airworthy vintage JU-52s worldwide, one has carried the IWC logo for two decades and, in the year 2000, started out on a circumnavigation of the globe to publicize a new IWC Pilot’s Watch. Time, then, to acknowledge JU-AIR’s outstanding work. In honour of the airline established to keep the vintage aircraft aloft, the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “JU-Air”, strictly limited to 500 watches, is ready to take off.

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Mechanical chronograph movement – Selfwinding – Date display – Stopwatch function with minutes and seconds – Flyback function – Small hacking seconds – Screw-in crown – Secured against displacement by drop in air pressure – Engraving of a JU-52 aircraft on the case back.

Materials – stainless-steel case, rhodium-plated dial, hands and appliqués coated with SuperLumiNova, black alligator leather strap with folding clasp in stainless steel.

Glass – sapphire, convex, antireflective coating on both sides Water-resistant to 6 bar Diameter 43 mm Case height 15.5 mm

RLG Africa: +27 11 317 2600 www.iwc.com

PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

Designer plastic chairs IF YOU THOUGHT PLASTIC CHAIRS WERE SUITABLE FOR THOSE BUYING ON A BUDGET, THINK AGAIN, PLASTIC CHAIRS ARE IN ESPECIALLY IF THEY CARRY THE EAMES LEGACY.

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is inspired by the designer’s 14-year-old son who often, donned with a hoodedsweater, spends his day, as most boys his age, just hanging about, like the chair, the lamp evokes a sense of playfulness yet aesthetically appealing.

Mal is distributed in Southern Africa by Edge Interiors with retail prices of R25 500 for the Mal 1956 chair and footstool and R49 500 for the Mal Lummel Lamp.

Edge Interiors: +27 21 801 6680 www.edgeinteriors.co.za PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

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“Taking iconic designs and pushing the boundaries a little further makes for the best modern design and this is what one can expect from these chairs.”

The technological developments in plastic and rubber mean the options in design are endless.

These options are not restricted to the aesthetics either and advancements in comfort are also at the forefront, he says.

If you feel you need more than just a chair, Lasker says within the Mal collection, there are two designer pieces, the 1956 Chair (and footstool) and the Lummel Lamp measuring 2.25 metres tall, the light

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lobal trends show that turning plastic chairs into designer collectable objects is the “in thing” for those looking for a unique stylish furniture pieces.

Stephen Lasker from Edge Interiors explains that, consumers are keen to invest in originality and multi-functionality of objects they buy and use in their homes.

“Plastic facilitates these trends allowing for endless design possibilities for indoor and outdoor use.

“What’s more, plastic is also easy to maintain and is cost-effective,” he says.

However, before you go and buy any plastic, its best to shop around and ask the experts, also, you want “plastic” to match the look and feel of your home.

Lakser says they have a variety of plastic chairs but a must-have for those who want ultimate luxury is the Eames Lounge Chair, dubbed an iconic furniture piece epitomising modern design.

Founder of furniture brand Mal, Niels Wildenberg treated himself to an original and somewhat covetable Eames Lounge Chair when he turned 21.

According to Lasker, Mal’s 1956 chair is based on the original Eames Lounge Chair, (designed by the famous design duo of Charles and Ray Eames).

This version is made from polyethylene and allows for the fun use of colour plus it is completely durable for indoor or outdoor use.

Furthermore, he says many of the designs by the duo have become classics, and classics transcend trends and defy fads to stand the test of time.

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MOTORING

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PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

Bentley - doing it their way!

VIVIEN NATASEN ATTENDS THE WORLD

DEBUT OF THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL V8S IN CALIFORNIA images: James Lipman

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hen I received the invitation to join world media on the global launch of their beefed up Continental GT V8s, there wasn’t even an option of not attending. Although the latest steed was revealed at the Frankfurt Motor show in 2013, the teaser made reference to proper Gran Turismo styled runs through the hills and valleys of Southern California to Palm Springs, definitely worth the 36 hours of flying to get there.

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PRESTIGE

MOTORING

One of the things I love about Bentley is their ability to create a Bentley “home” for every product launch and this

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was no exception

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The V8s boasts a lowered, tautened suspension combined with a sharper steering and for a bit of edge paired with Bentley’s twin-turbo, 4.0-litre engine, producing 528 PS and 680 Nm (just to get the technical stuff out of the way).

Given the trend of the manufacturers to start moving to smaller engines and the use of superchargers and turbochargers nowadays, it is a relief that the good old

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V8 stays under the hood of the GT and GTC. Bentley claims a 0-100 kph sprint in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 305 kph. My real gratitude lies in the fact that they have enhanced not reduced the exhaust note that goes with the burbly V8 engine.

We arrived in San Diego to be taken through to Rancho Valencia, to me a six-star level resort on the outskirts of

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in the world so I am truly grateful to have been able to tick that box. I was paired up with a fellow luxury magazine representative from Canada who was comfortable in letting me do most of the driving. All I can say is that the highway patrol officers are a lot friendlier than the movies make out to be especially when a fleet of V8 Bentley GT’s and GTC’s came flying through their territories.

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the city. Thankfully, the rest of that day was used to recover from the 36 hours of flying to get there. One of the things I love about Bentley is their ability to create a Bentley “home” for every product launch and this was no exception.

The next morning started out with a stint through the mountains towards Palm Springs. This drive represents one of the bucket list items for GT drivers

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MOTORING

Our run was up to the Viceroy hotel in Palm Springs for the overnight stop over, also a landmark hotel in the region. For those of you who think Palm Springs is just a retirement village, I would confidently state that you would not be wrong. Dinner was at a famous bistro called the Workshop Kitchen which included a mini-lesson in cocktail mixology. That evening we ventured into a club in the town and on entry we halved the average age. It was like a scene from Cocoon the movie, good fun though as Americans at any age are boisterous and full of fun. Just for a bit of trivia, when we asked why Palm Springs came to be, the response was that many of the artists, actors and performers contracts required that they stay within a 100 mile range of Los Angeles. Palm Springs became that playground within reach for these stars to get out of hand without violating their contractual commitments.

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The V8s is one of the best, if not the most balanced GT sports cars I have ever driven and will remain up there

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of the most affluent areas in the city then a short run back to the hotel.

The V8s is one of the best, if not the most balanced GT sports cars I have ever driven and will remain up there. The techies at Bentley must have felt that there was too much of a gap between the W12 and V8 engines, hence the need for the V8s. I don’t mind their possible insecurity as this has yielded a much better car with an even better aural note.

Bentley has a heritage behind the brand that always evokes something different from admirers and onlookers.

It represents a different kind of achievement to other supercars, something I hope that Bentley takes notice of more and more. It is an elegant beast that somehow gets admiration more than envy which surprises me this is not leveraged on enough. Hopefully this will change soon!

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The next morning was another GT expedition to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world, with great views onto the town and mountains. The region doesn’t have great rainfall so one could see a long way off to the surrounding mountain ranges.

Our lunch was at the Palm Springs home of Frank Sinatra (another bucket list item for many). With its evergreen dĂŠcor maintained as close to original as possible, we were taken on a mini tour of the home. Some of the centre pieces of the home included a massive pool shaped like a grand piano and more impressively, a recording studio that could radio the recordings through to the studio in Los Angeles. After that spectacular visit we then started another trek back to San Diego with a tea stop at the Ritz Carlton on the beachfront of one

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ups and

downs WITH A BLEAK ECONOMIC OUTLOOK, RISING INTEREST

RATES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF STAGNANT GROWTH IN

SOUTH AFRICA, HOW DOES THE INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS PERSON REMAIN POSITIVE IN THE MEDIUM TERM?

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CHRIS BUCHANAN SPOKE TO DR JOHN DEMARTINI.

he first thing I want to emphasise”, says Dr Demartini, “in every phase of a business cycle there are advantages and disadvantages. When things are booming, we can get blinded to the downside.”

What he means is that the tendency is to over expand too quickly and ignore the natural cycles that occur in the market, get blinded when it’s up and then get hit when it turns. He says the more you allow yourself to go into a ‘manic phase’ the more depressing the other side is.

An example he uses is the management of Southwest airlines that controlled its expansion in the high time so they didn’t have to over-contract in the low times.

He says as long as you allow yourself to get ‘manic’, you’re going to have a greater ‘panic’.

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Upside problems within business can entail the following – getting too fat, and becoming blind to the details of the business and taking it for granted, so the ‘manic’ phase is characterised by neglecting high priorities, overlooking things and concentrating on lower priority issues. When the cycle turns and becomes the ‘panic’ phase, it forces you back to your priorities and focusses you to cut the fat.

The benefits of the downside according to Dr Demartini, are that you go back to your customer, you concentrate on your primary business and what your primary service is.

“Just like in the market. If the market goes up and you’re buying stock, it looks like it’s positive because you’re making money but it’s expensive stock. In the downside, stock is cheap”, he says. “A self-governed person is someone who can take the uptimes and find the downside, and in the downtimes, find the upsides.”

What then are the potential benefits of the current downside when the market looks to be turning due to a macroeconomic shift that seems out of your control? Dr Demartini says it forces companies to capitalise and make sure they have liquidity, to prioritise, to go back to what their real mission is, to get context as to who the customer is and

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where the new customer will come from, and keeping abreast of where the market is going.

The reality, unfortunately, is that a downturn usually has devastating results on companies, from having to shut branches, rationalise divisions and retrench staff. And key to this reality is liquidity.

Dr Demartini advises companies to keep a minimum of 180 days liquidity in a business and if possible, a full year. “Most companies are running on empty and don’t have the capital to give them the resilience to handle cycles.”

He says successful businesses should have tons of liquidity which helps them take advantage of the downtime by purchasing cheaper resources and not having to rationalise their operations when they’re under pressure. Exuberance in the uptime eats away at liquidity which leaves a business vulnerable when the cycle turns, and having to lay people off for instance, is a symptom of not governing yourself properly on the way up.

“They’re not really clear on their vision and are letting the outer exuberances

and the emotions interfere with the vision of steady growth in the business.”

He believes the cycles can be well managed with cushion liquidity and sticking to a clear vision. The downturn is not bad, it’s just contraction which is one of the best things for companies and if you’re prepared for normal business cycles, the environment doesn’t matter.

Dr Demartini says two factors are at play when your business turns. It’s either a natural business cycle which is turning downward or it’s a factor of the technology or business that you’re in, that might be reducing the demand for your service.

Both scenarios force the business to look inward and either trim the fat that has accumulated in the upward cycle, or look to investing in the means to change the business to meet a different demand.

He predicts that the US market has reached the mean from the previous six years of the downside and that it’s about to go into a manic phase. “Anything above this is smoke and people are going to be buying into that. They’re the fools. If they stopped right there, the down won’t affect them because they governed their mania.

Now they would know to put surplus into cash, allow it to go above the mean, and when it crashes, buy it all back.” He says the other side is the stupid person who buys into the mania and when it crashes they lose what they thought they had, which was just smoke, then it crashes and they sell out because they can’t handle the emotion.

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Top tips then for beating the downside: Don’t get addicted to the upside Prioritise Streamline Cut Fat Maintain your vision Readjust to what the market’s needs are Keep liquidity.

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

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BE IT TAX ADVANTAGES, BETTER EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN OR LIMITED TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES

the global

ON YOUR PASSPORT, THE APPEAL OF ALTERNATIVE

citizen CITIZENSHIP OR RESIDENCE IS MOTIVATING ULTRA HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS (UHNWIS) TO SEEK GREENER PASTURES.

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president for business development at Arton says the demand for alternative citizenship is largely in the Middle East but that wealthy citizens of the US and counties in Europe are also looking at alternatives for the above reasons.

“We have a department we call the ‘sovereign platform’ where we examine every new legislation related to emigration and we see how we can further propose how that can benefit the country and attract further FDI.” According to the Arton website 10 alternatives are presented including countries in Europe, the Caribbean, the Middles East and North America.

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rton Capital, through over 350 strategic partnerships, tailors investment programmes with a number of countries to facilitate their clients becoming global citizens, depending on how much they’re prepared to spend, the type of investment they prefer to entertain, their reasons for wanting an alternative citizenship and the criteria set by the countries within the programme.

The idea is twofold, whereby individuals are looking to relocate for education or business purposes and countries are developing their legislation to open a door for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). George Eid vice

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Eid says Arton looks at investor programmes where the individual would have to make a passive investment in government bonds or real estate as examples, or would have to make a donation to the government. Countries that offer an Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), like Hungary and Bulgaria, tend to be less expensive because you’re only getting residency for your money and have to wait for citizenship. A country like Cyprus that offers direct citizenship comes at a premium.

Arton has developed an index that assists clients in making the decision using researched and statistical data for the five pillars of the index. Mobility or visa-free travel was traditionally the main motivator for seeking alternative citizenship but many other factors are now in play, so the five pillars put priorities into the index and give clients a broad idea as to which programme would suit them best.

Each pillar is specifically weighted but they make up the following: Speed – The application process and the time it takes to get citizenship.

Cost – Net investment amount, the ability to finance the investment, the professional fees for the programme and whether or not there are additional costs in the application process.

Simplicity – Including, language requirements, interviews with government authorities and fast track for citizenship.

Global Mobility – The more visa-free travel opportunities presented by the country.

Quality of Life – Using the UNDP Human Development Index and the Quality of Life Index determines the value for each of the countries.

The UK for instance scores 56 on the overall index and is high on mobility and quality of life but low on speed and simplicity. St Kitts and Nevis is low on cost and high on simplicity with an overall score of 65.

The tools provided on the Arton website as guideline calculators allow you to select parameters and roughly calculate the countries or programmes that might be suitable based on the five pillars above.

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But as with all things in life, it’s not only whether you want to live or become a citizen of a country, but whether the country wants you to be part of it. If you’re in the business of shady deals or money laundering then beware because the due diligence process is comprehensive and you’re not going to get your citizenship based on the size of your chequebook.

Nadia Read, business development manager for South Africa says it’s about the human capital aspect as well and that certain countries are looking for the entrepreneurial insight that comes with business success and are developing their programmes to attract that calibre of investor.

Typically the passive investments of government bonds, donations and/or real estate are aimed at developing areas of the economy that are seen as growth areas or in need of development. Antigua and Barbuda for instance requires that you make a donation of US$250.000 to the National Development Fund or an approved charity, that you purchase a property of at least US$400.000 in a pre-approved real estate area, or that you invest US$1 500.000 in establishing a viable business.

There is also a comprehensive due diligence process, which differs from country to country, to verify that you’re

legitimate in your intention, as well as in your financial and legal status. Eid says Arton does initial checks on clients and then each country undertakes further checks through its appropriate ministries and financial institutions. “There are many staged due diligence that are taking place before the applicant reaches his end goal.”

Arton also offers a contribution to the Global Citizen Foundation, established in a philanthropic role to give back into society, specifically within global education initiatives, so part of your application of management fee is directed at projects that will benefit those in need in the Middle East and now Africa with the establishment of a South African office.

I asked George Eid what the prime motivating factors are for UHNWIs looking to relocate and become residents or citizens of another country having largely made their fortunes in their own countries.

“It’s a combination of quality of life, tax, education and the most common, travel mobility which is very common. Ultimately it’s a security, like taking a life insurance (policy) today.”

For more information: www.artoncapital.com global-citizen.org

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living

smart LOCATED IN

MONAGHAN FARM IN LANSERIA, GAUTENG

IS STAND 47, A LUXURY CONCEPT HOME.

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words: Denise Mhlanga

eveloped by owner and project initiator, Gavin Rooke, in collaboration with architect specialist Edna Peres, Stand 47 provides the blueprint for homes of the future.

If you live in Johannesburg and commute daily to either Sandton or Rosebank then you understand the stress related to sitting in traffic and the hectic life that comes with living in a big city. But, for those wanting an escape from the madding crowd, Monaghan Farm, which boasts 1 300 acres of open space and with only three percent ever of space to be developed, is the ideal location to own a home.

It’s not only the modern farm living that makes it appealing, but it offers an alternative to the norm in estate living and property development in Gauteng with its principles of sustainability, explains Prospero Bailey, Monaghan Farm developer and resident.

Monaghan Farm has been designed with a density of one residential unit per five acres and the principle that the farm will only ever consist of 300 properties with an average size of 4 500 square metres.

Bailey says it is a working organic farm which belongs to the residents: the farming areas, the gardens, the trails, the

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tree houses and the outdoor decks along the riverbank.

Stand 47 is an architectural case study and collaborative build project between Saint-Goban Gyproc as materials partner, Style Projects and Thomashoff and Partner Architects.

Early this year, Perkins +Will released a report on the top five design trends for 2014. Material health, reducing water use, and adapting to climate change will be the top sustainability issues that designers face, with material health being the number one concern for 2014.

Perkins + Will asked 1 500 professionals to contribute to a global forecasting survey that provides a vision of what’s on the horizon for architecture and design. And tip of the list was design + sustainability. Commenting on this trend, one professional surveyed Peter Busby, (CM, AIA, FRAIC, LEED Fellow Principal, managing director) puts it this way: “Our view of the future is that the separation between humans and nature will disappear.

As architects, we endeavour to create

buildings in harmony with nature.”

Stand 47’s design is best described as ‘contemporary modernist’. Contemporary meaning that it leverages state-of-the-art materials, which in turn influence the design of the home - and modernist in as much as there are purposeful references to the design language of the mid-20th century (rock, wood, glass clear storey windows etc).

Asked if South Africa is ready to build better homes using contemporary materials, Rooke says without a doubt the country is ready.

On location and special features, he says situated amid the natural farm landscape of long grasses, trees and the rolling hills surrounding Monaghan Farm, it makes sense that the house would be designed to sit lightly on the land, ensuring vistas to the outside world from every vantage point through the clear storey, double glazed windows.

When the sun sits lower in the sky in the winter months, he says, the steel frame roof structure is angled just right to allow

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for the beautiful warm Highveld winter sun to stream into the home. In summer when the sun sits higher in the sky, the roof angle protects the home from the harsh summer sun. The angle of the roof provides a natural gradient for the collecting of rainwater in the summer months, into three large steel water tanks behind the house.

“It’s a modern smart home built using innovative materials coupled with more traditional familiar ones such as wood and rock,” says Michelle Cerruti, residential sector manager at Saint-Gobain, a leading interior building solutions group and is ranked in the Thomson Reuters 2013 Top 100 Global Innovators.

The company designs, manufactures and distributes building materials, providing innovative solutions to meet growing demand for energy efficiency and for environmental protection.

She explains that the house has one continuous rich parquet wooden floor that gives an immediate warmth and elegance

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Asked if South Africa is ready to build better homes using contemporary materials, Rooke says without a doubt the country is ready

was inspired by the modernist architecture and light feel of the building.

Ebony was specifically tasked with the challenge to design an interior that would complement this approach, and they effectively solved the challenge by curating and designing custom building pieces that merge contemporary forms with traditional materials.

The art pieces in the home comprise a mix of modernist, young South African painters and photographers, alongside classic masters such as JH Pierneef.

“We have broken new ground with Stand 47 through a combination of innovation and efficiency that has guided every aspect of the case study from the very beginning.”

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For more information: Monaghan Sales: 082 0707500 sales@monaghanfarm.co.za www.monaghanfarm.co.za/

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both to look at and underfoot. It also has one continuous ceiling throughout.

Furthermore, Cerruti says another special feature within the lounge area of the home is the rock masonry wall, something very familiar and traditional which sits well alongside the state-of-the art walling materials from Saint-Gobain.

“These materials work behind the scenes to create a far more comfortable and healthier living experience within the home because of their thermal, acoustic and air-cleansing efficiencies.”

What’s more, she points out that the home is equipped with the latest Morso fireplace, but the thermal efficiencies of the materials have resulted in it not been lit

once over the recent winter months.

It has two bathrooms, an en suite bathroom situated off the main bedroom.

The second bathroom is unique because of its modular bathroom design, meaning it is divided into three by inter-leading doors creating three separate spaces.

The three spaces comprise a guest toilet, bath and vanity space and shower room. When the doors are open it becomes one bathroom with all the features, when the doors are closed they can be utilised separately – a clever, efficient use of space, unique in design and fully functional, according to Cerruti.

As one would expect from any luxury home, Stand 47 is no different with interiors carefully chosen to enhance the contemporary modernist design of the home. According to Dewald Prinsloo from Ebony Design who provided the interior design and soft furnishing for the home, every piece of furniture, décor and accessory that was chosen for this home

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eedless to say these individuals, globally, have good taste when it comes to the design, architecture and home interiors, in fact, some of these homes look like mini art galleries because the owners collect some of the most prized artwork ever created.

Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management World Wealth Report 2013 notes that as with a masterpiece of art, the uniqueness, provenance and quality of a prized residence drives prices at the very top end of the market.

WHILE FOR SOME PEOPLE

PROPERTY PROVIDES SHELTER AND IS A PLACE TO CALL HOME, FOR ULTRA HIGH NET WORTH INDIVIDUALS (UHNWIS), PROPERTY HAS TO BE PRIME, WELL LOCATED AND IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT ASSET WHICH YIELDS ATTRACTIVE RETURNS OVER TIME.

words: Denise Mhlanga

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Regardless of price differences, the luxury home marketer says buyers of luxury properties look for one-of-a-kind residences in selected locations

Demand (for luxury homes) far outstrips supply at the high end, not just because of the rarity of masterpieces, but also because their owners are often unwilling to sell, given the difficulty of

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finding assets with comparable return characteristics, according to the report.

However, there are still buyers and sellers of these luxury homes globally.

The Knight Frank Wealth Report 2014

reveals that for the majority of UHNWIs residential property is the biggest item of discretionary spending with almost 30 percent of their wealth accounted for by their main residence and second homes.

Also, property is not just a place to live – it is a popular place to invest, accounting for 24 percent of UHNWI investment portfolios.

In the 2014 report entitled: “Luxury defined an insight into the luxury residential property market” by Christie's International, if 2012 was the year when

Cape Town homes According to New World Wealth (NWW) research, Cape Town houses some of the country’s most expensive homes in suburbs including Camps Bay, Clifton, Fresnaye and Bantry Bay, locations which are also second-home hotspots for UHNWIs from Johannesburg and aboard.

Other wealthy areas include Hout Bay, Upper Newlands, Upper Claremont, Kalk Bay, Simons Town, Green Point, Upper Sea Point and certain parts of the City Bowl (including Higgovale, Tamboerskloof, Oranjezicht and the V&A Waterfront Marina).

PGP says although some wealthy individuals prefer the likes of Clifton and Camps Bay, the Upper Fresnaye/Bantry Bay area offers some usual gems on the Atlantic Seaboard.

A home located on De Wet Road with views across Table Bay to Robben Island and beyond carries a price tag of R65

million, the agency describes the home as a design masterpiece.

Its open-plan design of the main living area ensures seamless flow from indoors to outdoors, culminating in a viewing terrace with an infinity pool.

The home’s upper level contains four en suite bedrooms including a spacious master suite with its own dressing room and a feature double shower.

A second, heated swimming pool can be found on the home’s lower level, which is equipped as a fitness and games centre, including billiard table, fullyequipped gym, jacuzzi, steam room and large home cinema.

There is also a large fitted study, ideal for a work-from-home environment and a double staff/ guest apartment with two bedrooms as well as a wine cellar.

Another sought after area is Constantia Valley with views of the Vlakkenberg Mountain adjoining Groot Constantia Vineyard with direct access.

Priced at R28.5 million, this property with a touch of France offers four en suite bedrooms and has a large free standing

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Suite

Properties (PGP) reveals some of the luxury properties in Cape Town and further afield, a must-buy into development in Mauritius.

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the highest end of the luxury market came back to life, 2013 was the year when the rest of the luxury market flourished, with robust growth in the number of $1 millionplus sales.

For Christie’s International Real Estate, the world of luxury property begins at the $1 million price point. However, the luxury benchmark in the world’s top cities varies considerably, ranging from $1 million in Cape Town to $7.8 million in London.

Regardless of price differences, the luxury home marketer says buyers of luxury properties look for one-of-a-kind residences in selected locations. For example, in Los Angeles, buyers look for older properties in prized neighbourhoods and they then convert these into large designer homes.

South African estate agents who sell some of the expensive homes note that wealthy buyers are attracted to sought after nodes as they offer an unrivalled lifestyle, others want places to live in, invest their money, raise their families and enjoy cultural activities and sports.

In an interview with Prestige, awardwinning property agency, Pam Golding

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substantial greenbelt or tasting wine at one of the vineyards - all in the space of a single morning.

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Island lifestyle

stone bath. It also has a home theatre area, library, wine cellar and gym.

Property in Constantia is a blue chip investment and will continue to be so going forward, thanks to its stately homes as well as modern mansions offering every possible convenience and hi-tech finish, says PGP

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regional managing director Laurie Wener.

Wener says the varied lifestyle embraces a mix of both urban sophistication and rural tranquillity – one can go from having coffee in a chic cafe and shopping in designer boutiques, to enjoying a horse-back ride through the

Traditionally a popular tourism hotspot for South Africans, since legislation in Mauritius was amended to allow foreign ownership of residential property in Integrated Resort Schemes (IRS) and subsequently Real Estate Schemes, there has been large inflow of buyers attracted by very competitive tax rates, a secure and idyllic lifestyle and warm, sunny climate, according to PGP. PGP general manager for Mauritius, Richard Haller says those looking for luxury resort should look no further than Villa 7 Tamarina Beach & Golf Resort in Mauritius.

Situated on the first and only fully completed IRS estate in Mauritius, it offers a tranquil, peaceful lifestyle where you cannot help but forget about the outside world.

the island, but also some of the most successful 5 star hotels on the island.

Prices and trends in designer homes

For more information visit www.pamgolding.co.za

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Suite

buyers and their immediate families are eligible for permanent Mauritian residence, which remains in force as long as the buyer retains ownership of the property.

Haller explains that this villa is part of an estate which comprises 119 units, designed by one of the island’s most renowned architects Mikaud Giraud who designed not just notable residences on

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The price tag of $3 million will buy you a four bedroom villa with open spaces, en suite bathrooms and an enclosed kitchen which leads directly into the dining area.

Not only does money buy you this exclusive residence, it also buys you permanent residency status.

Under the IRS legislation, foreign

NWW, wealth analyst, Andrew Amoils says prime property prices in South Africa outperformed the general residential market with prices rising by five percent in US$ terms since 2007 with the price of prime property in Cape Town (Bantry Bay, Clifton) valued at $6 500 per square metre in 2013 compared to $2 400 per square metre for prime property in Sandton Johannesburg.

However, prime property in the Cape Town is almost 10 times cheaper than in London ($48 900 per square metre) which probably explains why foreigners and buyers from other African countries love Cape Town luxury homes.

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top life at the

SEVEN

PENTHOUSES

HAVE REACHED COMPLETION IN THE HEART OF THE SANDTON

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EXCLUSIVE

CBD.

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A

development by Barrow Properties, Katherine & West, is a new 10 storey AAA grade iconic building conveniently located on the corner of West and Katherine Streets. Occupying the top two storeys of the building, the luxurious penthouses offer access to a premium city-living lifestyle providing the ideal basis for the sophisticated buyer to reside in the heart of Gauteng’s economic hub.

Interior design consultancy, Head Interiors, was contracted to furnish two of the luxury suites. “Each apartment has been decorated somewhat differently in order to cater to different investor tastes,

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Sandton has fast become known as the ideal address for local and global

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corporations

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Local artwork will also be a key feature in the units. “A highlight for our team was being able to work with such interesting architecture and wall space. Wall art is a key feature within the penthouses. We have some amazing artistic talent in South Africa and supporting local artists who have limited opportunities for exposure is something Head Interiors is committed to in terms of our corporate responsibility,” adds Luyt.

The local pieces that have been featured in the Katherine & West penthouses are a combination of mixed mediums. A large Jeannette Unite is the focal piece in one of the units, as its neutral hues offset the striking contrasts of the custom designed furniture. In terms of furniture and other design features, items have been sourced both locally as well as from European design capitals.

Each uniquely designed penthouse is accessed via a dedicated elevator from a private lobby. The lower levels of the duplex penthouses comprise a finely finished contemporary living area and a state-of-the-art kitchen that opens up into a spacious entertainment area inclusive of an impressive private balcony that offers panoramic views of the Sandton skyline on one side and Inanda suburbia and surrounds on the other. Two to three bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms are located on the upper levels of the penthouses.

Kent Gush Properties Block no 4, Stratford Office Park, Cnr Cedar Road and Valley Ave, Broadacres, Johannesburg. +27 11 465 5362 info@kentgush.co.za www.kentgush.co.za PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

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Katherine & West is surrounded by an excellent support infrastructure including seven international hotels, Sandton City, the Sandton Convention Centre and Nelson Mandela Square all within walking distance. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange as well as head offices of major local and international organisations are also clustered within close proximity.

The building has direct access to the main arterial roads of Rivonia Road

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however, sophistication and elegance underlie both design concepts. We have gone with striking black and white contrasts in one of the units and a neutral and slightly warmer palette in the other,” comments Emma Luyt of Head Interiors. “These penthouses will be fully furnished down to the last scatter cushion and uniquely sourced objet d’Art but will remain easily amendable if required”.

and Katherine Street, and with the M1 Grayston Drive on-ramp situated a mere 2km away. Utilising the city’s impressive public transport system is straightforward as the building is conveniently located adjacent to the Sandton Gautrain Station and therefore offers easy access to OR Tambo International Airport.

Starting from R9.485-million and scheduled to be ready for occupation in November 2014, the penthouses primarily target the national and international business market looking for a convenient and accessible base within Sandton.

“Sandton has fast become known as the ideal address for local and global corporations. By day, commerce thrives as people work, lunch and shop and by night it is alive with energy, offering some of the city’s best restaurants, wine bars and night life and playing host to the residing trendy young professional, the well-heeled international traveller and the highly successful executive”, comments Kent Gush of Kent Gush Properties.

According to Mark Uhlman of Barrow Properties the flagship penthouse was designed with the idea that the residence needed to establish its relevance in a commercially dominated environment.

“With almost 750 square meters, the discerning resident does not compromise on space. The lower level, open plan living area flows out on to the entertainment deck with a plunge pool. Upstairs three generously proportioned bedrooms provide panoramic views of Sandton and the Johannesburg skyline. The roof terrace has a sense of seamless integration with its surrounds and provides the passionate entertainer with abundant inspiration with a 150m2 deck, Jacuzzi, catering facilities and perfectly styled furniture.”

Some of the innovations present in the flagship No 6 penthouse include a sail awning from Corradi which is a self-standing structure supported by four stainless steel poles, two of which support the aluminium roller tube and two motors for operating the sails and features an anemometer which rolls the sails up within minutes in a really strong wind.

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Oré, the multibrand fashion house that is home to some of the world’s top luxury fashion brands such as Emilio Pucci, Escada, Cavalli, Armani Collezione, Rupert Sanderson, Elie Tahari, Vanessa G London and Herve Leger amongst others, offers a new standard of shopping experience to the African luxury brand consumer.

Coco Chanel famously stated: “Luxury is liberty, luxury is elegance” and that is precisely what Sandton City’s fashion house D’Oré offers its clientele. Rich in heritage, spanning some 40 years, D’Oré is unique in that it possesses old world charm, sophistication and an element of avant-garde.

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Originally established in 1973 as a specialist bridal boutique, D’Oré has since grown to become a lavish fashion shopping destination for the discerning woman, boasting a range of international designer collections in a sumptuous environment.

On 23 May 2013, D’Oré Sandton City was relaunched after a major rebrand under its new ownership and unveiled its modern, elegant new look to the public.

Designed by interior and architectural designers, Stephen Rich and Sean Godfrey, the D’Oré flagship store is as tasteful and luxurious as the garments and accessories it houses.

In its first year of trading, D’Oré has experienced tremendous success and its renewed fashion forward focus can be attributed to owner, Vanessa Gounden’s global influence and passion for the world of fashion. Vanessa Gounden is

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one of South Africa’s leading female entrepreneurs, CEO of The HolGoun Group, and Founder and Creative Director of international luxury fashion label, ‘Vanessa G London’; fast gaining cult status on the international fashion scene.

With business interests spanning across Africa, Europe and Asia, Vanessa is using D’Oré as a platform to diversify and fulfil a life-long dream: to establish a respected, international multi-brand fashion house associated with luxury, exclusiveness, sophistication and elegance.

Vanessa has big plans for D’Oré and, having recently celebrated D’Oré’s first birthday, Vanessa Gounden personally announced the launch of the new D’Oré Privé Loyalty Club at a glittering event.

The D’Oré Privé Loyalty Club offers a personalised shopping experience amongst other things and fortifies the brand’s reputation as one of the most exclusive luxury shopping experience of its kind in Africa, putting it in line with the most renowned luxury department stores in the world.

An exclusive membership; the D’Oré Privé Loyalty card rewards customers every time they shop - a combination of a store card and a credit card. Each time customers spend in-store or online, points are earned and they move up the scale enabling discounts or cash back on purchases.

In addition D’Oré Privé further hopes to afford its loyal customers only the best in personalised service with exclusive valueadded services such as complimentary alterations and delivery, and exclusive previews to new collections, adding to its already service-focused store environment.

Appreciative of the busy lifestyles of their clientele who are often pressed for time, D’Oré Privé also offers customers a discreet phone consultation service whereby in a matter of hours, garments can be delivered to a home, office or hotel room.

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A dedicated team of on-site tailors and expert seamstresses are adept at alterations; a nip and tuck to ensure the garment fits body shapes in the most flattering forms, exact to measurements discreetly kept in customer files.

The D’Oré store has been redesigned with customer-service in mind. The expansive marble shop floor houses devoted sections for brands, and central to the art-deco inspired environment is the front desk and adjoining elegant lounge area.

Towards the rear of the store conveniently situated adjacent to the changing rooms is the swimwear and lingerie room. Emilio Pucci kaftans, beach bags and swimsuits are showcased adjacent to delicate pieces of negligee and lingerie from Elle Macpherson Intimates.

The D’Oré pièce de résistance is four dedicated private shopping areas where clientele can be hosted: ‘The Ballgown Room’, ‘The Champagne Room’, ‘The Shoe Room’ and ‘The Changing Room’.

Tailored to individual needs, the rooms

Sandton City store is perfectly positioned in the luxury retail industry, with a number of additional stores in the pipeline. D’Oré hopes to soon be available in a host of key Southern and West African cities and promises to roll-out new aspects to the ‘D’Oré Lifestyle Experience in days to come.

Brands available at D’Oré include Amishi, Armani Collezione, Basler, Cavalli Class, Elie Tahari, Elle Macpherson Intimates, Emilio Pucci, Escada, John Richmond, Jovani, Herve Leger, Kathy Hilton, Laurèl, Le Mystère, Marc Cain, Pinko, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi, Roberto Quaglia, Rupert Sanderson, Tarik Ediz, Vanessa G London and Zuhair Murad.

For further information on D’ORÉ, visit www.dorefashion.co.za, phone (011) 783-7316 or visit their Sandton City store at U73, Sandton City, Sandton Drive, Johannesburg.

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groups, ideal for private shopping evenings, bridesmaid parties or sneak peeks of new collections.

Champagne flows freely and guests are encouraged to make themselves at home on the settees where flat screen TVs and captivating coffee table books gathered like treasures from Vanessa’s global travels are at customers’ disposal should shopping not be a number one priority.

Walled in by transparent glass showcases, The Shoe Room is a mirrored room which houses international brands from the highly-acclaimed cobbler to the stars Rupert Sanderson and Escada, Laurél, Armani, John Richmond and Pinko to name a few.

For those on the move, the D’Oré online shopping feature is available to all customers enabling customers to shop the best-name brands and up-to-the minute collections at the click of a button from anywhere in the world.

With the launch of D’Oré Privé, the

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are selected according to the individual needs of the shopper or can be reserved by prior appointment. Attentive staff ensure that every whim and desire is catered for - the comfort of the customer is first and foremost and an indulgent experience is assured. Expert in-house stylists are on hand to advise, whether it’s for a special gift, a new look, collection viewing or a private appointment.

The Ballgown Room is wall to wall ethereal evening dresses, beautiful ball gowns and celestial cocktail dresses. A grand chaise longue, ornate chairs and marble tables form part of the furnishings which offer a welcome comfort for ladies who need a break from a ‘shop till you drop’ whirlwind, for weary male partners who need to be propped up or simply an opportunity to recline and observe.

The Champagne Room offers a private space within D’Oré and is aptly named offering a tastefully furnished space to host private clients and select

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Sun follow the

WHILE MUCH AFRICAN FASHION IS A FUSION BETWEEN WESTERN

AESTHETIC AND AFRICAN MOTIF, SUN GODDESS STRIVES TO CREATE A DISTINCT AFRICAN IDENTITY USING THE ICONS THAT LIE ENSHRINED IN THE CONTINENT.

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un Goddess was founded in 2000 by Vanya and Thando Mangaliso with the idea to harvest stories and images of South African traditions through fashion. “Our heritage stories celebrate a regal Africa that transcends time and fashion, with fashion as means of self-articulation.”

The designs are quintessentially South African as highlighted in the rare and exquisite signature handiwork, fabrics and unique palettes, thereby defining African luxury. They are also inspired by the possibility of taking what has made us dream in the past and renewing it while still maintaining its fundamentals.

Sun Goddess incorporates heritage & history and puts it in its own context and that continues to fuel the evolution of the Sun Goddess luxury lifestyle.

Six Iconic Goddesses

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The Celebrity Shoot: This followed that critical transition from just fashion brand to luxury lifestyle brand as signaled by the 2006 launch of the Sun Goddess Fine fragrances Goddess & Kumkani and other luxury goods such as fine jewelry & luxury leather goods lifestyle. Sun Goddess was highly honored to capture these six iconic S.African women photographed by Nick Bolton at Moyos Zoo Lake. This campaign featuring Basetsana Kumalo, Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu, Bonnie Mbuli , Unathi Msengana, Masingita Masunga & Kuli Roberts was advertised in top women glossies like Glamour, and Top Billing magazines.

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Paradise

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(The turquoise silk chiffon scalloped dress): Hours and hours of creating this tiny audacious turquoise shift frock delivered a prefect demonstration of movement.

On closer examination you see that each scallop is beaded by hand, that regal luxury finish characteristic of S.African design & craftsmanship.

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Gold Collection

Gold Collection

A gold and brown drop waist gown: A culmination of the Sun Goddess luxury, opulence & superior local craftsmanship hence aptly authored the Gold Collection.

The silhouettes were quite feminine with Tsonga draping & pleating reigning supreme. This signaled a new mood in fashion. Very earthy & yet sparkly connecting the earth goddess to the moon and the stars. Fantasy & fantasy with all rules ignored.

A White One Shoulder\draped beaded Blouse: A modern take on the Tsonga traditional way of dressing which is elegant draping and voluminous skirts.

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Paradise The Paradise Collection: This turquoise silk and gold beaded dress a part of the Paradise Collection, a goddess, a fantasy where paradise is not just escapism but attainable bliss. We put the emphasis on movement taking a different approach to volume, as in the clothes with each step of the wearer. The raw silk dress is form fitting with a playful hemline which elegantly moves & twirls around her legs as she moves.

Gold Collection Red Dress: The Red raw silk ruffled Welile shirt dress epitomized glamour of the Gold collection. Luxurious in this liberal use of the fine silk trimmed with hours and hours of gold beading and hand painting. This red shade known as “Grenadine” has since been named one of the top 20 colors of the century by New York based Pantone experts & publishers with Sun Goddess featured as the only designer outside of Europe and the USA.

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Sun Goddess Boutiques Sandton Jahannesburg Shop L 306 Legacy Corner at Nelson Mandela Square +27 11 883 8890 Durban City Shop No. 5 27 Westcliffe Building, Cnr Dr Pixley KaSeme (Ex West Str) & Florence Nzama Str, Durban +27 31 368 6592 info@sungoddess.co.za fashion@sungoddess.co.za www.sungoddess.co.za

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Paradise The Turquoise & Yellow feathers asymmetrical hemline gown: This Mpho feathers dress was in keeping with the brand’s philosophy that says fashion should be a poetic dialogue between the past & present. In that context continuity is always paramount with the idea that each collection depicts a growth & progression, and an organic evolution.

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island

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LIFE ON AZURA’S QUILALEA ISLAND IS ONE BUT BY THE EBB AND FLOW OF THE TIDE, AND THE WARMTH OF ITS PEOPLE. CHRIS BUCHANAN LOST THREE DAYS

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TRACK OF ABOUT

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NOT GOVERNED BY TIME

.R.R. Tolkien’s inspiration for Treebeard in the Lord of the Rings must have been the baobab.

They’re majestic trees that seem wiser than others around them and they wear the scars of an African climate with the same character as those of a tribal elder who has spent his life exposed to the elements.

We sat underneath a 400 year old baobab on the island of Quilalea telling stories more frivolous I’m sure, than the tales it must have been privy to, in the years its girth had grown to the size of a lorry. If it grew impatient with the utterings of a few journalists who were enjoying a fine sauvignon blanc, it never showed it, but listened patiently and tolerated our growing boisterousness. There are many stories this tree would have told the younger baobabs and paperbarks around it and I don’t think any of ours would have been on the list. But that’s a baobab, the therapist of the forest, always willing

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to listen, never passing judgement and steadfast in its presence.

This tree’s surrounds have been cleared to form the boma, one of the many inspiring locations the staff on Quilalea surprise you with each mealtime. A boma is something in which you take dinner at a safari lodge and given hosts Andrew and Drienie Viljoen’s backgrounds in safari lodge management, it all starts falling into place.

Quilalea is a small island which accommodates 18 people in nine villas, privately tucked away on its east and west shores. If I weren’t on a tropical island I could swear I was in the bush. Members of staff are attentive and unobtrusive – they take care of your every need without you realising they’re actually there. You feel welcomed into a larger family of people, who treat you like royalty and are sad to see you leave. So is the touch of Andrew and Drienie. They’ve done this before and they do it damn well.

In the nine months this couple has been running Quilalea, they have

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fostered all the attributes of a luxury safari environment without the structure that comes with getting visitors into the bush at the best times for viewing wildlife.

Andrew says, “The biggest difference between a beach and safari experience is that guests like to relax and take things at their own pace. Clients generally do the bush first and then the beach so it’s good

for them to get away from the structure and come through for breakfast at 10:00am if they want to.”

The earliest they managed to persuade us to rise was six in the morning to canoe our way through the mangroves across the channel. Any later and the tide would have made it impossible. We would also have missed the goliath herons, fish eagles and

the highlight of the trip – mother and child the promise of sashimi for lunch in another humpback whales showing off in the swell. surprise location.

This opportune whale sighting also saved Chef’s 15 years in the business have me from the challenge set by a colleague taken him through Protea Hotels and to canoe back to the lodge across the onto restaurants including Peddlars on channel, some 800 metres, and probably the Bend, Bayside Café and Paranga, and be late for breakfast. then into the boutique hotel and lodge Today’s breakfast was laid out on environment with Tintswalo. He loves the beach, in a private cove with the to innovate and the island environment, sea lapping at our feet. We devoured where no fresh produce grows, is creative the fruit skewers, one of the ingredients and innovative heaven. challenges that comes with being on a “I look for ingredients that garnish small island, and then contemplated the themselves”, says Chef, “and I’ve learned eggs benedict on a rosti with hollandaise a million ways of using carrots and sauce and crabmeat. cabbage to make the food interesting”.

Head Chef Johan’s choice of So while the main ingredients of seafood ingredients at every meal takes more and available fresh meat or chicken are planning than walking into a larder and of the quality you will get at an exclusive choosing what he wants. It depends restaurant, the influences and presentation on what is fresh in the markets on the are Mozambican with an informal tropical mainland and whether they can get them island touch. to the island by Chef had meals boat. Seafood is in to plan so we left him abundance so he’s foraging for something “The biggest spoilt for choice fresh and went for a on that score and walk around the island, difference between every meal has a through the baobab a beach and safari twist from the sea, forest and onto Turtle like eggs benedict Beach, a nursery for experience is with crabmeat. leatherback turtles in They had caught their breeding season. that guests like to a 25kg tuna the We were told it would be relax and take day before with good luck if we bumped

things at their own pace”

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into Monty, the rather large rock monitor who calls the island home, but he wasn’t in the mood for human company and stayed out of sight.

As it turned out Turtle Beach was the venue for lunch so we rested on individual day beds under parasols while our trusted caretakers Nelson and Kabila served us sashimi of aforementioned tuna and freshly baked caprese rolls with lashings of Quilalea house white - Klein Constantia 2012 Sauvignon Blanc! Still no sign of Monty on our walk back to our villas for an afternoon nap to the sounds of the incoming tide and fish eagles calling in the distance.

There are three villa options on Quilalea and my digs was a Kaskasi villa with its own private beach and a view across the western channel. Although rustic in construction and materials, amenities are luxurious and décor is homely with special, personal touches from the hand of Drienie and her team of housekeepers.

Kusi villas offer an additional shaded leisure area and an outside shower, and the flagship Villa Quilalea gets you a private infinity pool, a private dining area and a luxurious bath centred in a bathroom the size of the average living room. Villa Quilalea offers the perfect honeymoon location with its privacy, personal staff compliment and the fact that you never have to leave the villa to socialise with other guests, even for your meals which can be taken overlooking the bay.

For those of us in the Kaskasi and Kusi villas, socialising options are all in the main lodge with a lounge, bar and pool area perfectly placed for watching sunsets over the main beach. Aro and Manuel will take care of your orders from the bar, remembering exactly what you drink and whether you prefer it shaken or stirred.

Their repertoire of cocktails ensures you never need to repeat your sundowners unless you stumble upon a favourite.

The two most popular activities on Quilalea are scuba diving and snorkelling, the latter being as easy as wading into the sea off the main beach to experience the house reef and all it has to offer. There are other sites around the island to which Tristan the activities fella, will transport you by boat and guide you across the reefs. I’m not big on fish watching but there’re a lot of them, surrounded by perfectly preserved coral and bathed in incredible colour.

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are second to none, not being a diver myself, and one of the guests spoke of getting separated from his dive buddies after following a turtle. Fishing is also a big attraction and Tristan said sailfish and marlin are often caught around the island. Quilalea is in the middle of a marine reserve ensuring an abundance of unspoiled coastal fauna and flora, and it’s advised to leave the beautiful cowrie shells where you found them or you’ll get yourself on the wrong side of the law when leaving Pemba.

Time to leave paradise and allow young Heath our resident pilot to warm up the helicopter for our departure. I couldn’t help but notice an optional item on the bill as a donation to the Rainbow Fund. Andrew explained that by situating themselves among the local population they endeavour to put something back into the communities, as well as providing a tourist destination built on principles of conservation, preservation and sustainability. Initiatives range from medical supplies, to fresh water and educational

needs among the communities.

We said our goodbyes and walked the short distance through the forest to the helipad and our trusty steed, a Bell Jetranger. The baobabs watched us leave and seemed preoccupied with things more important within the forest than to farewell a bunch of freeloading journalists obsessed with their cell phones. No matter, the business of the forest is an important one

IF YOU GO Azura Quilalea is in northern Mozambique accessible from Pemba. SA Airlink flies direct to Pemba from OR Tambo six days a week, Sunday excluded. Your only transport to the island is 20mins by helicopter and you might get a whale or dolphin sighting on the way.

Although in a malaria zone, Quilalea has no fresh water on the island so it’s unlikely you’ll be harassed by mosquitoes and Andrew told us no incidences of malaria have been reported.

in these parts and there were other guests to watch over, and perhaps hear a story worth repeating to the next generations of their kin.

For further information call +27 11 467 0907 or email reservations@azura-retreats.com

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tea all the

SINCE THE 80’S CHINA’S ECONOMIC REFORM HAS HARDLY SKIPPED A BEAT, AND ITS CITIES ARE BOLDLY SHOWING IT ALL OFF. HELEN GRANGE EXPLORED THE GEMS OF SHANGHAI, BEIJING AND HANGZHOU.

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SOPHISTICATED, PACEY

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ew travel experiences can match watching the magical light show put on by the skyscrapers of the Pudong district of Shanghai at night.

As your boat drifts alongside it on the Huangpu river, which separates “old” and “new” Shanghai – new being Pudong – it’s a beautiful, evolving mirage of neon colour, and an expensive but elegant strut by this economic colossus of a city, known as the “Paris of the East”.

Originally marshland and farmland, this piece of China has taken just 20 years to give a home to the Shanghai Stock Exchange and some of the city’s most stunning buildings, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Jin Mao Building and next to it, the “beer bottle opener” Shanghai

World Financial Centre and the still rising Shanghai Tower, a twisting beanstalk nearing its final, astonishing height of 565.6m. Some of the planet’s most brilliant minds occupy these lofty piles during the day, churning billions of Yuan in and out of the Chinese economy, but at night Pudong is as tranquil as a dream, and as magical.

Put it this way, I can see now why Pudong was chosen as the filming location for Mission Impossible III. It was the 53-storey steel and glass phalanx that houses the Bank of China where Tom Cruise (well, a stunt double) did his bungee jump in the movie. Shanghai is also one of the exotic backdrops of James Bond’s adventures in Skyfall, chosen partly because it’s so “opposite to London” in the words of screenwriter John Logan.

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Of course, Shanghai’s luxury hotels, many of them situated directly across the river in the historic Bund area, clamour for the best views of Pudong, and from where I sit in a boat gliding by, it has to be the world-renowned Peninsula hotel that wins that prize. Opened in 2009, the Peninsula is one of the world’s top-rated business hotels and it’s a testament to the city’s colonial roots, so what you’ll get here is unmitigated old-world glamour and taste, and if I were here over a weekend, I’d take afternoon tea in its Peninsula Arcade, which is surrounded by brand stores including Prada, Ralph Lauren, Loro Piana, Giorgio Armani, Damiani, and Versace. In typically effusive Chinese style, it’s called “Luxury Fashion Afternoon Tea”. Then I’d head to the cocktail bar and spend the evening swooning over Pudong.

Instead, I’m off the next day to the fashionable Xintiandi area, a car-free, Western-style ‘live, work, play’ space woven in with rebuilt shikumen (traditional ‘stone gate’ houses). The old and new architecture works a charm in this upmarket precinct full of chic restaurants, top-end boutiques, cafes and bars, although this project, costing a whopping $170 million, wasn’t

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without controversy. Shanghai’s brazen nod to modernism, racing along at a not exactly dignified speed after China set about its economic reforms in the 80’s, breaking up the Mao-era, was bound to draw criticism from traditionalists, but hats off to the Xintiandi developers because the ‘old’ here is not only preserved but celebrated.

Chinese mega-star Jackie Chan is the owner of the minimalist ‘Zen’ restaurant with prices that are famously not so minimalised. Star-power is not really my bundle, so I’d opt instead for the dumplings and dim sum at Din Tai Fung, rated one of the top five eateries in the city. Nightlife in Xintiandi is a sophisticated affair and in Shanghai, the feel is younger and more cosmopolitan than elsewhere in China.

After dinner, fun-seeking ex-pats mixed in with the ‘beautiful people’ of Shanghai, among only 10% of Chinese people who can be labelled ‘affluent’, take a walk to the bars for some cultured tippling.

Personally I preferred the other Shanghai ‘Soho’, Tianzifang, also reconstructed shikumen in the former French Concession but with a more authentic aura with its narrow old alleyways (called longtangs), artists, al

fresco cafes and vendors selling everything from pocket watches, cheongsam (traditional-style body-hugging Chinese dresses) to oversized White Rabbit sweets.

Longtang (old lane) culture in Shanghai is an important touchpoint, because you get a sense of the way the city’s residents once lived, in close proximity like a big family with a cohesive matrix of professions, trades and customs.

Full of humanity, longtang life – unique to Shanghai - has been distinctively preserved in projects like Tianzifang and Xintiandi, although some of the real, non-tourist ‘longtangs’ – once spread all over the city like a spider web – are fast making way for modern buildings, their elderly residents being compensated to move into condos outside the Shanghai CBD. I spent time immersing in longtang in Tianzifang, where some people still live, to try and better understand the society and the history of Shanghai. When you get peckish, however, you can be forgiven, being South African, for being irresistibly drawn through the labyrinthine streets to the New York Steak & Burger restaurant, which if you’re brave enough, serves a towering Manhattan burger that will

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quench your craving for Western food for at least 24 hours. My advice is, don’t give way to the MacDonald’s temptation – there is always a big yellow ‘M’ arch somewhere close - but it’s not one for your boast board!

Another good option is Teddy Bear Family, a teddy-themed Thai restaurant.

Whatever way you get your sustenance, you’ll need it for the Shanghai Museum, another must-do in this city.

This five-storey museum, in the Huangpu District, houses a collection of over 120,000 works of art, including ancient Chinese bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, jades, coins, seals and sculptures. Even if museums aren’t your thing, and they’re not really my thing, it’s worth it to see its collection of Ming Dynasty vases up close.

The Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644) was an extraordinarily innovative period for ceramic manufacture in China. Porcelain at this time was produced for everyday use, trade and diplomacy, and its manufacture was strictly controlled to meet the highest standards. Later, Chinese ceramics, even of the finest quality, were produced on industrial scale. The English to this day call their classiest willow-pattern tea sets ‘china’, in deference to the country that set the loftiest standards in this art form.

I found myself gazing at each of the vases on display, marveling at the intricate, glazed designs in blue and white. Moviemakers like to use the Ming vase as the ultimate collector’s icon and up close, they deserve the status, being both exquisite and evocative.

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Hanging in Hangzhou The temperatures being well over 30deg on some days, it’s a relief to arrive in leafy Hangzhou, pronounced ‘hung joe’, a crowded bullet-train ride of about 45 minutes from Shanghai. Hangzhou, known as China’s garden city, is a timeous antidote to Shanghai’s busy streets and as a South African, I was starting to appreciate our tree heritage, because there are noticeably few green canopies in metropolitan China.

The great attraction of Hangzhou is its man-made West Lake, a paradise of water, forest, flowers, lotuses and pagodas and an inspiration to poets and scholars since the 9th century. Getting lost in this romantic haze of loveliness is easy, because West Lake is vast at around 60 square kilometers, surrounded by forest glades and the best way to explore it is to hop on a boat followed by a walk next to the lake. As I round a section of it, I spot what looks like

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people walking on the water …. It turns out they are setting up the underwater stage for the famous Impression West Lake show, a spectacle of music, light and theatre that unfolds on the lake itself.

Dreaming of returning and settling here for a week, I went in search of the most auspicious hotel on the lake and found the elegant Four Seasons hotel, a traditional combined with contemporary style hideout laid out like a garden village, with most of its suites looking over the lake.

It gives off a rather austere, business-like feel, but I gather it’s family-friendly with babysitting services and if you want to head

Beijing, a time puzzle

into town, only about 5kms away, guests are offered free bikes.

Suffice it to say, Hangzhou is a holiday city akin to Cape Town x 10, so there’s a serious party circuit and leisure-cumentertainment programme on the go here.

It has some of the best bars and nighclubs in China, but for now I’m off to the famous National Tea Museum and Plantation, situated in the midst of the Longjing Tea Plantation, to sample some green tea.

China has the world’s longest history in tea culture, and here is the place to get to know more about tea's humble ‘Middle Kingdom’ origins and exalted history. About 300 different kinds of tea are on display at the museum and after a tea ceremony, it’s impossible to leave without a tin or two of the stuff to take home. There’s no solid evidence that green tea combats cancer, but it’s full of antioxidants, so its claims to promoting longevity are probably true for the Chinese at least, as many drink it continually through the day.

Summer Palace, a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design first built in 1750 as a playground of the emperors.

Unlike the overpoweringly flat and treeless Forbidden City adjoining Tianaman Square, Summer Palace is a pastoral getaway full of temples, gardens, pavilions, lakes, bridges and gate-towers.

Destroyed during the Second Opium War of the 1850s, it was reconstructed

by Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty for use by his aunt, Empress Dowager Cixi, and I’m imagining her wandering through the exquisitely decorated roofed corridors that link the residential complexes to reception halls and stages, towards the quay, then stepping onto a boat for a summery laze on the lake.

At the quay close to the western foot of Longevity Hill at the Summer Palace is the stationary Marble Boat, built in 1755 with a base made from huge stones. It immediately catches my eye because tourists aren’t allowed near it, so it’s like

There’s a Katie Melua song that begins, ‘there are nine million bicycles in Beijing’.

Not so. There are lots of electric bikes and scooters, but cars have long since eclipsed the bicycle as the main mode of transport in this city. Still, Beijing, with its history stretching back three millennia, retains a strong feel of its ancient past in its walls, gates and gardens, not to mention its renowned palaces and temples.

Beijing is where best to access the Great Wall of China from and it’s home to the sweeping Tianamen Square, but I’m more interested in the imperial

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an unusual oasis in a sea of thousands of visitors milling around everywhere throughout the palace.

It’s also striking because it harks to a Mississippi riverboat design, because in 1893 Empress Cixi had it rebuilt using a Western design, so it’s the only westernstyle structure in the Summer Palace. Inlaid with colorful glass windows and wheels and paved with colored bricks, there are huge mirrors fixed on each deck, so Cixi could enjoy the exquisite lake scene while having tea.

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Thinking of Empress Cixi and all her privileges, I’ve been gradually noticing the respect afforded to Beijing’s older citizens, who are wonderfully communal in their after-dinner tai chi or dance routines and Chinese checker games on the city’s pavements. The West could take a leaf out of China’s book where the elderly are concerned.

I’m inspired by the gardens of Summer Palace, so an ideal hotel to perpetuate the fantasy is the super luxurious Shangri La hotel, which boasts a 3,000sqm garden, with Koi ponds, Chinese pavilions and waterfalls, a natural retreat among the urban confines of Beijing.

Our itinerary includes a visit to the Jade Museum before leaving Beijing, this translucent stone having a 4000 year old history in China and believed to have strong healing powers. I find the jewellery a bit bland design-wise… the bigger, carved pieces are far more interesting.

Most intriguing is the jade ‘happiness ball’, intricately decorated multi-layered orbs carved from one solid piece of jade.

Grade A jade is a good investment, I’m told, but from Beijing I’m taking home a beautiful, dragon-covered tea set, in deference to China’s ancient roots and my own resolve to get healthier.

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Cathay launches Business Class for South Africans Cathay Pacific launched its award-winning new Business Class seats to its South African customers when the Boeing 777ER started flying daily between Johannesburg and Hong Kong on 2 September 2014.

"This is an enhanced product design made after consolidating the feedback from our customers," said Frosti Lau, Country Manager for Cathay Pacific in South Africa.

“Some of our frequent travellers from South Africa sampled the new product earlier this year when we occasionally operated the 777ER aircraft on the route due to rotation, and they have been asking about when we are going to have it permanently.”

Cocooned in their own private area, the design of the New Business Class product allows customers to control the

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degree of privacy and interaction they prefer. You can move the seat forward to converse with a travel companion or move the seat back for more privacy if they prefer to enjoy their own space.

The new generation full flatbed takes customers’ sleeping experience to the next level. The bed is just over two meters long after converting the seat for flat-out comfort.

The bed extension increases its width by 16.5cm to provide additional hip support, while the side storage compartment offers extra knee space for sleeping on the side.

Customers can also choose to lift up the armrest for more privacy, or leave it down for more space for their shoulders.

The new Business Class has a place for everything: the side cabinet consists of

not only the headset, but a vanity mirror and room for small items such as glasses and gadgets. The cabinet door also acts as a privacy divider when it opens.

Customers can enjoy a world of entertainment, where a touch of a button opens the touch-screen personal TV with Audio and Video on Demand. The award winning StudioCX features of 100 movies, 500TV shows, 888 music CDs, 22 radio channels, 70 games, and with 10 languages represented of which customers are sure to find something that they will enjoy.

"If you have some music or movies on your smartphone or tablet, you can also plug into our system and make use of the noise cancelling headphones to enjoy your own choice of entertainment too." said Lau.

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THE AWARD-WINNING TWELVE APOSTLES HOTEL AND SPA IS SITUATED ON CAPE TOWN’S – IF NOT THE WORLD’S – MOST SCENIC ROUTE

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Cape Winelands are but a scenic drive away. A complimentary shuttle service (08:00 – 21:30) is offered to nearby Camps Bay, the V&A Waterfront and the city centre; alternatively be whisked away on an exhilarating helicopter flight from the hotel’s own helistop, presenting spectacular aerial views along the peninsula of Robben Island, Clifton and Lion’s Head.

A member of Leading Hotels of the World, The Twelve Apostles is repeatedly voted one of the best on the continent. African style and classic European comfort affirm the elegance of

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lanked by the Twelve Apostles mountain range and majestic Table Mountain National Park, a World Heritage Site which has gained New7Wonders of Nature status, it is poised high above the Atlantic Ocean. Guided by a luminescent marine reserve with frequent whale and dolphin sightings, the hotel offers the longest hours of sunshine in Cape Town, resulting in legendary Atlantic Ocean sunsets that are guaranteed to make a stay here a breath taking experience.

The five-star boutique hotel offers easy access to spectacular beaches and tourist attractions, while the famous

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With a mantra of ‘no request is too large, no detail too small’, it is of no surprise that The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa was voted by Travel + Leisure as one of the World’s 500 Best Hotels in 2014 the hotel, which boasts 70 individually designed bedrooms and suites, including a Presidential Suite. Part of the familyrun Red Carnation Hotel Collection, The Twelve Apostles Hotel offers splendid luxury, passionate service, generous hospitality and exquisite cuisine.

The property is a popular venue for conferences and events and the perfect choice for a special occasion whether for an intimate dinner for two,

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a gathering of friends and family, or an extravagant banquet for up to 80 people in the gorgeous Atlantic Terrace Marquee. It is a sought-after honeymoon and wedding destination too, offering the service of a dedicated Wedding Co-ordinator to ensure that each couple experiences the perfect wedding.

The Twelve Apostles offers many complimentary touches that are extended to guests. These start upon arrival, when guests are offered a welcome drink of sparkling wine or chilled Rooibos tea while they check in. Children of all ages are welcome and cared for with children’s activity packs, special turn

to special pet menus and amenities.

Hotel guests are spoilt for choice with a wide range of facilities and activities on offer, from relaxing next to the infinity or heated rock pools,

For more information: +27 (0)21 437 9255 reservations1@12apostles.co.za www.12apostleshotel.com

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down services, child-friendly menu options and plenty of space to run around and play. Small pets may also be accommodated in room types that offer access to the garden, and will be treated

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to enjoying movie nights in the 16seat private cinema, and experiencing mountain walks and picnics in the National Park. The holistic spa at The Twelve Apostles allows guests to succumb to the hands of expert therapists with treatments that heal, restore and pamper. Personalised, individual treatments are on offer, in addition to signature spa journeys which focus on holistic principles, combining ancient wisdom with modern expertise, and using B|Africa, the signature product of choice in all Red Carnation Hotel Collection South Africa spas.

Gourmets will delight in the superb culinary experience on offer by Executive Chef Christo Pretorius and head Sommelier Gregory Mutambe at Azure Restaurant, which was recognised in the American Express Platinum Fine Dining and Diners Club Winelist of the Year awards in 2013. Diners are spoilt for choice with the finest local and international cuisine that may be enjoyed at the fireside in the elegant dining room, or on the stunning terrace overlooking the ocean. Food and wine pairing dinners are presented on a monthly basis to showcase some of South Africa’s top wineries.

‘Tea by the Sea’, the legendary Twelve Apostles High Tea is served daily and includes delicate finger sandwiches and sweet temptations served with the finest selection of fragrant teas and coffees. The hotel has also gained a reputation as a music hot spot, and there is no better way to indulge in both culinary and musical delights than enjoying the weekly Saturday Jazz Lunch and Serendipity Sunday Lunch in the Azure Restaurant. Live music is also available nightly in the famous Leopard Bar, which has the reputation of being one of the best venues in Cape Town to mingle with locals for classic cocktails as the sun sets across the Atlantic Ocean.

With a mantra of ‘no request is too large, no detail too small’, it is of no surprise that The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa was voted by Travel + Leisure as one of the World’s 500 Best Hotels in 2014.

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IN THE LIWONDE NATIONAL PARK, ALONGSIDE A LAGOON OFF THE SHIRE RIVER WHICH FLOWS FROM LAKE MALAWI TO THE ZAMBEZI RIVER-IS MVUU LODGE

words: Gillian McLaren images: Martin Benadie

wild, untamed

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beauty B

lending into the riverine setting, this Wilderness Safaris destination offers a unique game and bird viewing experience.

Where there is water, there is life. Relaxing in a wicker chair, on the covered verandah of one of the eight Mvuu Lodge tents, set between trees on the edge of a floodplain lagoon off the Shire River, you can watch warthog families trotting down to the lagoon’s edge for a drink, wallowing in the water or snuffling for roots and grasses on their calloused ‘fore-knees’.

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Yellow baboons, so much more polite than our Chacma baboons, insouciantly carry out their day to day activities much like a human community, providing lots of amusing moments. As the lodge is unfenced, any game can walk through the site and it does. Elephants casually move through the lodge area, across the sandy paths lined with dry leadwood branches and with a gentle eye on visitors, strip bark off their favourite trees.

Sometimes you have to wait a while to stroll from your tent to the dining area, as the elephants browse in their leisurely manner. What a thrill to stand close enough to see their eyelashes, tail hairs and the underside of their padded feet.

Raised on a high platform, at treetop level, the lounge and dining area of Mvuu Lodge is a favoured spot for gazing at the marshy lagoon area and the wide expanse of the Shire River (pronounced Shir-ee) and their inhabitants. It is easy to linger after a tasty meal, to stare at the huge 3m crocodile that basks in the sunshine on a particular bank, then periodically slips into the water, with seemingly evil intentions. Waterbuck drink at the lagoon edge, but are never relaxed and startle easily. Tall Borassus palms, which line the river course opposite the lodge, are festooned with white-breasted cormorants, which squabble as they vie for space above the fish-filled river.

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From the dining area, a raised wooden boardwalk leads to the dock, the departure point for the sunset cruise.

Along the wide Shire River, pods of hippo warily eye the motorised boat.

Expect to spot iridescent malachite kingfishers, many different kinds of herons and storks, as well as an array of ducks, as you sip a Malawi gin and tonic and nibble on snacks. This is the place to try for your iconic African sunset photo as elephants slake their thirst and fish eagles give their evocative call from the top of a palm tree.

Don’t miss the night drive. There is something of the forbidden, something exciting about being out in the African

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Where there is water, there is life.

Relaxing in a wicker chair, on the covered verandah of one of the eight Mvuu Lodge tents

bush at night, when you can only glimpse what the spotlight may reveal. It is a time when you see creatures that are less well known and ones that seem mysterious, because of their nocturnal lifestyle.

At Mvuu Lodge, guides are respectful of the diurnal animals and do not shine the light on them. You may see water mongoose, Mellor’s mongoose or white tailed mongoose. The elusive Pel’s fishing PRESTIGE: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

owl is fairly often seen here when it is hunting next to the river.

Mvuu Lodge guides know their biology, so will teach you as much as you would like to know, about the ecosystem and its inhabitants. During the morning walk, you come to realise the importance of scatology as the guide waxes eloquent about different mounds of dung he finds en route! Like a detective, he tells you

how the shape of the droppings reveal which animal has been there, its diet, healthiness and diseases. It is fascinating to observe baboon spider’s webs, antlionthe predacious larval form of an insect resembling a dragonfly- and other microlife of the bush, which you miss from the comfort of a game vehicle.

For up close and personal viewing of the endangered black rhino, you can visit the fenced Sanctuary in Liwonde, where a limited number of people receive permits to track these rhinos on foot, each day. With your Mvuu Lodge guide and led by an armed guard from the Liwonde National Park, you trek through the bush

Contact Details Wilderness Safaris www.wilderness-safaris.com/camps/ mvuu-lodge m1@wilderness.mw

Malawian Airlines has daily flights from OR Tambo International Airport to Lilongwe and Blantyre. In two hours, you will experience the warm heart of Africa. No visas required for South Africans.

For reservations: Resjnb3w@aviareps.com +27 11 722 0230

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Whereas some luxury lodges feel somewhat distant from the bush, with the chalets being a kind of airconditioned bubble, at Mvuu Lodge you feel you are part of the environment and amongst the animals and plants. The nights are dark or lit only by the moon and a myriad stars, so it is blissful to leave the curtains of your tent up and fall into untroubled sleep after idly watching tree shadows on your tent sides. Come the morning, a splash in the water wakes you as a pied kingfisher dives for his first meal of the day.

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to find these intriguing animals, which have to be closely guarded from poachers.

After a walk, it is sheer joy to return to your Meru-style tent to use the outdoor shower that is open to the heavens. The tent is spacious, has everything you need and nothing you don’t, with a comfortable king-sized bed canopied by a mosquito net, side tables and a desk. Distance between the units and the indigenous vegetation ensures privacy. Tent number five also has a round, alfresco bath with love seat for two, with a sublime view of the reed-lined lagoon and fever trees.

Robin Pope Safaris, a member of Classic Camps of Africa, has excellent Safari lodges in Malawi, including Pumulani and Mikulumadzi. www.robinpopesafaris.net info@robinpopesafaris.net +265 (0) 179 5483/4491

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marvelous

meat HEALTH FADDISTS ARE UP IN ARMS SINCE WORLD-

RENOWNED FITNESS AND NUTRITION SPECIALIST PROFESSOR TIM NOAKES ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT NUTRITION AND OUR DIETS. GWYNNE CONLYN WENT

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IN SEARCH OF THE BEST

I

PROTEIN IN TOWN.

n his best selling book, The Real Meal Revolution, Noakes says the bottom line is that fatty meat is the star and all carbohydrates – especially rice and potatoes – should be dropped. As a cookbook, it’s part myth-busting scientific thriller and part delightful recipe book.

Noakes says that Doctor Atkins, the American who propounded a similar diet, was spot-on. Although Atkins created quite a following, for the most part people kept with the constantly punted low fat diets (and all the low-fat products that kept on having super sales).

Now Noakes has not for a moment looked back and runs better than ever before, even showing off his new six-pack.

There were no six packs available at The Wolftrap Steakhouse Championships

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2014 awards. Instead there was good wine in the form of The Wolftrap blend of Syrah, Mourvedre and Viognier. There was also a lovely white wine version, but my focus is on the red with red meat.

The five finalists for this year’s Awards were chosen by MasterChef SA’s

three judges, Pete Goffe-Wood, Benny Masekwameng and Reuben Riffel, as well as by public voting. The judges visited all five finalists multiple times and while these five are this country’s best, when it came to judging, two of the five – both in Gauteng – stood out above the rest.

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The best steaks aren’t always the superbly prepared ones at the

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world’s high-end restaurants

Ultimately, it was the Local Grill’s expertise in not only all matters meat but also accurate grilling and top of the range service that made them the best in this championship for the second year in a row.

Steve Maresh and his enormously enthusiastic team at The Local Grill in Parktown North pulled out all the

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stops on this day serving 90-day aged Charolais sirloin steak.

Beef is lauded as one of the most nutritious foods and is majorly fulfilling (after Noakes has a plateful of beef he says it takes 24 hours before he’s hungry again). As well as being a high quality protein, beef is a great source of Vitamin

B as well as the most absorbable form of iron (so no iron supplements needed).

Contrary to Noakes’s current thinking, beef protects us against heart disease because it contains both saturated and monounsatured fat which is thought to protect against heart disease.

The best steaks aren’t always the

say: “Did you ever see the customers in health-food stores? They are pale, skinny people who look half dead. In a steak house you see robust, ruddy people.”

Crosby Street Hotel

The Final Five Steakhouses for 2014 (in alphabetical order):

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France and are raised for their fabulous meat – is The Local Grill’s choice here.

In support of the health-promoting beef-eaters, here’s what Bill Cosby had to

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superbly prepared ones at the world’s high-end restaurants. There’s Wagyu and Kobe, for instance. But beef form Charolais cattle – which originated in

Fahrenheit (Edenvale) – Johannesburg, Gauteng HQ (Cape Town) – Western Cape The Godfather (Centurion) – Pretoria, Gauteng The Local Grill (Parktown North) – Johannesburg, Gauteng Theo’s Grill (Mouille Point) – Western Cape

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out and about with

whisky THE SPEYSIDE EPISODE.

PATRICK LECLEZIO TOASTS

THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM A

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TOUR TO END ALL TOURS

remember my first trip to Scotland like it was yesterday – partly because if fell over 11 September 2001 (I heard the news at a little pub on the banks of Loch Ness) but also, more cheerfully, because it introduced me to the world’s ultimate whisky destination.

The area on either side of the Spey River in the Highlands of Scotland – a span located approximately between the cities of Aberdeen and Inverness – is undoubtedly the most special place in the whisky world. Scotch whisky divides its formidable universe into five official regions: the Highlands, the Lowlands, Islay, Campbeltown, and Speyside.

The latter, the object of my current affections – colloquially known as Strathspey, is by a Scottish country mile the most prolific, being home to some 49 malt whisky distilleries. I was recently gifted the privilege of a return visit, as part of a tour to celebrate Glen Grant Single Malt’s just-launched 50YO. It was a trip to remember. Here are a few highlights of the region for the whisky pilgrim. May the dram be with you.

The Craigellachie Hotel Their website claims 750, their staff told us that it’s now over a thousand. That’s the number of whiskies they offer at their bar (The Quaich), and whatever the precise figure might be it’s a lot – something about

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shaking a stick comes to mind. The hotel, despite its renown, or maybe because of it, is completely unobtrusive – the generic ‘Hotel’ lettering being the only signage advertising its presence.

There’s a deep sense of rustic Scotland that resides here, from the copper light fittings at the front door, to the preponderance of wood: wooden bar, wooden chairs, tables, and shelves - all that was missing was a couple of casks.

It’s an undeniably special place at which to pause in a journey to enjoy a few drams.

Appropriately enough our barman was South African, more appropriate still, he’s the son of one of the owners of Wild about Whisky,

South Africa’s answer to the Craigellachie Hotel. It’s a small and strange world.

Loch Ness The Monster might be a laughable concoction but you’ve got to give it to those canny Scots – they’ve taken an ordinary, albeit picturesque lake and transformed it into a tourist attraction of global repute. The upshot is that tour boats ply the waters regularly, transporting the gullible, the cynical and all paying customers in between over this ‘mystical’ expanse of water.

And so it was that I found myself basking on a deck, sipping whisky with

my fellow tour-mates in the soft Scottish sunlight, watching castles, ruins and other pleasant sights of little consequence as they drifted past. In short it’s a brilliant way to spend an afternoon – just for a lark. Here too, as almost everywhere else in Speyside, the connection to whisky is never far away; the loch’s waters owe their murkiness to dissolved peat, the same stuff that’s burnt to impart a distinct smoky flavour to certain whiskies.

Glen Grant The stills, the mash tuns, the washbacks, and even the quaint stone buildings are much the same as at other distilleries in the area but the spectacular gardens, set in a glen carved out by the Black Burn, ensure that the distillery lives in a league all of its own.

We meandered through them at a leisurely pace, stopping for a picnic under a pagoda, before eventually reaching the ‘Dram Hut’, a yonks old structure accommodating a whisky safe fixed into the rock - not some sort of decorative spirit safe mind you, an actual metal strongbox containing whisky (you can’t make up this stuff!), where we were treated to a few drams of the Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 25YO. This whisky dates back to an earlier era, some of it being as old as 37 years, when the distillery still made a peated malt, so it seemed like quite a fitting drink to facilitate our pursuit of a deeper acquaintance with the place – and the more of it we drank, the more facilitated we felt.

Scottish cuisine

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The Scots are not known for their food but it turns out that some of it is pretty damn good. Aberdeen Angus, the breed of cattle exalted in Argentina and other meat-loving countries, originates from nearby and quality steaks of this fine beef are in ready supply all over Speyside.

We did not desist in our appreciation.

Likewise we filled our boots with local scallops, Scottish salmon – smoked over wood chips made from old whisky casks – and most notably, haggis, served in the traditional manner, with neeps (turnips) and tatties (potatoes), both mashed.

The customary breakfasts in these parts – similar to the English version but with the addition of baked beans and black pudding – is also well worth trying. And to those apprehensive at the thought of haggis and black pudding let me say this – don’t think about it, just go for it, they’re both delicious.

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SLAMMING SHOTS, FILLING FLASKS, CRADLING CRYSTAL

the rituals of

AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. PATRICK LECLEZIO CONSIDERS THE

drinking CONTEXTS OF CONSUMPTION

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n a trip to Zanzibar some time ago I brought with me two flasks, charged to their brims. The much anticipated contents, when I finally disgorged them, were undrinkable. Now I was entirely to blame – I hadn’t properly seasoned the one and I’d left the liquor inside for far too long – but the experience left me with an aversion to these vessels. I’ve come to associate them with the potential for contamination. Yet, come rugby season every year, I bring out my flasks religiously. It’s a tradition, a custom, a ritual, a habit – call it what you will – that starts with the filling, progresses to the sneaking (past security), and culminates in the sharing and swigging (in the stands during the course of the game). I love it. It’s a routine that amplifies my pleasure, for both the drink and the game. Make no mistake - these contexts in which we drink are important. I’ve often maintained that our enjoyment (and interpretation) of flavour is psychosomatic i.e. influenced by factors external to the liquid itself. So while we should absolutely prioritise our picking – if we don’t get that right it’ll be a losing battle - we should also pay heed, increasingly, to the how, when and where the object of our selection will be consumed. Here are a few suggestions to heighten the appreciation of fine spirits.

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because it’s a drink that demands (well, almost) a certain attire and consequently a certain occasion. But earlier this year I found myself appropriately suited and booted – black tuxedo, dress shirt, bow tie, pocket square…the whole nine yards – and suddenly the moment was upon me.

Nothing but a martini (I’m not even going to dignify that there might be a choice of which) would do. It defies the coldest logic, but it’s simply not possible to equate the pleasure of a martini with and without black tie. The former is infinitely superior.

As I sipped my Hendricks martini (go bold or go home), flashed the cuffs of my Viyella jacket and introduced myself surname first followed by first name and surname again, I lived the realisation that this was an indisputable conclusion.

Stogie I’m not a prolific brandy drinker but recently I’ve become increasingly inclined to partake of our local potstills. They’re generally excellent and they’re available in ever-widening variety – as I began to better appreciate at a sampling of the Mount Nelson’s brandy and tapas menu. Boutique or craft potstill brandies are the order of the day – with names such as Savingnac, Uitkyk, Tokara, and Joseph Barrie leading the charge. While these and their more mainstream fellows are just fine all on their own (I remain dubious about pairing spirits with meals, little tapas snacks maybe… at a stretch), they’re propelled into the stratosphere when partnered with a good cigar. The intersection of a mild cigar (Davidoff Classic No. 2 for me, but stronger if you’re a veteran), a rich potstill (Van Ryn’s 15YO?) and a balloon glass (think swirling smoke), offers the perfect vantage point from which to contemplate life and sigh contentedly.

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fter its sought-after collaboration with Kaws, Futura and Os Gemeos, Hennessy Very Special has invited Shepard Fairey, arguably one of the most important and most popular American artists of the early 21st century, to design his own Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition.

The colour schemes used on the label enhance the direct parallel between his signature styling and Hennessy’s trademark aesthetics. Lifting key features from iconic Hennessy designs as well as his own designs, the Very Special Limited Edition by Shepard Fairey represents the artist’s unique interpretation of the perfect balance between tradition and innovation.

Quintessentially Hennessy, Hennessy Very Special is a reference in the art of blending for its unique style. Hennessy Very Special is the modern incarnation of Hennessy’s Three star and the world’s most popular Cognac.

The union of warm-hearted and full bodied flavours, Hennessy Very Special endures through the ages and seduces connoisseurs searching for a very special moment.

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Hennessy Very Special Limited Edition is available in all major liquor outlets in August 2014.

Recommended price: R319

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the truth about

terroir THE WINES FROM

AVONDALE IN THE PAARL VALLEY ARE A TRUE

EXPRESSION OF ‘TERROIR’, THANKS TO PROPRIETOR BELIEF IN THE MAGIC OF BIODYNAMIC FARMING PRACTICES WITH A LITTLE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE

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his is no ordinary wine tasting. I’m sitting in Avondale’s tasting room with proprietor Johnathan Grieve, working my way through the estate’s collection of handcrafted wines made according to biodynamic farming principles. In the glass is the Cyclus 2012, a blend of white varietals - Viognier, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc and Semillon – with violets on the nose and a hint of frangipani too.

Grieve is busy explaining how the moon and planetary cycles influence, and potentially change, the way we enjoy a particular wine on different days. Ever the sceptic, I take another delicious sip and learn that the lunar calendar, which governs many aspects of biodynamic farming, is believed to play a role in how a wine will be experienced depending on whether it is tasted during the fruit, root, flower or leaf cycle. The flower cycle is generally regarded as the best time to taste wine.

words: jane broughton

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To understand the transformation of Avondale into a serious player in the biodynamic wine arena, I ask Johnathan where it all began. When John and Ginny Grieve, the owners of health foods brand Vital Foods, bought a picturesque but run-down farm on the slopes of the Klein Drakenstein Mountains in 1997, they planned to indulge their love of farming and make some wine. Early records indicated that it was one of the first farms in the Paarl valley allocated specifically for the production of wine grapes.

After a devastating fire swept through the farm in 2000, their youngest son, Johnathan, saw an opportunity to start from scratch and set about reviving the vineyards from the ground up. The soil was depleted due to years of monoculture, the indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and eons of leaching. Through trial and error, he developed BioLogic – a term he coined for a unique approach to farming that places as much emphasis on organic and biodynamic practices as it does on scientific feedback. Key to biodynamic farming is the nurturing of biodiversity as a measure of the environment’s robustness. Avondale was thus an early recipient of sought-after Biodiversity in Wine (BWI) certification.

Avondale’s ethos is ‘Terra est vita’, which means ‘soil is life’, and Johnathan’s approach to farming is all about revitalising the land, returning all the natural fungi, microbes and organisms to the soil so that it can ultimately balance itself. There are ducks to eat the snails and slugs, ladybirds and wasps to kill mealy bugs and nitrogenrich cover crops to bind free nitrogen from the air into the soil.

The farm has 13 different soil types with each soil type divided into blocks of around one hectare each which are treated and tended individually with a mix of cover crops and the addition of concentrated sea solids to replenish whichever minerals are lacking in the soils and bring the entire system into balance so that the vines can thrive.

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strange rituals, such as burying a cow horn full of manure in the soil before digging it up again and using it to fertilise the vines. Grieve uses a full spectrum of biodynamic methods and preparations.

These include following an astronomic planting calendar, which takes into account the influence of various cosmic forces on the natural environment.

Biodynamic grapes are farmed organically, which means no man-made fertilisers or preservatives are used at any stage of the winemaking process from vineyard to cellar. Furthermore, the

grapes are farmed in accordance with the earth’s movements along a series of farming guidelines developed by the late Rudolf Steiner. For example, natural nutrition and biodynamic preparations are best applied at full moon. During this phase one has the greatest movement of sap in the plant and gets the best uptake and results.

Through this unique wine-making process, Avondale produces a collection of seven wines: Camissa, a rosé with a delicious Turkish Delight bouquet; Cyclus, a richly layered white blend;

Wine, dine and learn

To find out more about these events and to book for one of them, call 021-863 1976 or email wine@avondalewine.co.za Avondale Estate, Lustigan Road, Klein Drakenstein, Paarl www.avondalewine.co.za. The tasting room is open from Monday to Saturday, 10h00 to 16h00.

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yeasts are used and the bare minimum of sulphur is added. The low level of sulphites in these wines makes them extremely approachable and easier to drink immediately after uncorking. It also makes them attractive to allergy sufferers.

While the lengths to which an estate, such as Avondale, is going to adhere to biodynamic farming practices is part of a greater lifestyle philosophy, for the consumer what ultimately matters is whether the wines taste good and this is always going to be a matter of personal preference.

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Anima, a Chenin Blanc to take seriously; La Luna, a soft and supple classic red blend; Samsara, a beautiful fruit-driven Syrah; Navitas, the flagship, limitedrelease red blend; and Armilla, a celebratory sparkling wine made from 100 percent Chardonnay grapes in the Methode Cap Classique tradition.

The adherence to natural processes continues in the ultra-modern gravityflow cellar. All the wines are made from hand-harvested, organically grown grapes, whole-bunch pressed then naturally fermented. Only natural wild

Johnathan Grieve hosts a series of Biodynamic luncheons on the farm, always in collaboration with a top Cape chef. The aim is not only to showcase his wines but to enlighten guests about biodynamic sustainable living practices.

Avondale also offers a festive food and wine pairing on the farm, every year during the Cape’s peak summer season (mid November to mid January).

Take the Avondale Eco Tour, which includes a welcome glass of estate bubbly, a vineyard tour and wine tasting in the particular vineyard blocks where the grapes were grown, and a visit to the winery’s state-of-the-art gravity flow cellar.

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WINE

blending

in THE 2013 DINER’S CLUB WINEMAKER

OF THE YEAR, CHRISTIAAN GROENEWALD,

HELD A DINNER AND TASTING OF HIS ARENDSKLOOF

VOETSPORE TANNAT SYRAH 2011 AT SIGNATURE RESTAURANT IN JOHANNESBURG. HE SPOKE TO

CHRIS BUCHANAN ABOUT THE ACCOLADE AND THE WINE.

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outh Africans are suckers for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz, and as Bordeaux blends have become more and more popular with winemakers, so the names Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec have entered the radar, not as standalone cultivars but as blending varietals. Imagine the wine fraternity’s reaction when a Tannat/Syrah blend made it onto the Diner’s Club winemaker short list?

Christiaan Groenewald’s face lights up when we talk about this and he sees it as a bit of a coup.

“Tannat blends with anything”, he says, “if you get your canopy

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The cooler slopes were perfect for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir while the rocky soil on the other side was ideal for other reds and Tannat in particular future. This is a winemaker who loves to innovate, experiment and push the boundaries of conventional thinking in wine. Dave Hughes, chairman of the Diners Club judging panel, made a comment which seemed to vindicate Christiaan’s innovative approach to an unconventional varietal – “The quality of uncommon combinations was exceptionally good this year.”

The Diners Club Winemaker of the Year accolade has clearly motivated Christiaan to continue offering his local and international market alternatives to the perceived norm and for now, he says the pressure is on to prove his Arendskloof Tannat Syrah 2011 is not a fluke.

Tasting Notes: ARENDSKLOOF TANNAT SYRAH VOETSPORE 2011 Distinctly different nose packed with ripe plum, prunes and hints of treacle and anise. Rich red berries with dark rose in the background.

Dark chocolate is there with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Some tarry tones emerge at the edges.

Firm tannins give great grip in full, ripe-fruited mouth. Great depth of flavours that follow the nose with an addition of clove and dark cherry.

Beautifully managed oak. Long finish and loads of potential.

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management right on the vine and harvest at the right time you don’t get overbearing tannins and a wine that is balanced on its own or as a blender”.

Arendskloof began life as New Cape Wines, founded by Christiaan in 2000 after he converted the family peach farm into vines in 1997. It’s situated in the Breede River valley between Worcester and Villiersdorp so gets a Karoo influence on the cool breezes at night from Hermanus. Two distinct terroir, south east and north west, presented the opportunity for completely different styles on one property.

“The cooler slopes were perfect for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir while the rocky soil on the other side was ideal for other reds and Tannat in particular.”

He built the cellar in 2005 and 2006 saw the first wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, produced on the property under the Eagle’s Cliff label, inspired by the pair of black (Verreaux) eagles that had made the surrounding cliffs their home.

Christiaan’s experimenting with Tannat and eventual 50/50 blend with Syrah saw the premium Aarendskloof label into the world with the first Voetspore in 2009. He admits that it was a difficult sell, but those who tried it, kept coming back for more. The Wine Village’s Paul du Toit shared the same sentiment, developing a substantial demand for a grape within a non-Bordeaux blend in a market where Bordeaux blends are becoming “all the rage”.

“The market is ready for something different, maybe I’ll look at 100% Tannat in the future.” Christiaan says Tannat wants you to work hard with it, “it can take a bit of a hammering”. He adds that Tannat likes wood and the 2011 is all wood but maybe there’s an opportunity for no wood in the

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set

sail FACING AN EVER EVOLVING

GLOBAL MARKET, THE WAUQUIEZ

SHIPYARD, SPECIALISTS IN SEMI-CUSTOM BUILT SAILING YACHTS, COMBINES FRENCH ELEGANCE WITH KNOW-HOW TO OFFER HIGH PERFORMANCE, COMFORTABLE AND RELIABLE VESSELS.

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THE CONSTRUCTION OF

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auquiez exports more than 50% of its production to Australia, Russia, Germany, UK, and now has an agency in South Africa on the eve of its 50th birthday in 2015.

Wauquiez believes in elegance combined with reliability and performance within a luxurious cabin environment for absolute comfort while cruising the oceans. Materials are chosen for their sustainability and the shipyard has a comprehensive manufacture and finishing facility to customise the vessels to the specification of the owners.

Its slender design, racing lines and silhouette make it perfect for leisure sailing

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competition or

For more information: Aegir Performance Yachts Cape Town +27 72 244 1982 info@aegirperformanceyachts.co.za

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The shipyard offers 3 categories of performance yacht: • Daysailor: Optio • Performance cruiser: Opium and Centurion • Open sea cruising: Pilot Saloon Launched in 2013, the Optio is a nine metre daysailor by Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design with a profiled deck, timeless lines and a spacious interior perfect for weekend or pre-regatta sleeping. Equipment and specification are customised according to the client’s needs.

Inspired by the open sea regattas of the sixties, the Opium 39 (11,80 metres), is designed by Marc Lombard and built for lovers of high performance cruising. In spite of its sporty heritage it’s easy to pilot and has a spacious and luxurious interior using a combination of waxed teak and composite materials.

Launched in September 2013 in Cannes, the Centurion 57 has been nominated for the title of “Luxury Yacht of the Year” in the category “Luxury Cruiser”.

As powerful and easy to handle as a racing yacht, the Centurion is equally comfortable and luxurious as a traditional cruiser.

The Centurion 405.2 is the next generation of impressive of high quality yachts. Its slender design, racing lines and silhouette make it perfect for competition or leisure sailing.

The Pilot Saloon 47 and 55 range was designed in collaboration with BerretRacoupeau Yacht Design.

Exclusive style, panoramic 360 degree views and a spacious and elevated cockpit are hallmarks of this luxury ocean cruiser.

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are we there

YET? PORSCHE CREATED A STIR BY STATING FROM THE GET-GO THAT ITS MACAN MINI-SUV IS ACTUALLY A SPORTS CAR. SPEND A DAY

WITH IT IN THE WESTERN CAPE AS WE DID, THREADING OVER

FRANSCHHOEK PASS OR REVELLING IN ITS PIN-POINT STEERING AND BODY-ROLL MANAGEMENT THROUGH THE HIGH-SPEED SWEEPERS OVER HOUWHOEK, AND YOU’LL ENDORSE ANY PORSCHE MISSIVE THAT PLUGS THAT LINE.

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words: Stuart Johnston

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ere is a car that is based on the classy, but very much people orientated Audi Q5 platform and yet it rewards the driver in much the same way that a two-seater (Porsche) Cayman does in its amazing integration of chassis rigidity, driver control accuracy and feedback, and its sports-car orientation even in the architecture of such a roomy, five-seater cross-over SUV. If the Golf GTi once and for all revised the way we view the common driveway

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hatchback, the Porsche Macan has finally made the Sports Utility Vehicle a real alternative to….well, a sports car!

Okay, traditionally, sports cars are meant to be inherently selfish vehicles, where you and your girlfriend or significant

other sally forth on a blast to some remote hamlet far from the prying eyes of your neighbours, revelling en-route at the tingly sensations from a throttle pedal sending high-frequency vibes up your accelerator leg, and a gear-stick that requires the skill

model up is the three-litre petrol V6 Macan S, with a step-up in peak power to 250 kW although, logically there is less torque than the grunty diesel (460 Nm). This one will cost you R873 000 and cuts your 0-100 /km time from the low sixes of the diesel to 5.24 seconds.

And if you are the type of person who simply has to own the top model in the range, you will shell out R1 243 000 for the 3.6-litre V6 Macan Turbo S, its 294 kW giving you 4.8 second 0-100 km/h sprint-ability, and a top whack of 266 km/h.

There now. That should get the attention of the kids in the back seat!

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half of Porsche’s world-wide production but we believe that is about to change.

The Macan is going to be the biggestselling Porsche in history, as it does just about everything the Cayenne can do but in terms of being a sports car, it simply does it better!

You can order your Macan in three configurations at present and all of them are turbocharged, but not all are badged as turbos: there’s a diesel with a threelitre V6 producing a not inconsiderable 180 kW and a very considerable 580 Nm of torque. This, in fact, is the basemodel as far as pricing is concerned, coming in at R862 000. The next

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of a surgeon and the strength of a sumo wrestler to slot into the correct position for up or down-shifts. No space for five-yearolds banging on the back of the driver’s seat cushion asking “are we there yet?”

But times change, global mind sets morph into paradigms that were once considered to be anathema. And, it seems, no-one is better at recognising these perceptual shifts, even preempting them, than Porsche, who introduced the Cayenne, a full-sized SUV, to a world of enthusiasts who were still talking about side-draught carburettors and re-profiled camshafts.

The Cayenne currently accounts for

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apparent

Apparition…

ROLLS-ROYCE’S MOST

POWERFUL VEHICLE EVER, THE WRAITH,

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ENTERS THE FRAY.

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olls-Royce recently launched its ‘most potent’ contender for the luxury vehicle ever, the Wraith. In keeping with the naming conventions of otherworldly influences the Wraith slips in near the top, above the Ghost but below the Phantom models.

Behind the deep set Pantheon grille sits a potent 6.6 litre, twin turbo-charged V12 engine. Delivering 624 bhp with 800 Nm of torque, it races from 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds which is impressive given its kerbside bulk. Even with this formidable power, the Wraith is every inch a refined Rolls-Royce with electronically controlled air suspension that creates the signature 'magic carpet ride'.

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The Wraith does not have a true competitor to compare it with, with the closest being the Bentley Continental GT or the Aston Martin Rapide S, but both of these comparators are less than half its price. Instead the Wraith targets someone who is looking for a more exciting option to its Phantom. I guess in that world, one can set their own benchmarks and live by them.

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

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is the signature “star-lit” roof, set with hundreds of tiny LED diodes to give the impression of looking up at the stars.

The Wraith is clearly targeted at a specific driver, one who loves driving themselves. It is a spacious coupe with ample leg room for rear passengers. The comforts and controls are there for the driver as opposed to the Phantom which assumes that the owner of the vehicle will generally be sitting in the back. The ride and handling is respectable as a sports coupe and delivers an exciting performance despite its bulk.

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It was a difficult feat for the design and engineering teams of Rolls-Royce, underpinned by BMW’s support to be able to assemble a vehicle that retains the Rolls-Royce heritage, whilst producing the essence of a sports car. This fastback coupe styled monster delivers every bit of drama and flamboyance that one would expect from the marque.

From handcrafted body panels, to well over 6000 spot welds to piece the vehicle together, as well as doublelayered bulkheads, this masterpiece exudes quality and craftsmanship from every piece of metal and machine that went into putting it together.

The interior is, a la Rolls-Royce, a perfect blend of leather and wood, with discreet yet well thought out placement of controls for modern luxury such as multimedia, entertainment and comfort. The manufacturer claims to have used the softest leathers in the market and this claim is pretty close to being true. One of my favourite features

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VIVIEN NATASEN VISITS THE HERITAGE WORKS DIVISION OF ASTON MARTIN

feel! old steel, new

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hen Sean Connery said “My name is Bond, James Bond” and when Daniel Craig says it, it evokes different emotions, depends on when you were born. Such is the heritage works division of Aston Martin.

Operating from the original premises of Aston Martin at Newport-Pagnell, a bespoke team of skilled artisans focus on the art of reconstructing Aston Martins of yesteryear. In today’s day of presses and moulds, or even carbon fibre, handcrafting and moulding steel on jigs seems to be a forgotten trade. Thankfully, a new surging demand for rebuilt handcrafted supercars from decades gone by is resurrecting this space.

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These skills can only be taught through time on the many hours that are spent on bringing these vehicle back to their former glory

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Given the prices that some of these cars are fetching on auctions, many in excess of 10 million pounds with a new record being set this year at 52 million dollars for a carefully rebuilt Ferrari 250 GTO, it is no wonder that all the heritage brands are giving this some focus. Aston Martin is no exception. In our tour of the works, we were not allowed any pictures as some of these owners are extremely sensitive of who takes pictures of their cars. I suppose investments of these magnitudes are worthy of being protected even from the prying eyes of the general populous.

We were shown a DB3RS that was being rebuilt where the owner had purchased the vehicle for an undisclosed sum and was spending close to 1 million pounds rebuilding it for an upcoming heritage race in Italy.

Apprenticeship at this division seems to be after one has cut their teeth into being skilled elsewhere. It also appears that the specific skills seem to be passed down from skilled craftsman to the next generation. These skills can

only be taught through time on the many hours that are spent on bringing these vehicles back to their former glory.

The extent of testing and confirming the rebuilds even stretch to metallurgic confirmation of original body panels on each vehicle and the vehicle’s value directly correlates to the extent of original parts and panels.

I have been through many factory visits, especially on high end luxury vehicle brands. What makes the Heritage Works division stand out is the sheer craftsmanship of having to rebuild these vehicles better than they were ever made before whilst not losing their magic.

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PETROL

words: Stuart Johnston

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IS JAG’S F-TYPE COUPE THE BRITISH COBRA FOR THIS MILLENIUM?

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hink of it as a British Cobra. Don’t get me wrong, that would be a superhi-tech Cobra for 2014 and beyond, with all the traits of fit and finish and creature comforts that Carroll Shelby’s original lacked back in 1963.

But that same joyous, ‘we are doing this because we can’ spirit prevails in the closed version of the F-Type, the Coupe, introduced to South Africa in mid-year and likely to grab the lion’s share of Jaguar F-Type sales for the immediate future.

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the convertible, with all the roadster’s sun-soaking attributes? Quite simply, if you are serious about your driving it’s a better car, with a chassis some 80 per cent more rigid, with aluminium architecture that approaches F1-levels of resistance to twist.

A stiff chassis means the designers can specify more spring compliancy and still achieve equal or greater levels of comfort and grip. And that imparts amazing precision to the car’s responses, when you blip-back on the eight-speed automatic gearbox, sensitively feel your way around the required braking pressure and point it to the apex of a deserted, mountain-pass turn.

The sound from the V6 supercharged engine is soul-searing and you can specify this fine motor in either 250 kW or 280 kW ‘S’ configuration.

But, ahh, or should I say Arrarrrgh!?

We’d still opt for the ‘R’, with all 405 kW and 680 Nm of V8-expressive excess.

The ‘R’ sounds like an angry Godzilla when you press pedal to metal and you’d better do that circumspectly, even with the excellent traction control electronics playing nanny. Those great gobs of rear rubber scrabble and squirm for grip at the slightest provocation.

Prices are a very completive R843 404 for the “base” model, R982 404 for the ‘S’ and R1 534 for the V8 ‘R’ version.

MUSTANG BREAKS COVER AFTER A HALF CENTURY PAUSE

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alk about pentup demand! The 2015 Mustang was shown to a select group of industry insiders at a special Ford function in Sandton a few months ago and the crowd of over 1 000 hard-bitten motor people went a bit gaga when the car took to the stage.

But it’s not here yet. We’ll have to wait for early in 2015 before right-hand-

four-door sedan with the famous M badge you’ll have to wait until early 2015. The new cars come in at between R950 00 or so and just over R1-million, with the two-door M4 the more expensive of the two versions.

To keep you interested, though, BMW was due to launch the X4 ‘smallish’ SUV in mid-September, while the M4 convertible (remember, that used to be the M3) in late October/early November. And there’s a four-door version of the Mini coming too before year’s end.

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O

r should I say M4? BMW has confused things a bit by naming the iconic performance coupe in 2014 guise the M4, while the M3 is now a four-door. Launched a couple of months ago with a move back to (turbocharged) six-cylinder power, BMW has sold out its entire consignment of 400 cars, so if you want either a two-door coupe or a

effort to protect our local motor industry back before democracy.

Now Ford has finally taken steps to produce the first right-hand-drive version, which means we will be able to buy them here next year with full Ford dealership back-up. Prices? No-one is saying yet but it’s likely they will try to come in at around R800 000, as the car will be aimed at your typical M3/M4 BMW buyer, only one with serious starsand stripes affiliations and perhaps a bit more budget conscious.

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AND TALKING OF THE ICONIC M3

drive versions go on sale, probably in 2.3-litre EcoBoost turbo (four-cylinder) guise and (thank goodness) in five-litre V8 form.

It was back in early 1964 that the Ford Mustang first dazzled Americans in the USA and although there were about 80 examples of that model imported to South Africa for a special Ford promo a year later, the subsequent generations of Mustangs that you see here are mostly private imports, brought in at huge expense thanks to taxes that peaked at about 115% in an

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MERC’S V12 ENGINE IS BACK IN THE S-CLASS

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hat you keep on having to tell yourself in either of the new V12 versions of the Mercedes S-Class, is that this car weighs close to 2.3 tonnes!

A month ago Mercedes-Benz officially launched the V12 versions of what they are fond of calling “The Best Car in the World”, and indeed, they may be right.

There are very few sedans of this bulk that can deal with any and every kind of tarmac road condition with such

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contemptuous aplomb. And the new V12 versions are large – some 180 mm has been added into the wheelbase of both the S 600 and the S 65 AMG, as they are only on sale here in the ‘long’ versions. This is a shrewd decision, as the extra length makes these very special S-Class sedans instantly recognisable from the previously-launched diesel, V8 and hybrid versions.

The V12s are naturally bristling with technology and come standard with the famous MAGIC BODY CONTROL, the radar-camera-electronic system that scans the road ahead and adjusts the damping before you so

much as hit a pothole or a speed-bump.

Potent? You betcha, the S 600 L is good for 390 kW, while the AMG version is endowed with the most power any sedan has ever swaggered about with – some 463 kW and 1 000 Nm of torque being fed through the AMGtweaked seven-speed auto. Prices are R2 170 000 for the 600 L and a rather staggering R2 842 700 for the 65 AMG. But then, 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds is staggering for a car of this size and customers can request that the 250 km/h speed limiter is increased to around the 300 km/h level, if they sign up for an AMG driving course.

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snap

culture sking any avid photographer if they are a Nikon or Canon supporter is tantamount to asking them what religion they follow and like religious beliefs, there are the fanatical and those who are just appreciative of a set of values and an ethos to follow.

Yes there are technical matters that will differentiate the capabilities of each as well as other brands that match, or even better, those technical specifications which I will mention briefly, however, what I believe Nikon is doing better than most is the customer experience that comes with owning a Nikon.

The world of digital still photography has grown substantially over the last decade which started with a megapixel race with a strong focus on the development of the receiver chip that captures each image, which I assume will still receive ongoing attention. Nowadays, there seems to be a greater focus on the balance between the lens optics and the chip as these need to work in harmony to create great shots. Nikon has recently launched their retro version of their Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera and invited me along to discover its capabilities.

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vivien natasen rides along with the nikon team to explore the capabilities of the nikon df

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The trip entailed heading out into the Dorrnkop estate at Machadodorp in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.

Nikon has partnered up with Land Rover which makes sense as both brands love the outdoors. We were fetched at Nikon’s head office in Centurion and driven through to the estate. One of the benefits (at least to me) was the lack of cell phone reception at the venue, allowing one to truly get away without the interruptions by technology that seem to pervade our lives today.

The beautifully appointed home that was our place of abode for the evening was serviced by a chef who prepared us a sumptuous lunch on arrival. We got to play straight away with the Df camera during luncheon, even if just to get our eye in. Our experienced photographer, who is the Nikon appointed training professional, Stephen Segal (not the action movie actor but the former Mr South Africa) took us through the strengths, differentiators and capabilities of the Df. Although masked by a retro looking case that is reminiscent of yesteryear film cameras, the Df is packed with the latest in technology, including Nikon’s most impressive processors.

The controls are dial based with as few buttons as possible, without impacting any functionality or ease of use in any negative way.

Having started out as an amateur photographer in my teenage years, with a Nikon F series that was a gift from my dad, I was very nostalgic shooting with this piece of art. In fact Nikon still has the capability to service and maintain my 30 year old camera.

That brings me to the Nikon differentiators. They have made the buying and owning of a camera an experience as opposed to a decision. There are continuous courses held at the Nikon centre in Gauteng with a guaranteed turnaround in servicing time frames depending on the issues, the simplest of which is a while you wait service for conventional issues. Just from engaging with people who have made the conversion to the brand it appears that a strategy of superior service is starting to pay off in the growth in amateur and professionals now migrating to the Nikon brand.

Although the Df boasts a 16.6 megapixel specification which other cameras may exceed, this is not in any way a shortcoming.

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Coupled with the right Nikon lenses, the quality of images far exceeds the final results of many other cameras.

Our field trip for the rest of the afternoon was to take out the bespoke Land Rover Defenders into the field. The planned path included mostly off-road sections with some challenges and no less than four river crossings to demonstrate the wading capability of the vehicles. It is a pity that Land Rover has announced the end of cycle of the Defender series in November 2014 as these are truly rugged vehicles that will become collectors’ items.

It was truly a fun afternoon heading out into the bush. And the

technical specifications Single-lens reflex digital camera

Lens mount

Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)

Effective angle of view

Nikon FX format

Effective pixels

16.2 million

Image sensor

36.0 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor

Total pixels

16.6 million

Dust-reduction System

Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)

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Type

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pictures we got off the Df are impressive. We had waited until the end of the day at a high viewing point to catch the last of the day’s light. Despite such low light, the Df was able to capture images that the human eye couldn’t see. That was beyond impressive. Any purist will tell you that the key to great pictures is managing light, especially in low light environments. The Df set new standards in this area.

Well done to Nikon for bringing in a strong and able camera to the table that is beautiful on the outside as well as simultaneously being impressive in the field.

PRESTIGE

TECH

great

danes

BANG & OLUFSEN HAS

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BEEN A SYMBOL OF HIGH QUALITY SOUND COMBINED WITH CUTTING EDGE DESIGN WHETHER IT’S A SET OF LOUDSPEAKERS, AN INTEGRATED AUDIO SYSTEM OR THEIR INNOVATIVE HEADSETS.

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A PERFECT MATCH Two designs from Torsten Valeur combine the precision of the Ultra High Definition BeoVision Avant with the active speaker design and digital sound engine of the BeoLab 20 digital wireless loudspeakers.

Featuring 180 degree horizontal dispersion via the acoustic lens for the high frequencies and the adaptive bass linearisation within the 18 litre enclosure, the BeoLab 20 has been designed to provide a comprehensive soundscape from any position in the room.

Although the BeoVision Avant features a fully integrated sound system, a perfect match for the direct type LED and 2D backlight dimming is the integration of the BeoLab 20 wireless system, for the full effect of a surround sound cinematic experience.

HEAD SETS

Bang & Olufsen Bryanston 41 Peter Place Bryanston, 2060 Johannesburg +27 11 463 2410 or sales@beo-sa.co.za

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Bang & Olufsen Sandton City Sandton Drive, Sandton Central 2146 Sandton City. +27 11 783 8550 or caine@beo-sa.co.za

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From their first headset, the U70, in 1978, B&O has always innovated with design to respond to personal audio. The BeoPlay H6, designed by Jakob Wagner, epitomises this with the use of luxury materials in its construction and performance with focus on a clear midrange, and balanced bass and treble performance.

The 40mm custom designed driver with a neodymium magnet in the closed headphone design incorporates a bass port and slightly angled drivers to get the best distance and sound direction into the ears.

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LAST WORD

chasing

rainbows OR ARE THEY WINDMILLS?

S

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omehow it appears that people across the world are so busy wanting to be heard that they fail to listen. One of the main pillars of leadership is premised on seeking first to understand, then be understood.

However, humankind is doing a good job of messing that up, be it conflicts at country to country or person to person.

So where have we gone wrong?

I believe that many people are so focused on being proven right, that they fail to see others’ points of view, be it on religion, politics or pretty much every subject whatsoever. Every person contains a set of values which have been developed since birth from their learnings, environment they were raised in and people that they interacted with.

There ultimately comes a choice for each value as to whether that person accepts that value or rejects it. For example, a parent beating a child to discipline them.

Someone seeing that may identify with it and agree with it, another may think that this is inappropriate. The bottom line is that in both instances the intention may be to raise the child in the best way possible.

The point I am making is that the concept of right and wrong is based on an interpretation of values. More importantly, it is imperative to realise the laws of a country or government is based on leaders’ interpretation of what the State’s concept of right and wrong are. Again, some countries will on the basis of the values in its constitution, implement a death penalty and others not.

What we find happening nowadays is greater divergence in values hence

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greater disagreements around material issues resulting in wars, deaths and mutual disrespect. This is something that world leaders need to start addressing urgently. For humankind to succeed, it is time to find the things that are common in purpose to unite us, such as environmental concerns, space exploration, addressing health issues and so on.

In today’s digital world, everyone with access to Internet has become a self-professed expert which I believe is a dangerous position to be in. People are so absorbed in this digital detail that is generally blindly accepted as the truth even though most “facts” are not verified nor substantiated. It seems the intuitive aspects of gaining understanding seem to be forgotten. The wave of spiritualism (not the religious kind, but the understanding your purpose kind) that pervaded the turn of the millennium, is now replaced by the “I am right and you are wrong” mindset. It’s time to start trusting our inner voices as well.

Just before all of you conclude that I am totally negative, there are as many positives emerging as well. The US appointing Boeing and SpaceX as their provider to help the country reclaim its former space race glory can only help in innovation and development of new technology. This should be exciting as the new frontiers that were envisaged decades ago that we should already have been exploring are now becoming a reality and it is quite likely that these will be attained within our lifetimes – at least for space flight and possibly the Moon and Mars.

Can’t wait to book my ticket!

Vivien Natasen Publisher

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