The Month October 2012 by The Month

the month OCTOBER 2012

the winelands

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the month

in my opinion

About our front page:

This particularly inquisitive peacock caught our attention in Paddagang, Tulbagh, a little while back. According the go-to font of all knowledge, Wikipedia, “during the Medieval period, various types of fowl were consumed as food, with the poorer populations eating more common birds, such as chicken. However, the more wealthy gentry were privileged to more exotic foods, such as swan, and even peafowl was consumed. On a king’s table, a peacock would be for ostentatious display as much for culinary consumption.”

We can’t claim to know whether the wealthy gentry really did eat swans in Medieval times, although the Publisher says that parts of his youth remind him the period, but we can say that The Month is a bit like a peacock – proud to be on display and happy to be consumed!

Congratulations to Patricia Taylor, who picked up her copy of The Month at Erinvale, and Karel Dampies, who collected his copy from the Franschhoek Info Office, for winning a stunning de Krans, six-bottle, case of Port each, worth R1200. COMPETITION: All competitions close on the 24th of the current month (unless otherwise stated); winners will be contacted by phone or email, must be over 18 (unless otherwise stated), must be prepared to allow their names to appear in print in The Month, and may be required to pay delivery costs; the Ed’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into - unless the Ed is having a really great day. SMS: SMSs charged at R1.50/SMS. Free SMSs do not apply. Errors billed. Sender must have the bill payer’s permission. You may be contacted in the future by SMS unless you opt-out. THE FINE PRINT

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Month or its affiliates. Having said that, we generate practically all

of the material printed in each edition ourselves; please don’t reproduce any part of it without the Editor or Publisher’s permission (we’re generally quite generous – so just ask).

The Month subscribes to the South African Press Code and if you feel we’re not living up to that, please call the Press Ombudsman on 011 484 3612. We regard our sources as

reliable and verify as much of what we print as we can, but inaccuracies can occur and readers using information in The Month do so at their own risk.

Shifting into gear…

love October! Not only is it likely that the Winelands will be warmer than in September, but the dryer weather also means that the hypnotic sound of my garden’s impact-sprayers doing their thing, will soon be the norm. Of course, the fact that I’ll need to actually head into the garden and occasionally man the rake or empty the pool’s leaf-skimmer are inevitable too - but for the sound of those sprayers, it’s a small price to pay. As I’m lulled into a change of pace, with the tick-tick-tick of the sprayers calling me from my desk, I’m encouraged to count my blessings. Isn’t it amazing that some of us have the privilege of calling the Winelands ‘home’? Mindful of what an exceptional place this is, we spent some time this month mixing it up with a number of South African wine personalities at the SAWi awards, tried out a couple of new dining options and emerged with a great Curry recipe, drank wine from Elgin, poked about the Bottelary Hills, tried out bio-diesel and watched too much sport on TV and the Wii. We contemplated riches, didn’t settle for second best, took a long look in the mirror and decided that most outfits are better with the right accessories and followed Cathy O’Dowd to the top of Everest, twice. Not tired yet, we compiled a great list of things to do for our ‘What’s On?’ pages and, finally, we concluded our efforts with a touch of humility as we gawped at the pics of Clifford Roberts, this month’s travel correspondent, who spent some time in Madagascar. As always, I hope you enjoy the read!

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Editor: Brett Garn er 083 2600 453 brett@themonth.co .za

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OCTOBER 2012

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PEOPLE & PLACES

Wines of Characters The Editor meets the SAWi Wine Legend 2012

hen Izak Smit, the Project Director of the South African Wine Index (SAWi, pronounced ‘savvy’), called me some time back to ask me to act as the MC at an awards function at which Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee would be named the ‘SAWi Wine Legend 2012’, I’ll admit that I was just a tad nervous. Jan Coetzee is one of the leading role players in the South African wine scene, and that he’d be flanked by a number of similarly big characters, as SAWi handed out their annual Platinum Awards – for wines that scored 95+ on their 100-point rating scale - didn’t help much to calm me down. Fortunately, South African wine characters are all that – characters! They love what they do, seldom laud it over simple wine-lovers like me and generally enjoy people as much as they do making wine. The latter trait meant that the awards ceremony involved much merriment and laughter, and, given that SAWi essentially identifies the best wines on offer in South Africa at any given time, you can imagine that there was a considerable amount of really good wine. Jan ‘Boland’ Coetzee is one of the senior statesmen of the Cape wine industry and his efforts seem impervious

Ignacio Fernandez, the Spanish Consul, chats to Minister Gerrit van Rensburg Below: Jan Coetzee and Wendy Appelbaum

With wine taken care of, Zamar provided the music and the woman is Jeanri-Tine van Zyl

to wine fashion. A traditionalist by nature, his influence at Kanonkop, where he started in 1967 after graduating in Oenology at the University of Stellenbosch, and then Vriesenhof, which he bought in 1980, has been profound. Revered as a former rugby legend, Jan’s reputation as one of South Africa’s ‘rough and ready’ rugby flanks in the ’70s, spills over into his uncontrived approach to wine making, which has its roots in his belief that wine is a reflection of its environment and of the person who tends it. To him “a winemaker is a humble servant of nature; his role is to give nature the opportunity to produce the best possible wine. Nature creates, man only cares – the more you care for nature, the better the wine.” Jan’s faith in people is particularly humbling and through his philanthropic activities, his farm workers have experienced social upliftment of a nature never seen before in the Cape, and that long before it was fashionable. For many years now, Jan has been involved in improving housing, building sports facilities and providing staff with land of their own. A founder member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, a sounding board to his colleagues and a sage to those desperate to make a mark of their own, Jan Coetzee is a South African legend on many fronts – and now a SAWi one too.

About the South African Wine Index Making sense of the stickers and shiny things that adorn many of the wine bottles available in SA can make choosing a ‘good’ wine difficult. After all, not every wine wins awards across the board and sometimes wines seem to perform inconsistently in the same competition, from one year to the next. Enter Izak Smit, who in 1997 took up the challenge to create an objective, credible and fair rating system, or index, accessible to a broad spectrum of consumers, from the simple wine lover to sommeliers, wine buyers, hotel groups, restaurant chains and other wine professionals. The Index considers the combined preferences of a diverse group of wine judges from 44 national and international wine competitions, over a number of vintages, and presents the average rating of those judges as a score out of 100. Competitions are weighted, according to their status and similarly the nature of the awards earned are taken into consideration. The result is a veritable ‘Who’s Who?’ Or ‘What’s What?’ list of South African wines that has received the approval of the Minister of Agriculture in the Western Cape, Gerrit van Rensberg. In fact, Van Rensberg has gone so far as to suggest that the top wines on the Index should receive special mention in diplomatic endeavours and recently facilitated a meeting of SAWi role-players and Liang Shugen, the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Cape Town, with many nods of approval all round. When next you’re at a loss as to which wine to buy, check its position on the Index and call yourself ‘Wine Savvy’!

THE MONTH

WINE & DINE

the month

Over the hill, but not far away… The team at the Vineyard Connection heads to Elgin!

or more than two decades, there’s been talk about the wine making potential in the Elgin area. The cool climate, fertile soils, good rainfall and high altitudes that make for crisp and juicy apples and pears, must surely be perfect for grapes as well? One of the first vineyards in Elgin was planted by Dr. Paul Cluver in 1985. Since that first planting, the number of grape growers has slowly increased, and today two things set this group of pioneers apart: their conservation drive to preserve the natural fynbos under the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative banner, and their belief in the unique terroir of Elgin. Within the Elgin region, there is a quirky group called the ‘Elgin Vintners’ - a partnership of five dedicated grape growers, who have combined their resources to

The Month Likes: Elgin Vintners Shiraz 2008, R120 This Rhone style Shiraz is an exceptional demonstration of the passion and ability of Niels Verburg, and has loads of freshly ground pepper and a classic spiciness on the palate. It is a noticeably gamey wine with a supple savoury finish and is equally suited to the dinner table or the conversations that follow.

Paul Wallace Black Dog Malbec 2008, R97 cultivate, produce and market their range of top quality Elgin Valley wines. Each member of the Elgin Vintners team brings a unique expertise to the partnership and, under the guidance of viticulturist, Paul Wallace, the vineyards are tended in a way that ensures wines of superior quality. The Elgin Vintners make use of different winemakers, each with a particular affinity or passion for a specific variety or style of wine, to vinify their grapes. Jeff Grier concentrates on Sauvignon Blanc, while Luddite’s Niels Verburg dedicates his time to the Rhone varieties of Shiraz and Viognier. Pinot Noir is made at Sumaridge, by Gavin Patterson; the Bordeaux varieties by Martin Meinert,; rosé by Nico Grobler, and Chardonnay by Kevin Grant.

Paul Wallace, in addition to being the Elgin Vintners viticulturist, is crazy about Malbec. This deep red, almost black wine is packed with ripe summer mulberries, tobacco and a whiff of fynbos on the nose. The wine finishes elegantly with a touch of cake spice and black pepper. And the ‘black dog’? Well, let’s just say he knows his master’s voice as well as he knows his vines.

Paul Cluver Close Encounter Riesling 2011, R100 You cannot talk Elgin without including the fantastic Paul Cluver, and we can’t think of the latter without getting excited about this simply delicious Riesling. Named ‘Close Encounter’ after the Riesling vines on the farm were almost all removed some years ago, the original block was kept at the insistence of Dr Cluver, and now forms the cornerstone of the Riesling range. This wine is made in the sweeter “German Auslese” style, brimming with floral ginger and lime fruit with a lovely fresh finish. The result is an extremely versatile wine that offers something special to aficionados and novices alike.

Almenkerk Red Lace 2010 , R80 The 100ha, family-owned, Almenkerk farm has a really beautiful winery and tasting room in Elgin, and is well-worth a visit. The estate’s location means that it experiences extremely cold nights and their 15ha, south-facing vines are planted mostly to noble cultivars such as Merlot, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. The Red Lace 2010 is a delicious, soft and elegant Bordeaux blend which over delivers at the price. If you’re in the habit of making the occasional outing to the Winelands to stock-up, this is a ‘must do’ for your barrel list.

Winters Drift Chardonnay 2011, R84 The Molteno Brothers, of Winters Drift, own about 500 hectares of uncultivated mountain veld and founder members of the Groenberg Conservancy, formed in 1998. This 2011 Chardonnay is filled with aromas of soft pears, butterscotch and vanilla; with the oak giving a particularly soft and delicate structure to the wine. The perfect partner for variety of white meats, chicken and fish, this is a wine that is guaranteed not to disappoint. The Vineyard Connection’s wine shop is open 7 days a week and has each of the wines featured on this page in stock. vineyardconnection.co.za

OCTOBER 2012

the month

Where the heck

is Bottelary? We chew the fat at a “Winemakers’ Lunch” at Hartenberg

any readers of The Month will remember the somewhat ionic “Which way Douglas Green?” ad of the 90s. Thinking about it now, as an ad it was possibly way ahead of its time, given the fact that it featured a wine-tourist of Asian origin nogal, and it was far from PC! Although the export of wine to Asia is not the subject of this article, the question jumped to mind recently when we were asked to attend a “Winemakers’ Lunch” at one of our favourite wine farms, Hartenberg, on the Bottelary Hills Wine Route. “Where the heck is Bottelary?” the Publisher asked, and, despite finding most of his wine-related questions rather tiresome, we had to concede that his ignorance is probably echoed by many South African wine-lovers. The Bottelary Hills Wine Route stretches along a part of the R304 and M23 and is home to some of the oldest wine farms in the country. Included in those are

the likes of Villiera, Beyerskloof, Bellevue, Goede Hoop, Groenland, Kaapzicht, Mooiplaas and Hartenberg. The latter hosted the “Winemakers’ Lunch” and showcased the culinary efforts of Christophe Dehosse, of Joostenberg Bistro, and select wines of Hertenberg, Kaapzicht, Mooiplaas and Goede Hoop. Given that Bottelary Hills is home to some fine wineries and a rich wine heritage, we’ve always been surprised by its relative obscurity when it comes to Joe Public – especially as Hartenberg (by way of an example) is a mere 45km from the Cape Town city centre. Perhaps the sense that the route lies behind the Bottelary Hill and Papegaaiberg, as seen from Stellenbosch, is to blame; or perhaps it’s the fact that many of the farms on the route are set back quite far from the road itself. Whatever the reason, a drive along the road and a visit to any of the farms off it, is sure to open up a whole new world to both discerning wine drinkers and those who appreciate the history of the Cape. What’s also always impressed us, and something we was reminded of at Hartenberg in particular, is the uncomplicated hospitality of the Bottelary Hills community. Sitting at the end of a long table in Hartenberg’s underground cellar for the inaugural 2012 “Winemakers’ Lunch”, we found ourselves introduced to Italian, Polish, Australian and local visitors and residents from all walks of life and of every age. Surprisingly not Annareth Bolton and Christophe Dehosse

Louis Roos of Mooiplaas

everyone was there to drink wine, but we all shared an interest in, and passion for, the Cape Winelands and its people. It’ll come as no surprise then that we had a raucously good time. That Christophe had a Pork Cheek Bourguignon up his sleeve also helped! We have no idea what will transpire at the next “Winemakers’ Lunch” planned for the 25th of November, at Beyerskloof, but we have no doubt there’ll be lots of wine, great food and opportunities galore to enjoy an unadulterated experience of true Winelands friendliness. We’ll feature the event, for sure, next month but in the meantime, why not take this page and the map to the left and head out to do a little exploring of your own? The Winemakers’ Lunch costs R250pp; contact marketing@wineroute.co.za or 021 886 8275 for more information.

THE MONTH

the month

Delighted by

the Llama E

The Editor (and the wife) call out, to eat in!

veryone has a favourite letter of the alphabet, I’m told, even if it’s at some repressed, subconscious level. According to Google, the most popular letters, judged by the number of times they are used in searches, are the letters ‘A’ and ‘I’, respectively – which are each about six times more likely to be used than the next most popular letter, ‘S’. As a student, mine was ‘D’. ‘D’, the Publisher will suggest, is what I rely on when trying to sing along to whatever is playing on my iPod – but that I deny. You, being more romantic than he, may imagine that ‘D’ was the initial of my first Wits University crush, but no, that’s not even close. ‘D’ stood for ‘Delivery’ - Mr Delivery; the saviour of many a failed attempt at cooking for my digsmates and sustainer of many a last-minute exam cramsession. Having left student life behind some time ago, I’ll admit that my fondness for ‘D’ would have remained firmly hidden in the “repressed” category alluded to above, save for a recent dining experience, at which a new ‘D’ caught my attention. That ‘D’ is for the Deli Llama. The Deli Llama is a relatively new enterprise based just outside Paarl that serves “fresh home cooked meals, made from scratch – delivered directly to your door” (the rest of the blurb can be found at DeliLlama.co.za). The brain-child of Amanda and Martin who “met in the 90s - when Woolworths in the V & A Waterfront was open 24/7 and the person serving you knew more about the food and wine than you did,” says Amanda, their initial focus is the discerning, but under serviced Paarl and Franschhoek communities but will grow to a regional and even national presence in time. Knowing that the wife and I would be working late in the Winelands recently, I registered on the Deli Llama website and ordered a Lamb and Mint pie (for two), a side each of roast veg and potato wedges, and a Lemon Tart for dessert. As said wife and I tend to alternate food duties, I figured I’d tick off one of my nights and, if the food was any good, walk away from the deal with some brownie points for spending later. And If it was a disaster, I’d be no worse off than I had I tried cooking myself. Here’s my take on things, save for the brownie-pointsspending bit. Registration and ordering was a synch – and as long as you do the latter before noon, the meal should be delivered no later than 6pm; unless Amanda gets chatting on the way… she does the deliveries herself at times! An SMS at 6.15 warned me that she had been chatting and that I should turn the oven on to 180 as she and Martin were on their way. Meeting them in the drive I was immediately impressed by the friendly greeting and the ceramic dishes in which the various dishes arrived. “I was expecting foil,” I said, wondering if they’d twigged that The Month occasionally does food reviews. “Oh,” Amanda smiled, “we’ll collect them in the morning, or simply swap them when you order your next meal – probably tomorrow!” Along with the dishes there was a detailed heating instruction leaflet and a menu to keep on the fridge (for

OCTOBER 2012

that “next meal” order). First in was the Lamb and Mint Pie – large enough for more than two of us and likely to need about 20 minutes, or two glasses of wine, to heat through and brown. About 10 minutes later the veg and potatoes joined it. Once the wine was done I set everything out on the table and took a moment to enjoy the spectacle – the offering is certainly not a typical “take away” one. The Lamb was well-seasoned and tender, but not without texture, decidedly minty and accompanied by a herb salad. The piecrust was as good to eat as it was to look at (and I’m not generally one to notice piecrusts) and the presence of peas and enough sauce in the meat reminded me of Sunday lunch at Granny’s house. The roast veggies (aubergines, peppers, onions, garlic and

star anise) were every bit as good as my wife’s and, in hindsight, the potatoes were probably unnecessary given the generous portions. Star of the show, however, was the Lemon Tart – which was just as well as the tart was good for eight decent-size pieces and made for a second helping, a midnight snack and a next-day-early-morning teatime treat. Think tart lemon flavour, cheesecake consistency, a decent crust (again) and thinly sliced candied lemon peel and you’ll understand why that particular item will certainly feature in my next order. All-in-all the wife and I were impressed – and at R260 for enough food to feed four moderately hungry people and delivered to our door, the price is more than competitive too. Welcome home, my (new) favourite, ‘D’!

Before

After

the month MOKSH ado about

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Anrea Freeborough’s

Chicken Curry

indian

Paarl’s latest dining destination is sure to be ‘hot’, suggests the Editor

riving through Paarl to the opening of the Moksh Indian Restaurant recently, I did a double-take at the number of Main Road options that have appeared over the last couple of seasons. “Isn’t Paarl a no-go for tourist-types and foodies?” I wondered aloud. “Obviously not anymore!” said the wife. “Any more of what mom? Why is Paarl a no-go? Why can’t we go? I want to eat still. Please can we eat still?” pleaded the toddler as I began to pray that the Moksh staff would like children more than I did at the time and serve the kind of food that any one from four to forty-plus would enjoy. In short, they ticked the boxes with ease. Moksh is the realisation of owner Sunil Krishnan, previously of (Cape Town club) Vertigo fame, and spotter of a gastronomic gap in Paarl’s culinary compote. Over the last couple of years Paarl has indeed grown to offer a number of different dining options, but authentic Indian cuisine hasn’t been one of them. The restaurant is in Pastorie Avenue, close to the intersection with Main Road, and includes an outside courtyard (already popular for a sunny lunch), a small downstairs section and a larger room on the 1st floor that would accommodate a large group or suit a corporate do. There’s not much by way of decor yet, but, given Sunil’s no-nonsense approach to business, success, should it come, will bring the required trimmings. Judging by the food we enjoyed on the night, my sense is that success is more likely than not. In comparison to one or two of Cape Town’s more popular Indian restaurants, Sunil’s two chefs (straight out of India and with a limited vocabulary of English words to prove it) do ‘real’ Indian food that’s up there with the best. Think spicy (but not necessarily burny – although I’d caution all but the experienced to ask for the ‘hot’ iterations, because burn you will), fragrant, colourful and above all, moreish! Our waiters on the night were local, friendly and went out of their way to please and Sunil was at hand often enough to build an obvious rapport with his diners and encourage his team. Moksh, Sunil told us, means “attaining the highest level of satisfaction” and I’d be hardpressed to pass a definitive judgement based on a single visit, but I will admit that my family and I left satiated indeed.

Serves 4

This month we feature a traditional curry dish by the Cellar master at Die Bergkelder, Andrea Freeborough, based on a recipe by satirist, Pieter Dirk Uys. Obviously Andrea recommends that this family favourite is best-enjoyed with a glass of Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay in hand – and we’re certainly not going to disagree. Look for the marriage of the “hints of citrus and apricot melded with toasted almond aromas and notes of vanilla in the background,” which Andrea identifies in the wine and the spicy flavours inherent in the curry and sambal accompaniment.

Ingredients 2 onions, chopped 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil 1.5 kg chicken pieces such as thighs and legs 5 Cardamom pods 1 cinnamon stick 15 ml (1 tbsp) ground coriander 15 ml (1 tbsp) ground cumin 15 ml (1 tbsp) crushed garlic 15 ml (1 tbsp) grated ginger 1x can (400 g) whole peeled tomatoes 15 ml (1 tbsp) curry powder 15 ml (1 tbsp) turmeric 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed roughly Salt and black pepper Method 1. Sauté the onions in the olive oil in a heavy bottomed casserole until transparent. 2. Add the chicken pieces and brown on all sides. 3. Add the cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger and tomatoes. Allow the ingredients to simmer for 20 minutes. 4. Add the curry powder, turmeric and a cup of water; stir and add the potatoes, leave to cook for another 30 min or until the potatoes are cooked. Season to taste. 5. Serve the curry with Basmati rice, chutney, banana and chopped tomato and cucumber *sambals. *Make your own sambals, the spicy condiment used in Indonesia and Malaysia, by combining chopped chilli, cubed cucumber, chopped tomato, sweet peppers and freshly chopped coriander to taste.

THE MONTH

TRAVEL

the month

o t y a w e k ma

Madag Madagascar could be more popular for holidays, reckons The Month correspondent, Clifford Roberts.

’m lying on the deck of a 40ft power catamaran, watching the rum-coloured light drain from the sky while the squeals of children ashore as they play among the palm trees, brings to mind memories of how I too once squeezed the last drops from the day. In a moment entirely my own, I reflect on the events of the week past and my time spent on the enchanting island of Madagascar. I never thought I’d get to Madagascar. It somehow never came up – perhaps because the marketing around Mauritius, Zanzibar and Mozambique is a little more robust – but here I am, lolling about thanks to South African David Byrd, owner of Admiral Charters, and his kind invitation. It has to be said that visiting Nosy Bé, on the north east of the island and one of the main gateways for tourism here, hardly allows one to claim to have “done Madagascar”. The country is some two and a half times the size of the UK, with a diversity of environments that can only really be enjoyed over an extended visit or multiple returns. It’s also advisable to go sooner rather than later, as the rapid degradation of the country’s spectacular natural heritage is prominent and seems unchecked. The island’s rich and unique assembly of fauna and flora inspired the likes of Sir Richard Attenborough, Gerald Durrell and even Hollywood but large swathes of the island’s nature-areas are now under attack as a result of illegal trade in protected timber and fauna, and the

OCTOBER 2012

the month

gascar

As I continue with my mental checklist of things done, like the visit to a distillery of Ylang Ylang essential oil; rubbing shoulders in the tropical heat with the locals and expats shopping for vanilla at a produce market and the many opportunities to party the night away on island rum, I can’t help but feel just a little sad that I’ll soon be on my way. Hours from now my bags will be packed and I’ll be downing the last of a pint of Three Horses beer at an airport kiosk and my thoughts will return to the demands of everyday living. But the effect of my Madagascar experience is sure to linger longer than my memories of the details of the trip, and I promise myself: I’ll be back. Nosy Bé has its own airport. Air Madagascar has regular flights from Johannesburg to the Madagascan capital of Antananarivo.

in st yadle ds n agascar e isla arters M

th ed Admiral Ch r ideal fo Cruise that are n own a é B ic fr y a s A d o li y h

encroachment of agricultural activities. Now, however, there’s still plenty to make a trip worthwhile, and our Pretoria-born skipper, Kyle Devine, demonstrated his with ease as we spent the week together exploring the many bays and smaller islands dotted about the flat, azure seas. In between, we had numerous opportunities to snorkel with turtles on reefs that look like submerged futuristic cities, or to disembark and become familiar with rustic Malagassy villages and their equally charming inhabitants. At Nosy Komba, I had my first experience with lemurs. On the path from the village, our barefoot guide casually grabbed a bunch of over-ripe bananas. “Maki! Maki-mak!” he called up at the trees, waving the fruit. Soon a rustle in the branches above us revealed the more brazen of a troop of the ape-like creatures and in no time more appeared to hop down onto our shoulders, eyes blazing as they worked their velvety digits to wrestle away the treats. The island’s biodiversity alone is enough to keep even the most dedicated visitor busy for years, but its history too makes it a fascinating place. Just consider the names of places like Hell-ville and Russian Bay; the popularity of its waters as a shelter for Victorian-era pirates; the remote location on Nosy Iranja of a lighthouse designed by Gustav Eiffel and the true tale of how the Nazis identified Madagascar as a prison for the Jews.

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THE MONTH

OPINION

the month

Change the World!

movie review

Lacking Michael Moore’s bite, Josh Tickell’s FUEL! is a well-intentioned appeal to end our dependence on oil

s with ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ - Al Gore’s 2006 documentary on global warming, FUEL! is a ‘fact fest’ that showers the viewer with evidence of the devastating economic, environmental and health effects an oil-based economy dumps on us, and tracks the development of cleaner energy sources – largely the renewable and alternative fuels, ethanol and biodiesel. What was most telling? (allow me this small indulgence): “We are grossly wasting our energy resources and other precious raw materials as though their supply was infinite,” said Jimmy Carter in 1974. “We are still floundering and equivocating about protection of our environment. Neither designers of automobiles, mayors of cities, power companies, farmers, nor those of us who simply have to breathe the air, love beauty, and would like to fish or swim in pure water have the slightest idea in God’s world what is coming out of Washington next! What does come next must be a firm commitment to pure air, clean water and unspoiled land.” Can you believe (a) that was 40 years ago and (b) that commitment never materialised! How different things could have been. I digress. The movie is the story of how the filmmaker, Josh Tickell, bought a diesel campervan when he was at college and drove it across the United States fuelled only with fryer grease he picked up on the way. The publicity he achieved for cleaner ‘non oil-based’ fuel gained huge momentum and biodiesel was soon being used in school busses, by transport trucks and was available in petrol stations across the USA. Then in 2007, it appears, the threatened oil business hit back. Production of ethanol (from corn)and biodiesel

Where ethanol provides 25%

(from soy) was blamed for messing up food supplies, for the needless razing of rainforests and the diversion of feedstock from food to fuel was slammed for driving up global commodity prices. Worse, studies revealed that when forests, fields, and peat bogs are cleared to make room for biofuel crops, they apparently release more carbon into the atmosphere than is saved from vehicles not burning fossil fuels. Which, as you can imagine, took the wind out of Tickell’s sails a bit. Somewhat soberly, he responded by pointing out that this was throwing the baby out with the bathwater and hung his coat back on biodiesel – but as only part of a wider alternative to oil-based energy. Although less efficient (420 gallons of ethanol are produced per acre of corn versus only 60 gallons of biodiesel per acre of soybeans), biodiesel produces more usable energy and reduces greenhouse gases more than ethanol. – see block And since originally the diesel engine was invented to run on peanut oil and most heavy transport (ships, trains and buses) can run on diesel, Tickell’s way forward was to get these to start using biodiesel instead. So I wondered - could my 2005 Hilux bakkie run on it? “Most diesel engines built after 1995 can be driven on 100% biodiesel,” says Craig Waterman who has the only biodiesel outlet in SA – in Stickland, Bellville. “If you buy a new vehicle or diesel engine, you should start using biodiesel from the very first tank.” It turns out Craig makes Biodiesel from waste cooking oil (which does not compete with food stocks) that contains no petroleum, is biodegradable and non-toxic and I met him when I went there for a fill-up.

“Biodiesel can be extracted from a variety of crops, nuts and seeds and burns clean, which results in a significant reduction in the types of pollutants that contribute to smog and global warming,” says Craig. “When used in a diesel engine, biodiesel emits up to 75% less exhaust smoke emissions and up to 80% less Carbon Dioxide emissions.” Having run my first tank on Craig’s biodiesel, I can confirm that fuel consumption and engine power are virtually the same as with regular diesel. But its use is obviously more environmentally friendly, it costs less and makes me feel better - which is the important bit. His website www.green-diesel.co.za carries plenty of info and although we have a long way to go to make this alternative fuel easily accessible if, as Tickell’s motto suggests, “the history of the future is being written today.” By switching over, we have the chance to be a part of it!

more energy a gallon than is required for its production, soybean biodiesel generates up to 93% more energy. Compared with fossil fuels ethanol, in its production and consumption, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 12% and biodiesel by 41%.

OCTOBER 2012

the month

sport

I’m not convinced about Tahir yet, particularly if he continues to bowl around the wicket, hoping to hit the rough

Smash ‘em, Hashim! After the Proteas blossom in England, Dave Rundle hopes they do better than the Springboks in New Zealand

he Proteas have now left England’s shores and moved on to another opportunity – to try to win a World Cup tournament in New Zealand. In my last article I predicted a win for SA in the Test series versus England and was very pleased to see this prediction come true. Hashim Amla, with his steady temperament and his continued ability to hit the bad ball for four, is amazing and was key to this series win. There is no doubt that when Amla and Kallis get in and start a partnership, bowlers should beware! And with an attack of Steyn, Morkel, Philander, Kallis and Tahir, the opposition know they have to work hard to score runs. Well done The Proteas! Their next Test series will be against Australia in November. It will be a very difficult series, but if South Africa can win down under, they can honestly say that

they are the best in the world. And whilst I think they have the team to do it, I still have some reservations about Tahir. I’m not convinced about him yet, particularly if he continues to bowl around the wicket, hoping to hit the rough. It might be better to opt rather for a left arm spinner like Robin Peterson who will also strengthen the batting. Now is the time for Tahir to come to the party. Making predictions on the T20 World Cup outcome is impossible - because anything can happen in this format of the game and all the teams end up with a chance of winning. I do hope South Africa will eventually click in a World Cup Tournament and bring home some silverware - they have the talent, but can they hold their nerve, that’s the perpetual question? I. for one, certainly hope so!

Video Game On!

Jim Waite suggests that rather than wetting themselves each time they see the ball, the ‘Bokke should go for a Wii

o here’s a little something, ideally placed on the ‘Sport Page’, that’s going to raise some eyebrows: “New research suggests that playing a violent video game with another person has a reduced risk of aggressive behaviour.” Granted, the statement is based on just two studies in which researchers found that college students who teamed up to play violent video games later showed more co-operative behaviour, and sometimes less signs of aggression, than students who played the games solo and competitively. The point however is that “The results suggest it is too simplistic to say violent video games are always bad for players,” says David Ewoldsen, coauthor of the studies and professor of communication at Ohio State University, USA. And if you choose to fight him on the point, he’ll no doubt ask you to take two game controllers and call him in the morning. Seriously though, and Ewoldsen admits that, there are established links between violent video games and aggression, but the research does suggest that there is more to a kid wanting

Now for something completely different:

to take a sword to school than playing Final Fantasy against his classmates. The gist of the matter is that where players co-operated within the games, teaming up to inflict maximum damage on their opponents, rather than going at it alone, there seemed to be an out-of-game correlation with their ability to co-operate in the real world. “And the inevitable upshot of these studies in said real world is?” you ask. Well I hope it gets Heynecke Meyer to pull the blinkers from his players’ eyes, as they sit through video analysis after video analysis of the games that cost them the Rugby Championship and notice that rugby, especially South African rugby, is a team sport. Perhaps, if they fire up the Wii and see enough pictures of players passing the ball to each other, rather than kicking it away on their own, these studies will be as useful to the team as the “16th man” was in 1995. Jim Waite read of the studies in an Ohio State University Press Release, from the 5th of September 2012.

Blow the dust off your speedos and board shorts and join us for The Bridge House Mile, presented by Glacier. The race will be held at the truly awesome Berg River Dam near Franschhoek, on the 4th November 2012. Here is a challenge to all of you - start training now and get those bods in shape before your summer holiday. It’s sad the Western Cape doesn’t have a race as big, or even bigger, than the Midmar Mile but now things are about to change. Come and have a great weekend in Franschhoek! You can enter online at www.energyevents.co.za

THE MONTH

MY STYLE

the month

“Art Deco Meets Middle East” Thanks to AYALA BAR

Israeli Jewellery designer, Ayala Bar, limits her collection run to six months and her designs are seldom repeated, even in part. The result is a classically distinct, but always en vogue offering that is snapped up by those who like to wear her colourful bead-and-fabric creations or simply collect them as works of art. Visit Unique B, 60 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek, www.collectb.co.za for items from the 2012-2013 collection or www.ayalabar.co.za for a complete list of stockists.

Take the Lead Inspired by Cathy O’Dowd

Born on 1969 in Johannesburg, Cathy O’Dowd was exposed to the world of mountaineering at the age of 18, but it was at a university rock climbing club that the bug really bit. Three years after getting into climbing she went on her first expedition to Rwenzori, a mountain range between Uganda and the DRC. Later she applied to be part of South Africa’s first expedition to Everest and, to her surprise, became one of only two women to make it onto the team.

@The_month

The first South African expedition was led by Ian Woodall, via the southern route - the same route climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary - and Cathy reached the summit on May 25, 1996, despite extreme weather conditions. Not content with the achievement, two years later she attempted to become the first woman to summit Everest via the northern and southern routes but failed when she came across a dying Fran Arsentiev, and turned back to come down the mountain. The following year she attempted the northern route again, with success, and with that she entered the history books forever. Aside from her Everest achievement, Cathy has summited Lhotse, climbed El Capitan in California and, most recently, Nanga Parbat, the 9th highest mountain in the world. She has published two books and given numerous talks about the value of setting challenging targets. If she was sitting across The Month from you right now we have no doubt she’d tell you to go for it!

OCTOBER 2012

Source material courtesy of abc-of-mountaineering.com

Feiran Griede

the month

To say that my purpose in life is to make more and insane as saying my purpose in eating is to get

more money is as fatter and fatter!

That’s rich, ! u o y m o r f coming Selling leisure more effectively might be better than criticism, writes Feiran Griede

stifled a chuckle when I read it reported that the world’s richest woman, Australian mining tycoon Gina Rinehart, had advised the poor to spend less time drinking, smoking and socializing, and more time working. “If you’re jealous of those with more money,” she said, “don’t just sit there and complain. Do something to make more money yourself.” Ouch! Steady on Ma’am - that’s a bit insensitive isn’t it? Or does she have a point? There will be those of us, of course, who’ll say ‘what does she know?’ and make derogatory comments about Australians (Are there any other kinds of comments to make about Australians, Feiran? - Ed) but take it from whence it comes – she sees the world in a particular way - and her call for lower taxes and a lower minimum wage is typical of that. And besides, we’ve heard similar things from the Premier’s office here in the Western Cape too.

But it’s not quite that simple - the ‘poor’ is a generalisation – and, once again, we return to the way the economy operates. Yes, you could ‘assist’ the problem of unemployment at the bottom by cutting wages and sharing jobs but to ‘solve’ it, the ‘poor’ need to chase the money – to provide products or services the ‘rich’ want and thus perpetuate consumption – that’s economics 101. So what she’s really saying is ‘make the economy work for you’. But if Robert Skidelsky’s assertion (in his book ‘How Much Is Enough?’) that the modern world really is characterised by an inability to say enough is enough, and where the ‘desire for more’ at the top-end results largely in workaholics with more money than they know what to do with, the alternative for the ‘smoking, socialising poor’ is to sell these workaholics the benefits of leisure. As Skidelsky says, we must convince ourselves that there is something called the good life, and that money

is simply a means to it. “To say that my purpose in life is to make more and more money is as insane as saying my purpose in eating is to get fatter and fatter!” How ironic then! The ‘poor’ should respond to Rinehart by saying you ‘rich’ work too much – that’s the problem - not that we work too little! The ‘rich’ spending less time working and spending more money on leisure is the ‘economic skew’ double-whammy. If you cut the minimum wage you need to affect change at the top too – by non-legislatively cutting their maximum working hours and swap out greater consumption of goods for greater consumption of leisure. Selling leisure achieves this - so take some time off, Gina!

Sorry for any inconvenience caused Feiran Griede’s excuse for why SA is so ‘Agenda B’

an I be honest, Ed? I hate the expression ‘Sorry for any inconvenience caused’. Not for one minute because I don’t think that the speaker/ writer isn’t sorry – it isn’t that. It’s the finality of it, the release of responsibility. It’s off their plate, done and dusted. It’s far too forgiving. Anything, for example, either done wrong or not done right the first time, causes inconvenience - and apologising won’t undo that. I think what grinds is the acceptance that it’s okay to cause inconvenience. It’s symptomatic of our ‘Agenda B’ approach here. If Agenda A is aiming to get things right, aiming to find perfection in what we do, the ease with which we slide into Agenda B, with everything else, suggests the pursuit of excellence is somehow secondary. I remember reading a blog by the Business Day columnist, Gareth van Onselen, back in July where he established his contention that the language of, and attitude towards, excellence hardly features at all in the South African public mind. “In its place sits mediocrity, accommodated and protected” he wrote and, instead of pursuing excellence “we bend over backwards to accommodate mediocrity. Accountability has lost its meaning, compromise is used to retard progress rather than encourage it and we negotiate in excuses. As a result, we settle too often for the

average or that which is only just good enough; if not, worse.” Let me expand. I was in a restaurant the other day and it was cold – the outside door was open and the manager was walking around with his jacket on. So I asked the waiter why the door was open to which he replied “It was open when I came on duty.” Talk about apathy and indifference leading to low standards and a lack of accountability – there it was, smack between the eyes. Did he think I was merely enquiring as to why the door was open? I am inconvenienced if there is only one teller at the bank and I’m

last in the queue; if the credit card machine isn’t working and I’m made to pay cash; if staff are ‘on training’ when I need an immediate answer; when there’s an unexplained delay or cancellation in travel. My point is this: Of course things will inconvenience us at times, and with good reason. My growing perception, however, is that is our acceptance of inconvenience is a slippery slope down Agenda B (apathy, mediocrity) and goes to the core of how we feel about ourselves – the public mood. I have often castigated the SA press for embracing a negative public mood through its reporting and am in awe at how other countries (with as much negative news) drive a PR engine that projects them in a positive light. I suggest that in those countries inconvenience isn’t as easily accepted. No one, of course, is capable of achieving excellence in everything but each person is capable of excelling in their particular sphere. The pursuit of excellence, as van Onselen says, “is a catalyst for progress and development, and the driving force behind the betterment of the human condition.” Where inconvenience isn’t easily accepted there grow independent, responsible young adults of whom the public has high expectation and who, as a result, have high expectations of themselves and don’t ‘negotiate in excuses’. Anyway, if that Blou Bull hadn’t got yellow carded and Steyn had kicked the goals, we’d have won that game...

THE MONTH

the month

OCTOBER

2012

WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER 2012

3-5

2-3

3 – 5 OCT / CTICC / FNB WHISKY LIVE FESTIVAL Beginners to connoisseurs

2 OCT / 8PM / RONDEBOSCH / UCT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONCERTO FESTIVAL Six of the best students from the

SACM appear as soloists with the orchestra. 021 685 7880, baxter.co.za

2 – 3 OCT / RIEBEEK / SHIRAZ & ART WEEKEND Enjoy quality exhibitions of

paintings, sculptures and photography as well as performances held at wine cellars, restaurants and galleries in the area and enjoy the offering of Kloovenburg, Allesverleron, Pulpit Rock, Het Vlock Casteel, Meerhof, Riebeek Cellars, Mullineux and a number of garagiste wine producers. In addition, the valley’s restaurants will offer Shiraz-inspired menus for those who prefer to avoid madding crowds, traffic jams and queues, just 1 hour from CT. 022 448 1545, riebeekvalley.info

4 TO 7

alike can enjoy the 10th annual FNB Whisky Live Festival – which attracts more visitors than any other whisky show globally – with more than 180 whiskies, interactive tasting workshops, educational zones, deli-foods and hospitality options. R90-R675pp, webtickets.co.za, 021 481 1822

much to list in a simple ‘What’s On?’ GUIDE – expect to be entertained… R70 – R600pp, rockingthedaisies. com

20 – 21 OCT / STELLENBOSCH / HELDERBERG WINE ROUTE AMAZING RACE Who would have thought that

overcoming Ornithophobia could be one of the unintentional benefits of participating in an (extended) wine tasting, of sorts? But a visit to the Vergenoegd Wine Estate, which forms part of the annual Amazing Race fundraising event, with its variety of feathered creatures, would help even self-confessed celebrity sufferers like Scarlett Johansson, David Beckham and Eminem get over some of their fears.

7 - 8 OCT / GREYTON / GREYTON OUTRIDE WEEKEND Share your passion of

mountain biking with like-minded people on this non-timed event in the beautiful Overberg. 021 884 4752, dirtopia.co.za

and creativity at Lourensford with a collection of designer clothes, decor, furniture, ceramics, jewellery and accessories, garden design and food shops. R50pp, 072 115 2913

5 – 6 OCT / WITSAND / BABY WHALE FESTIVAL Enjoy food, local produce

and crafts, the Miss Baby Whale and Miss Pansy Shell competitions and see the whales! Kids welcome. 028 537 1010, wact@telkomsa.net

6-7

valleys, ridges and plateaus rich in fynbos, bird life and higher up, the Klipspringer! Kilometre for kilometre this is one of the best trails you’ll ever run along with all its vistas – which is just as well, as there are 50 kilometres to cover. R790pp, 021 789 0188, quantumadventures.co.za

21 - 27 21 – 27 OCT / SOMERSET WEST / KAMERS VOL GESKENKE Celebrate local talent

5-6

6 – 7 OCT / HERMANUS /BERG & BEACH STAGE TRAIL RUN Traverse

4 – 7 OCT / DARLING / ROCKING THE DAISIES MUSIC FESTIVAL There’s too

7-8

26 OCT – 4 NOV / FRANSCHHOEK / ANNUAL FRANSCHHOEK CHRISTMAS MARKET From a handbag for mom

19-21

19 – 21 OCT / ROBERTSON BONNIEVALE / WINE ON THE RIVER Enjoy

a spring Experience on the banks of the Breede River with music, wine, food, and more wine and food! Kids welcome and big sreeen rugby faciities. R70 – R240pp, webtickets.co.za

The approximately 100 teams to be accommodated on this year’s version of the Helderberg Wine Route Amazing Race can expect to test their mettle at places like Avontuur Estate, with its green paddocks filled with the race horses for which the winery is also known, by fine tuning their throwing skills in a game of equine-themed “Jukskei”. There’s also barrel counting in the huge maturation cellar at Eikendal, a task that has proved particularly difficult in the past; a rather refined varietal identification drinking game at the Ken Forrester Vineyards and a (not quite Easter) egg hunt at the historic home of the Faure family on Vergenoegd Wine Estate; to name but a few of the events that’ll take place in true Amazing Race fashion. The fee is R1600 per team of four, which includes all the tastings and entertainment for the day, prizes and the prize-giving dinner at the NH The Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West. Profits raised will be donated to Operation Smile. Although perfect for a corporate or team-building exercise, a group of friends can have a lot of fun competing informally against each other but participants have to be over 18 years of age to enter, Responsible drinking is promoted, with drivers being provided with non-alcoholic drinks and other incentives. No duck were harmed Book your place by contacting Björn van Oort at bjorn@ when taking this picture cvomarketing.co.za or 021 981 0216

and garden furniture for Barbie to chocolates for dad’s sweet tooth and a treat for Fido as well… it’s shopping to suit everyone. Town Hall, 072 254 7722, ameliasgiftmarkets.co.za

28 OCT / 5PM / PAARL / NEDERBURG CONCERT Expect sultry French chan-

sons and fiery Spanish songs from Soprano Zanne Stapelberg and distinguished pianist, Francois du Toit. R170pp, includes light supper snacks served with fine Nederburg wines. 021 809 8345, concerts@distell.co.za

31 OCT – 4 NOV / FRANSCHHOEK / FESTIVE IDEAS MARKET 120 special-

ity exhibitors with Festive Season goodies for the house and garden, art, clothing, gifts and food as well as workshops hosted by various trade specialists. Simondium Country Lodge (situated along the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek), R20pp, includes goodie bag, festiveideas.co.za

4 NOV 4 NOV / SOMERSET WEST / SPUR ADVENTURE SPRINT RACE #2 Enjoy

These media reps enjoyed their race – especially the funnylooking guy from The Month!

OCTOBER 2012

a day of fun and adventure with mountain biking, running and obstacle clearing – for young and old! 021 789 0188, quantumadventures. co.za

the month winelands What’s On?

13 OCT / WELLINGTON / FROM 1PM / DIEMERSFONTEIN PINOTAGE ON TAP 2012 Taste the 2012 Origi-

26-28

nal Coffee Chocolate Pinotage and in addition to generous pourings from barrels of Pinotage, white wine and artisanal beer will be available for enjoyment with a generous selection of tasty, filling foods. Acclaimed local acts will include Goodluck, Albert Frost and Gerald Clark, adding to the vibe for which the events are famed. From R320pp includes food vouchers, the bands, the famous ‘bottomless’ glass of Diemersfontein’s Original Coffee Chocolate Pinotage; and a R5 contribution to conservation organization Birdlife South Africa, computicket.co.za 26 - 28 OCT / DAILY UNTIL 5PM / FRANSCHHOEK OPEN GARDENS Enjoy 10 gorgeous gardens and

the kind of festival atmosphere only Franschhoek can provide! 10 spectacular gardens will be on show – from small to medium-sized gardens in the village to farm gardens, indigenous gardens, and ‘out of town’ gardens. The village will also host a tea and bubbly garden, live music, a fresh goods market and the hugely successful Open Gardens PLANT SALE.

1 NOV

1 NOV / PAARL / FROM 11AM / PAARL TOURISM GOLF DAY AT BOSCHENMEER Enjoy a fun-filled day of networking

and fun, with the added attraction of the 40-year-old rookie, Michael Scholz, entertaining with his comedic repertoire of golfing anecdotes and trick-shots. Registration closes 22 Oct, Betterball Stableford – 2 scores to count. R2000 per 4-ball includes half-way house, dinner and prize-giving, info@paarlonline.co.za

R100pp for a weekend pass. Tickets available on the day in the centre of town outside the Town Hall. Group discounts for 10 more – R80pp. All proceeds go to the Lions Club of Franschhoek in aid of Fleur de Lis, Home for the Aged. Fay Bentley 082 655 5995, fay@netactive.co.za

15 – 18 NOV / HELDERBERG WINE FESTIVAL This festival of wine, food and fun for the whole family takes place at some 40 wineries from Sir Lowry’s Pass Village to Somerset West, the Baden Powell Rd area and in Stellenbosch. In addition to the wine, enjoy great food from some of the highly-rated restaurants in the area, live music, kiddies’ programmes (like meeting Mickey at Croydon Winery), exhibitions and shows at this laid-back event. The festival this year supports Amorim Cork’s ‘CorkLife Project’, which aims to create sustainable work opportunities by re-using old corks. Festival packs are R75 pp for a one-day pass and R120 pp for a multi-day pass. Pre-book at ticketbreak.co.za, and visit HelderbergWineFestival.co.za and plan to party into summer!

3 NOV / STELLENBOSCH / 10AM – 3PM / HASKELL VINEYARDS OPEN DAY Try Haskell’s new releases and attend one of

27 - 16 Nov 27 OCT – 16 NOV / FRANSCHHOEK / ART IN CLAY The

Ceramics Gallery, The Gallery at Grande Provence, Artefact, Ebony, is art and the La Motte Museum exhibit South African ceramics in Franschhoek, affording visitors an opportunity to wander from exhibition to exhibition within a safe environment, with free parking and lots of quality restaurants to choose from, as well as the option of doing some light Christmas shopping. A detailed brochure is available online at Franschhoek.org.za – look for Art in Clay under What’s On in Franschhoek?

two Master Classes presented by Cape Winemakers Guild member, Rianie Strydom, where terroir will dominate and wine from the ‘Hades’ Syrah vineyard will be available for the first time. Gourmet treats and live music will also feature. Free entry, but booking for Master Classes advised, Werner 021 881 3895, werner@dombeya.co.za

HASKELL VINEYARDS

7 Nov / from 6.30pm / Stellenbosch at Summer Place Bringing the wonders of the Winelands to Jo’burg

for one night only, Stellenbosch Wine Routes and Sanlam Private Investments pair the finest winemakers and chefs from the country’s premium wine region for a sophisticated celebration of all things epicurean. Brenaissance, Lanzerac and Idiom Wines are some of the new additions to the star-studded 2012 lineup of multi-crowned stalwarts such as Ken Forrester, Le Riche, Muratie and Spier and five esteemed Stellenbosch chefs will add to the mix. Michael Broughton of Terroir, Bertus Basson of Overture, George Jardine of The Restaurant at Jordan Estate and two new Stellenbosch at Summer Place debutantes – Christiaan Campbell of Delaire Graff Estate and Richard Carstens of Tokara Restaurant will do their bit to make the people of Jozi drool (and consider heading down south for good). Summer Place in Hyde Park will be host the event and live music and rare art pieces from the Sanlam Art Collection will complete the offering. Taste the Winelands’ good life for just R395pp, tickets are limited and flying fast, Elmarie Rabe 021 886 8275, webtickets.co.za

THE MONTH

social

the month

The annual Diners Club Winelist Awards took place in Cape Town recently, to honour the Cape’s top restaurant, hotel and guest house wine lists. Some of the Judges included David Hughes, Fiona McDonald and Peter Goffe-Wood,seen here with Jane Ledger of Diners Club, second from left. Alexa Huxter, Sarah Baker and Inge Naude were all recognised for their achievements and snapped by the event’s photographer for their beautiful smiles!

Social Scene Left: The Cape Dutch Connection celebrated the start of the sunny season with a performance at the Grand Café and Beach in Cape Town last month. By the look of things (on Derk Blaisse’s face), we’re in for a jolly good time!

This year’s Franschhoek Uncorked was a roaring success, no matter where visitors ended up in the valley. There was no shortage of music, food and wine to set the scene for the valley’s ‘hottest’ event; and as a result, the smiles (as seen here at Vrede en Lust and Lynx, respectively) are sure to mean many happy returns to the valley in the season to come.

Franschhoek local, Reuben Riffel, headed to Robertson last month for the Grills Gone Wild event at The Robertson Small Hotel. Judging by his smile, whether serious chef or amateur cook, braaing is serious fun! (The Month endorses the celebration of Braai Day, weekly… Ed)

Toks ‘n Tjops presenters Janina Oberholzer and Breyten Paulse enjoyed a great day’s racing in the Cape Winelands at the inaugural Kia Val de Vie Estate Mountain Bike Challenge, presented by ASG. Photo by Paul Nielsen

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OCTOBER 2012