Whale Cottage Portfolio Blog

The highly popular Bosman’s Crossing Market is moving to the Oude Libertas theatre complex as of Saturday 5 September, reports www.mothercityliving.co.za

The Stellenbosch Fresh Goods Market, which opened 18 months ago, became known as the ‘Bosman’s Crossing Market’.    Bosman’s Crossing is a trendy new area of Stellenbosch, but a little hidden from the main roads, and is the home to Dalla Cia, Stellekaya, Pane e Vino, apartment blocks, and some shops.

Distell, the owners of Oude Libertas, is moving its Distell Arts and Culture department to Oude Libertas, and will be offering musical entertainment during the market trading days.

The restaurant at Oude Libertas will be revived, and the market owner is taking over the restaurant with her “Slow Food Market” hat, serving fresh local food and picnics, seven days a week.

On every first Saturday of the month the Hearth Fair will also be at the Oude LIbertas, with ‘hot of the press’ designer goods and fashion. 

Attempts to start a new Bosman’s Crossing market in the existing location, driven by some of the permanent tenants in the area, appear to have failed.   A previous market at Oude Libertas will no longer be operating from there.   No doubt the new market location will cause some confusion.

Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

The highly regarded South African wine guide Platter’s has announced its two winning white and red wines for 2010, being Palladius 2008 from Sadie Family Wines, and Le Riche Wines’ Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2005.

Platter’s Wine Guide has given an early taste of its winning wines, and has also revealed that 41 wines have made the highly-sought after 5-star category, the highest number of 5-star wines since Platter’s was introduced.  As the Platter’s Wine Guide will only reach the shops in November, few clues as to the Winery of the Year, Superquaffer of the Year, and the five-star wines have been revealed.

However, the Platter’s media release states that 6 000 wines were evaluated this year, and 105 of these made the five-star shortlist, for the final selection of 41.  By wine variety, five-star winners include 5 sauvignon blancs, 5 Bordeaux-style red blends, 4 Bordeaux-style white blends, 4 shiraz wines, 4 unfortified dessert wines, 3 ports, 3 chardonnays, 2 cabernet sauvignons, 2 Pinot Noirs, 2 red blends, 1 grenache, 1 chenin blanc and 1 pinotage.

Platter’s has also revealed that multi 5-star winners are Woolworths, with four 5-star wines, which include a sauvignon blanc and a bordeaux-style red blend.  The other two 5-star Woolworths wines have not been revealed.   Boplaas Family Vineyards, traditionally a port winner, Cape Point Vineyards, Distell (5-stars for its Nederburg and Fleur du Cap wines) and Sadie Family Wines are also multi 5-star winners.

The Platter’s South African Wine Guide will be launched in November, with a detailed evaluation of all the South African wines tasted.

Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Nederburg will become the official wine supplier to FIFA for the 2010 World Cup, being one of the largest selling South African wines in “many international markets”, reports Just-Drinks.

The limited edition range World Cup 2010 Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc, Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon will be sold for about R 100 a bottle in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Sweden, Germany, South Africa and selected other countries.

Distell has added a pink lady to its supreme sparkling wine brand Pongracz, with the launch of Pongracz Brut Rose, a Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend, reports WINEmag.co.za.

The Pongracz range is inspired by Desiderius Pongrácz, a nobleman and refugee from the Hungarian uprising, whose vision and wisdom revitalised viticulture in the Cape. 

Composed in the classic French tradition, Pongracz Méthode Cap Classique is a charismatic and distinctive Méthode Cap Classique, and evokes an air of style, sophistication and nobility – a reflection of the genius to whom Distell owes its name.   Witty and brilliant, he had the gift of seeing the new in the familiar and finding the unexpected in the traditional. His theories were fresh and provocative – not only on vine cultivation, but also on music, history and winemaking.   Distell paid homage to this scholar and wine lover with its signature Méthode Cap Classique