Brookdale Estate has earned its stripes as a leading producer of unique South African white blends with two wines scoring Five Stars in the Platter’s by Diner’s Club 2025 South African Wine Guide. This year it is the only producer to claim two of the 10 Five Stars allocated in the White Blend (Other) category.

It is the first Five Stars Platter’s score for Brookdale Bradbourne (2023), a blend of Grenache Blanc, Piquepoul Blanc, Roussanne and Marsanne, and the second in a row for the Brookdale Sixteen Field Blend (2023).

Brookdale Estate’s Old Vine Chenin Blanc (2022) follows hot on the heels of the other two wines with a score of 4.5 stars in the 2025 Platter’s ratings. In Brookdale’s lifestyle range, the Mason Road GSM (2023), a red blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvèdre, also held its own with a solid score of 4.5 stars.

Brookdale Estate is the pinnacle of the Rudd family’s passions. Here, Mediterranean varietals, a unique Paarl terroir and unusual winemaking techniques were brought together by the proprietor, Tim Rudd, and outgoing winemaker, Kiara Scott Farmer. The vision remains to produce world-class fine wines, including interesting blends crafted from varietals that are somewhat ‘unusual’ in South Africa.

Platter’s Five Stars is a distinctive South African badge of honour for the 259 Five Star wines and brandies which scored 95+ this year – wines that are cited as ‘Superlative. A South African Classic’. Brookdale proprietor Tim Rudd says Brookdale is honoured as a young producer within the new guard to receive this prestigious acknowledgement from Platter’s and its accomplished tasters.

Platter’s by Diners Club South African Wine Guide, known simply as ‘Platters’ by its fans, celebrates its 45^th year as South Africa’s favourite wine guide with the publication of its 2025 edition.

Brookdale Estate in the Paarl Winelands has appointed a dynamic new winemaking team to continue the groundbreaking work started by current winemaker Kiara Scott Farmer, who is moving on to start a new position at Hazendal.

Taking over from Kiara at the end of the year as the new Brookdale winemaker for the 2025 harvest, Xander Sadie will be assisted by Shanice du Preez, who joined Brookdale earlier this month (October 2024).

Since its maiden vintage of 2017, Brookdale has received global acclaim that has cemented the young estate’s reputation as a producer of wines of character and elegance. Brookdale challenges one to ‘stay curious’ while it sets out to try harder, push further and explore more deeply with every vintage. This philosophy in winemaking is driven by the talent and energy of a youthful team under mentorship of accomplished consultant winemaker Duncan Savage and proprietor Tim Rudd.

Outgoing winemaker Kiara Scott Farmer has been instrumental in the successes achieved by Brookdale to date. In 2021 she was recognised by WineLand magazine as one of the most promising young wine ambassadors in the South African wine industry in its 30 Under 30 line-up. Highlights during her tenure include the Brookdale Estate Chenin Blanc 2020 taking Gold with a top score of 97/100 in the Trophy Wine Show of 2022, placing it first in its category to win the coveted Rosa Kruger Trophy for best Old Vine Wine. Her talent and intuitive, minimal intervention approach to winemaking has been the driving force behind the development of the Brookdale and Mason Road ranges, including the Brookdale Sixteen White Field Blend, which was first released in 2021. In yet another career highlight, Kiara has just been selected in the line-up of six finalists in the prestigious 2024 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year competition in the Chenin Blanc category (to be announced on 23 November 2024).

Brookdale owner Tim Rudd expressed his gratitude and thanked Kiara for her invaluable contribution over the past five years: ‘Kiara has made an indelible mark on our young brand and our wines. It was a real pleasure to have her on our team and she will be sorely missed but, we encourage her to spread her wings and wish her everything of the best in her future ventures.’

Xander Sadie is joining Brookdale from BlankBottle, where he started in 2023 as assistant winemaker before his promotion to winemaker. During his tenure at BlankBottle he notched up invaluable experience working with a wide range of cultivars. Born into a family where winemaking is rooted deeply within its DNA, Xander Sadie holds a diploma in Cellar Technology and Viticulture from Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute. After his studies he completed his practical training at Hamilton Russell and worked two harvests at Intellego Wines in the Swartland. He gained international experience in the vineyards of Vincent Carême in Vouvray (France) and in the cellar of Luis Seabra Vinhos in the Douro (Portugal), before spending five months with the winemaking team of the Bedrock Wine Co. in the Sonoma Valley in California (USA).

Brookdale’s recently appointed Assistant winemaker, Shanice du Preez represents the new generation of talent mentored by the CWG Protégé Programme. She won the CWG Protégé of the Year Award in 2022, and in 2023 she was selected as Protégé judge at both the Shiraz SA Challenge and the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 competitions. She holds a BSc Agric degree in Viticulture and Oenology from Stellenbosch University and completed her harvest internship at Groot Constantia. She gained invaluable experience during her three-year internship under the Protégé Programme, first at Kanonkop under the mentorship of Abrie Beeslaar, followed by De Grendel Wines, and most recently, she completed her internship at Savage Wines. Her international experience includes a harvest worked at Pascal Clément in Burgundy (France) where she was exposed to Bordeaux, Rhône, Champagne and Burgundian wine styles, and earlier this year she took part in the harvest at Wine & Soul in Portugal’s Douro Valley.

Tintswalo Boulders has been voted as one of the Best 100 Hotels in the World by Fodor’s Travel, a trusted resource offering expert travel advice for over 80 years. The prestigious 2025 list of Fodor’s Finest Hotels was compiled by 750 globetrotting writers and hotel professionals across the world who narrowed 700,000 hotels down to only 100 that represent the best 0.014% hotels on the planet.

Fodor’s started by publishing its first guidebook in 1936. Today Fodor’s travel recommendations are made by a global team of local writers who know their destinations better than anyone else, allowing its guidebooks to cover all tastes and budgets in over 7 500 worldwide destinations.

Tintswalo Boulders is listed as one of the Top 10 Hotels in Africa. It shares the limelight locally with the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel and Cheetah Plains in the Sabi Sand, while the other seven African winners are scattered across Marocco and Kenya.

Tintswalo Boulders boasts a unique beachfront location with unobstructed views across Boulders Beach and its world-famous resident colony of endangered African penguins. Paying homage to maritime history and its location in the naval town of Simon’s Town, the luxurious suites are individually decorated, some boasting private balconies. The nine double suites may be booked individually, or together as a private villa for families and friends travelling together. Features include open-plan lounges with fireplaces, a TV-room and two fully equipped kitchens. There are spacious dining areas and outdoor terraces, as well as a wind-protected courtyard with a fire pit, in addition to a spa and a heated pool.

The Bistro at Brookdale Estate has been rated by diners as one of the most loved restaurants in South Africa, when it was ranked No 7 in the prestigious line-up of the Dineplan Reviewers’ Choice Awards for 2024. This accolade follows only a year after it scooped a Dineplan Reviewers’ Choice Newcomer Award for the Cape Town and Winelands region (2023).

The results of the Reviewers’ Choice Top 100 list are based entirely on more than 320 000 guest reviews of over 1340 restaurants across South Africa submitted on Dineplan in the last 12 months. Each of the Top 100 restaurants had to have received a minimum of 60 public reviews during the review period, with reviews enabled for all standard categories, comprising ambience, food, service, and value.

Since opening in February 2023, The Bistro at Brookdale has firmly established itself as a relaxed, contemporary destination restaurant where soulful dishes can be enjoyed with wines grown in the surrounding vineyards. With talented Executive Chef Gary Coetzee at the helm, The Bistro at Brookdale has also contributed greatly to raising the culinary bar in the Paarl winelands – an area which had recently seen a wave of sophisticated new eateries opening up to offer superior dining experiences.

Coetzee says: ‘It has been an incredible journey so far! We are very proud to have been recognised as one of the most popular newcomers last year and then achieving a Top 10 rating this year. We would like to give a big thank you to all our guests who have dined with us and shared their experiences on the Dineplan platform. We have just introduced a brand-new summer menu and we look forward to sharing some more good food and wine with our regular guests, as well as those who have not visited us yet.’

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve has achieved remarkable recognition by securing top rankings in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2024. The property has been named the #2 Resort in South Africa in the U.S. edition and the #4 Resort in South Africa in the UK edition. These accolades follow an exceptional year for Tswalu, which was previously honoured as one of the best new lodges in the wild at the Town & Country 2024 Awards, and won the 20th annual Hospitality Design Award for Best Sustainable Project, in addition to securing the March 2024 cover of Condé Nast Traveller UK.

As the largest privately protected area in South Africa, Tswalu offers a true wilderness experience on the southernmost edge of the Kalahari. With guaranteed access to a private safari vehicle, guests enjoy the freedom and flexibility to explore the remote reaches of the reserve at their own pace. Safari activities include privately guided game drives, habituated meerkat encounters, nature walks, tracking, stargazing, horse riding, and star-bed sleepouts.

Tswalu is primarily an ambitious conservation project, sustainably safeguarding vital habitats and restoring biodiversity. It provides a private and exclusive safari experience for a maximum of 40 guests across three luxury safari camps, ensuring one of the lowest guest-to-wilderness space ratios in South Africa. This low-impact, sustainable model of nature-based tourism is vital to supporting the conservation work at the heart of Tswalu’s mission: to leave the world better than it was found.

Tswalu is distinguished by its commitment to on-site research through a dedicated foundation that informs conservation decisions made on the property. Guests are encouraged to engage with scientists and doctoral students in the field.

Managed as a conservation initiative, Tswalu integrates nature-based tourism to support the socio-economic development of the region, creating a sustainable balance between environmental stewardship and community well-being. Every safari undertaken contributes to preserving the southern Kalahari’s rich biodiversity for future generations. With private game drives free of set schedules, the award-winning Klein JAN restaurant, and visits to historic rock art sites, Tswalu offers guests the chance to experience the magic of the southern Kalahari from every angle.

In addition to its various research accomplishments, the opening of Tswalu’s third camp, Loapi, has garnered attention for its sustainable design and innovative approach to low-impact lodging. Loapi, meaning the ‘space below the clouds’ in Setswana, is pioneering and nomadic in spirit. Six individual safari homes are surrounded by open savannah grasslands and accommodate two to four guests for the ultimate private wilderness experience. Sustainably designed and environmentally sensitive, the architecture of each temperature-controlled home combines canvas, glass, timber and steel. Set at least 50 metres (165 feet) apart to ensure privacy and solitude, the homes are tucked into the contours of a valley between the Korannaberg mountains. Personal service is provided by a dedicated house manager, and all meals are prepared by a private chef in an interactive kitchen.

Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its 37^thReaders’ Choice Awards, which this year, includes two of Tintswalo’s iconic properties in South Africa.

Tintswalo Safari in the Greater Kruger area was cited as one of Condé Nast Traveler readers’ ‘favourite places to view wildlife in South Africa’ and was scored at 96.49 to take the 7^th place in the prestigious line up of Top Resorts in South Africa.

Facing stiff competition in the Top Hotels in South Africacategory, Tintswalo Atlantic was ranked in 12^th place with a score of 95.83. Condé Nast Traveler describes the Cape Town hotel as ‘perched on stilts between ancient milkwood trees, the wood-and-glass suites are so close to the pounding waves that it’s possible to toss pebbles into the rock pools from your private deck.’

 More than 575,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the United States submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they anticipate revisiting. The 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, with its legacy as the travel industry’s longest running and most prestigious accolades, remain the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector, including resorts, hotels, cruises, spas and islands.

 Tintswalo’s unique bush lodges and beach boutique hotels are situated in some of South Africa’s most magnificent and unspoiled locations. Lisa Goosen, the CEO of Tintswalo Collection says: ‘We are delighted to add the prestigious 2024 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards to our list of accolades and are proud to offer our guests a unique Tintswalo experience to showcase our beautiful country.’

Tintswalo is a family-owned and managed conservation tourism company, comprising of six properties situated in five unique locations across Southern Africa. In the local Shangaan language, the name Tintswalo means ‘the intangible feeling of love, gratitude and peace bestowed upon someone offering you a meaningful and worthy gift’.

Tintswalo Atlantic has converted its 2-bedroom suite into two separate inter-leading suites that have been re-branded as Luxury Mountain Suites. Situated amongst the fynbos within the Table Mountain National Park, both suites are ocean-facing in an elevated position set back from the water’s edge.

The two Luxury Mountain Suites, like the eight Luxury Island Suites, come with wood-burning fireplaces and private balconies, as well as luxurious bathrooms with separate showers, double vanities and free-standing bathtubs with mesmerizing sea views.

The Elba Luxury Mountain Suite includes a separate private lounge with another fireplace and a spacious deck. It is a popular option for bridal parties, and when booked together with the inter-leading Corsica Luxury Mountain Suite, provide spacious, private accommodation for four guests travelling together. The two suites also offer the option of adding an extra bed per suite for children under the age of 16 sharing with their parents.

The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel & Spa has launched a rejuvenating Restorative Retreat package for those wanting to immerse themselves in the tranquillity of the 9-acre estate within the heart of Cape Town’s Constantia Valley.

The celebrated gardens of The Cellars-Hohenort lend themselves perfectly to the Japanese wellness concept of forest bathing. Here, against the backdrop of the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and surrounded by greenery under a canopy of 300-year old camphor trees, the gardens provide therapeutic relaxation. Guests are invited to escape awhile and explore the gardens at their own pace while focussing on sensory engagement to truly connect with nature.

The Restorative Retreat package offers pampering in the luxury of the 5-star hotel, a proud member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Accommodation in a room with a garden view sets the scene for a wellness break, complete with a yoga mat, resistance bands, and guided relaxation exercises provided. The offer includes a relaxing 30-minute Neck, back, and shoulder massage at the Fresh Wellness Spa, with access to two heated swimming pools, mountain bikes (subject to availability), the tennis court and the magnificent gardens. Discover the enchanted forest and the secret corners of the estate that range from water features, a small vineyard and a formal rose garden, to herb, vegetable and citrus gardens which grow fresh produce for the hotel kitchens. Venture further afield and explore the trails through Constantia’s Green Belt, or visit the acclaimed Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, only a few kilometres away.

End the day with an elegant 2-course dinner at The Conservatory restaurant where Head Chef Daniel Blignaut presents a range of fresh and delicious menu items, including vegetarian options. After a good night’s rest wake up to birdsong to enjoy a healthy and nutritious multi-course breakfast that includes fresh fruit and detox juices. Breakfast is served on the terrace in sunny weather or stay in and enjoy the most important meal of the day in a fluffy dressing gown and slippers in the cozy comfort of your room.

The Liz McGrath Collection also offers similar wellness packages at its sister-hotels, The Marine in Hermanus and The Plettenberg on the Garden Route.

The Plettenberg Hotel has unveiled its new-look restaurant, which is destined to become a popular new Plett venue not only for resident guests, but also for casual diners booking for breakfast, lunch, cocktails and dinner.

The restaurant, Amelia’s at The Plettenberg, was reimagined in design and interiors by Dawn Dickerson, Carmel Naude and Tammy Fourie of HotCocoa Interiors & Design. The same team was also responsible for the new-look of The Conservatory restaurant at sister-hotel, The Cellars-Hohenort in Cape Town, which opened last year (2023).

The Plettenberg boasts an unrivalled prime position on a rocky headland in one of South Africa’s most spectacular beach towns. Dawn Dickerson says the creative design started with this sense of place, inspired by the magnificent view of the ocean and sweep of bay across Lookout Beach, with purple hued mountains in the distance.  The restaurant terrace was doubled in size with long banquette seating and a timber pergola, creating an inviting space for outdoor dining overlooking the ocean.  Inside, the space was opened up by replacing four structural columns with elegant beams of natural timber to create a welcoming new dining space with elegant banquets lining the back walls.

‘The views are captured in the new restaurant design, bringing the outside in with a palette of colours of the sea. This unique sense of place had to be used in all the elements of the design and we needed to bring those beautiful colours and textures into the restaurant.  This ranges from the white-tipped waves to teal and the deep blue of the sea, framed by the colours of the mountains and warmed by the shades of sand, changing from wet to dry’, she says.

The floor is a mix of wet sand and white checkerboard colour, accented with terracotta, sand and deep teal blue tile colours – the patterned tiles creating warmth, layering, interest and a relaxed mood. This warm checkerboard layout sets the scene for the rich and intricate mix of patterned and plain fabrics in rich deep blues, vibrant iridescent blues and clean and delicate turquoise, mixed up with an uplighting acid lime yellow. The feature centrepiece of the restaurant is a display of custom designed, handmade ceramic pendants inspired by shell sea creatures in kaleidoscope of colours, from the iridescent trademark blue to the soft sludgy teal green of the sea on an overcast day. These richly layered elements are a focal point against the inspiring backdrop of artist Tiziana Giardini’s bold, hand-painted mural on the two feature walls. The mural comes to life at night especially, when darkness drops over the bay, and it shimmers and glows, bringing the spectacular view from the restaurant to life.

The CEO of The Liz McGrath Collection, Jacqui Elliott summarizes: ‘Colourful, whimsical, elegant, sophisticated yet approachable. Amelia’s at The Plettenberg is a warm, intimate, yet bold new restaurant space that invites diners to linger longer while savouring a delicious meal and enjoying the spectacular view. Tronette Dippenaar, the Executive Chef of The Liz McGrath Collection and her team at The Plettenberg bring to the table an exciting new menu that is an exploration of flavours, from seafood and grills, to the classics, including a fresh take on our signature dishes. We are proud to introduce this inspiring, light and modern restaurant that is perfectly aligned with the barefoot luxury our guests know and love The Plettenberg for.’

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa has partnered with renowned chef and restaurateur Luke Dale Roberts to further elevate the culinary offering at the 5-star lodge in the Welgevonden Game Reserve. The exciting new multi-course menus, wine pairings and curated cocktails, combined with a high level of culinary service, is set to raise the bar for safari cuisine in South Africa.

Luke Dale Roberts and his expert executive team are overhauling Mhondoro’s food and beverage experience in totality, phasing in an exclusive, all-new dining experience that is available to Mhondoro’s resident guests only. Training of Mhondoro’s current in-house food and beverage staff, mentored by Luke Dale Roberts’ and his team, will further develop their skills and expertise to ensure top-tier service and culinary innovation on an ongoing basis.

Dale Roberts’ innovative wine pairing menus have already been introduced at dinner. Boma dinners are being reimagined too, transforming the quintessential safari experience of dining around a campfire, into an unforgettable encounter with the African night skies, showcasing local tradition, culture and cuisine. The next step for Dale Roberts and his team will be creating a delicious new Harvest Table lunch concept, followed later by new breakfast menus, the preparation and presentation of game drive snacks, and exciting sundowner drinks and cocktails.

Commenting on the new culinary offerings, Fritz Breytenbach, the CEO of Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa says: ‘Our cuisine sets us apart, celebrating local and seasonal produce sourced from our organic vegetable gardens cultivated on the Mhondoro Eco-Farm. This is where arriving guests now check-in at Mhondoro’s new Reception & Welcome Lounge and enjoy their first taste of the exciting gourmet adventure that awaits at the lodge.’

Conveniently situated adjacent to the main gate of Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg region, Mhondoro’s organic Eco-farm also produces free-range eggs and farmed sheep and cattle. Guests may tour the farm and pick fresh ingredients before they are transported through the reserve in open game viewing vehicles to the lodge.

Myrian Vogel, the owner of Mhondoro says it has always been a dream of the Vogel family to collaborate with a top chef in the heart of the bush. ‘Seeing this dream come true with someone of the caliber of Luke Dale Roberts is incredibly fulfilling, and we are very proud to bring our guests an outstanding new dining experience at Mhondoro.’

Luke Dale Roberts expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, ‘I am exceptionally excited to partner with Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa. Their commitment to excellence and upskilling of staff, in addition to the sustainable development of farmland and an impressive organic vegetable garden are truly inspiring. We look forward to working with the team and drawing from this abundance of this garden to create menus that reflect the best of local and seasonal produce of this region.’