Photo Credit: David Ogden

Tintswalo Atlantic has announced its year-end packages which include corporate events for groups of up to 40 guests. Corporates are invited to end their year on a high note with an unforgettable lunch that includes canapes and a delectable 4-course menu (R750 per person, excluding drinks and 10% service charge). The breathtaking seaside venue is also available for exclusive takeovers, awards presentation ceremonies and glamorous evening events. There is an option of booking overnight accommodation in 12 luxury suites to provide executives with the ultimate end-of-the-year thank-you-treat.

With the holiday season fast approaching, Tintswalo Atlantic is taking advance bookings from a limited number of non-resident guests for Christmas Eve Dinner and its legendary New Year’s Eve Celebration.

Celebrate Christmas Eve on the ocean’s edge in true Tintswalo Atlantic style with dinner under the crystal sky. The special event kicks off at sunset with starters and cocktails followed by an extravagant beachside Christmas harvest table, plated dessert and nightcaps. Dress code is smart casual and the cost of R1110 per person includes entertainment by a live band.

New Year’s Eve in Cape Town is the highlight of the holiday season and there is no better spot to watch the sun set on 2018 and toast 2019 than Tintswalo Atlantic. Bid farewell to 2018 with flair and indulge in a decadent dinner with a live band and DJ and a countdown to remember.  Tintswalo’s New Year’s Dinner Celebration includes canapes & cocktails, followed by main course and a dessert bar, as well as a late night feast leading to the all-important countdown celebrated with bubbles, cocktails and a gin bar. Themed ‘Truly Cape Town’, dress is smart casual and reservations are available at R2470 per person.

In preparation for the warmer months, Bouchard Finlayson has released the 2018 vintage of its popular Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc as the perfect pairing with light, summer dishes such as white fish, sushi, green salads, calamari and prawns.

Founder Peter Finlayson says: ‘Our geographic location, lying within five kilometres of the cool Atlantic Ocean, offers the most ideal temperature zone of the Cape for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Added to this, the heavy shale clay soil that typifies the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley lends an inviting tropical tone to the flavour profile of this vintage.’

Originating from domain vineyards, the Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 has a strong vibrant aroma, tropical fruits of pineapple, litchi and granadilla. This is followed by a firm crisp palate signaling a determined structure with parallel fruit inviting engagement, says winemaker Chris Albrecht. Early botting has captured the fermentation esters and early aromatics which have become a hallmark of the Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc. (Cellar door price: R126 per bottle)

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve has unveiled the new-look Dwyka Tented Lodge and Gondwana Family Lodge. Recognised as one of South Africa’s largest privately-owned reserves, Sanbona stretches across 58 000 hectares of the wide open plains of the Klein Karoo, and is known as the Western-Cape’s premier wildlife destination. It is situated close to Montagu in the heart of the Little Karoo, a three-hour scenic drive from Cape Town along Route 62, and offers an authentic safari experience in a malaria-free area.

Sanbona is a sanctuary for indigenous flora and fauna, including the Big 5, but it is the vastness of the landscape and the alluring isolation amid the raw beauty and boundless plains which sets it apart.

Embraced by striking rock formations, Dwyka Tented Lodge is set in a horseshoe bend of a dry Karoo ravine framed by the beautifully weathered landscape.  The secluded lodge has received a complete revamp to the lounge and dining areas and the nine luxury tents, each with its own private deck and heated Jacuzzi, to epitomise the romance of a pioneering wilderness adventure.

Gondwana Family Lodge also had a total face lift to the 12 suites, as well as the main lodge dining and lounge areas. Offering a family-safari in style, Gondwana welcomes children of all ages and is equipped with a kids’ TV lounge, indoor and outdoor play areas with a child-friendly swimming pool. With mountain views the spacious thatched lodge overlooks the dam and is ideal for groups of friends and families travelling together. Inter-leading rooms are available and all suites come with a comfortable sleeper couch to accommodate a child.

The Sanbona Kids on Safari programme at Gondwana offers educational and recreational wildlife experiences. Welcome Packs include the Sanbona Activity Book filled with educational and interactive activities to teach children in a fun way about the wildlife at Sanbona.  Children four years and older are welcome on game drives with their parents, while the Interpretive trail takes children of all ages through the gardens to learn about important plants and animals on the reserve. Other activities include arts and crafts, puzzles, board games, entertaining and educational children’s books, and documentary DVD’s on various conservation topics and animals, as well as entertaining animated movies.

Each of the Sanbona lodges offer delicious and wholesome farm-style cuisine, comfortable lounge and relaxation areas, pool decks with swimming pools, and access to spa facilities. The Relaxation Retreat menu presents a range of therapies and treatments, including a steam room at Gondwana and Tilney Manor, for a serene ending to an action packed day on safari. Within the expansive reserve adventure activities includes twice daily game drives or wilderness walks, wildlife excursions and photographic safaris, stargazing and guided rock art walks to offer a superb safari getaway within easy reach of Cape Town.

Bouchard Finlayson has joined the wine.co.za initiative to encourage South Africans around the world to ‘open up a bottle of wine with some new friends on Heritage Day, and let them taste some of our sunshine’.

On Heritage Day, 24 September 2018, Bouchard Finlayson is joining the #tastesunshine initiative to encourage South Africans to invite friends around, light a fire for a braai, and share some great South African wines.

Winemaker Chris Albrecht says that Bouchard Finlayson wines are great food wines. A keen fisherman who enjoys spearfishing as a hobby, he continues: ‘For a braai on Heritage Day I will choose a freshly caught yellowtail off the coast of Agulhas, braaied to perfection on the beach with butter, garlic, parsley and a squeeze of lemon. Served with homemade tartare sauce and a glass of the newly released 2018 Bouchard Finlayson Sauvignon Blanc it promises to be food and wine pairing made in heaven!’

 The wine is refreshingly aromatic and unpretentiously drinkable, the nose is fragrant and the palate portrays rich tropical fruit tones of granadilla, guava and litchi. Crisp, creamy and lingering with an eventual harmonious palate finish it perfectly complements seafood and other light, summer dishes. More tropical than grassy and more delicate than overpowering, pure fruit tones and good balance are in keeping with the winery’s preference for riper Sauvignon Blanc flavours. (Now available at the cellar door at R126 per bottle)

Photo Credit: Greg Lumley

Tintswalo Atlantic has introduced a brand new BabyMoon package for couples wishing to celebrate a pregnancy with a pampering, romantic break before baby arrives.

The 2-night package in a luxury island suite includes full breakfast daily and a romantic gourmet dinner on one of the nights, as well as romantic turn downs and a bottle of non-alcoholic bubbly. The package also includes a pampering Mommy-to-Be massage, as well as an on-site 60-minute professional Preggie photoshoot with 60 to 80 digital images. Valid from September 2018 to 30 April 2019, the indulgent Tintswalo Atlantic Babymoon package costs R28 950 per couple. Optional extras to be booked in advance include additional Spa treatments and Mommy-to-be Yoga.

Known as Cape Town’s hidden gem, the intimate, 5-star boutique lodge is situated on a pebbled beach at the foot of the Table Mountain National Park outside Hout Bay. A short scenic drive from the Cape Town CBD, it boasts a breathtaking location right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Surrounded by nature only, each of the 11 suites are named after an island – from exotic Antigua and Ithica, to Lamu, Sicily and Zanzibar.

Individually decorated with romantic touches, all suites have luxurious king size beds, a lounge area with a wood burning fireplace, and a tea and coffee station with an espresso machine. Spacious en-suite bathrooms have sea views with walk-in showers, his-and-hers basins and huge Victorian baths with a selection of fragrant soaps and bath products. Each suite has a private terrace right on the water’s edge, inviting couples to relax, rejuvenate and breathe in the fresh sea air. With complimentary wifi, in-room massages and room service only a phone call away, couples may never want to leave their suite!

Exclusive, luxurious and private – there simply is no other place quite like it to celebrate a pregnancy.

https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/publicity/144376/fivestar-pr-appointed-by-jock-safari-lodge

Boutique public relations consultancy FIVESTAR PR has been appointed to relaunch Jock Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park.

The lodge was founded in 1982 by the Niven family, descendants of Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, and is owned and managed by the non-profit conservation organisation, the Caleo Foundation.

The reimagining and refurbishment of Jock Safari Lodge were executed to remain within the style of a traditional safari lodge. The main lodge offers 12 secluded suites, each with a private deck, outdoor bath and plunge pool and an enclosed sala.

Within the same concession, Fitzpatrick’s at Jock is also undergoing a revamp and will re-open on Thursday, 1 November as a small, private lodge catering for families or small groups of six guests travelling together.

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa will be joining global initiatives to commemorate World Elephant Day on Sunday 12 August 2018.

Located in the 35 000 hectare Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg (Limpopo province), it is home to approximately 100 African elephants who, along with many other species, including the rest of the Big 5 and more than 129 other mammal species, 350 birds and 2,000 plant species, are protected by a highly effective anti-poaching unit.

World Elephant Day was created in 2012. Bringing the world together to help elephants, it is a day to honour elephants, to spread awareness about the critical threats they are facing, and to support positive solutions that will help ensure their survival.

The world’s largest land animals, the status of elephants are classified as vulnerable since they remain under threat from poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict. Since 1979, African elephants have lost over 50% of their range and this, along with massive poaching for ivory and trophies over the decades, has seen the population drop significantly. In the early part of the 20th century, there may have been as many as 3 to 5 million African elephants, but today there are only around 415,000 left in the world.

Mhondoro guests are often treated by sightings of herds of elephants visiting the lodge waterhole, providing excellent photographic opportunities close up at water level, from the game viewing hide that is connected to the lodge by a 65m long underground tunnel. And sometimes, lucky guests may be surprised by elephants taking a drink from one of its natural saltwater swimming pools, providing yet another one of Mhondoro’s unforgettable #MhondoroMoments!

Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa World Elephant Day 12 August 2018 – video clip

#WorldElephantDay

@WrldElephantDay

Bouchard Finlayson’s Galpin Peak Pinot Noir has once again been ranked as the top Pinot Noir in South Africa, scoring a full 100 marks in the 2018 South African Wine Index Fine Wine Awards (SAWi).  Recognised globally for its quality, excellence and consistency, the Galpin Peak has now held the No. 1 spot for 10 years in a row, this year also scoring the 12^th highest points across all categories in the Fine Wine Awards.

In addition, Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal was also rated first in the class of Unique Red Wine Blends in 2018, for the intriguing blend of Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Italian cultivars (Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Mourvédre and Barbera).

Collectively these high scores have placed Bouchard Finlayson in the Top 5 Red Wine producers and in the Top 10 Wine Producers overall in South Africa for 2018.

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley boutique winery, owned by the Tollman family and headed by Victoria Tollman, founder Peter Finlayson and winemaker Chris Albrecht, is also known as one of South Africa’s leading Chardonnay producers. This was once again confirmed by the 2018 SAWi Awards where the Bouchard Finlayson Overberg Crocodile’s Lair/Kaaimansgat Chardonnay received a Platinum rating (96.78), while the Bouchard Finlayson Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Missionvale Chardonnay scored a Grand Gold (94.69).

The SAWi organiser says that the system distils the collective wisdom of a multitude of authoritative wine competitions and wine reviews into a single point score which is consistent, and drowns out much of the subjective noise of various judging panels. Through SAWi’s Mathematical algorithm, patterns are recognized making it easy to distinguish wines which are consistently accepted as exceptional. Such wines have special value, especially given the rolling nature of adjudication over multiple years – the consistent performance of Bouchard Finlayson’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays being perfect examples of the index at work.

Tintswalo Lodges will be opening two new properties in October 2018 with the launch of Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness in the Waterberg (Limpopo province) and Tintswalo at Boulders Boutique Villa, a private villa overlooking Boulders beach and its world-famous penguin colony. Completing the current Tintswalo portfolio is flagship properties Tintswalo Atlantic in Cape Town, as well as Tintswalo Safari Lodge and Tintswalo Manor House in the Manyeleti Game Reserve.

Family owned and managed, properties within the Tintswalo portfolio are defined by their stunning locations close to nature, warm hospitality and attention to detail, as well as the unique experiences on offer to guests. Says Lisa Goosen, CEO of Tintswalo Lodges: ‘After operating Tintswalo successfully for the past 15 years, preparation meets opportunity and we are thrilled to announce the expansion of the Tintswalo brand.’

Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness, a family-friendly camp of six luxury tents with private plunge pools will be opening on 1 October 2018. Lapalala Wilderness is situated in the malaria-free Waterberg region, three hours’ drive (or 30 minutes flying) from Johannesburg. Tintswalo at Lapalala is one of only two commercial lodges within 44 500 hectares of untouched wilderness. Sleeping up to 12 adults and four children, the Tintswalo at Lapalala Wilderness camp is environmentally conscious and will be operated ‘off the grid’. The Lapalala Wilderness Reserve was founded in 1981 by conservation champions, Dale Parker and Clive Walker. One of the largest private reserves in SA, it includes 27km of pristine river frontage. With several Research and Breeding programmes of endangered wildlife, as well as its famous Wilderness School, it offers an engaging safari experience and is a champion of sustainable wildlife conservation with the vision to leave a legacy for generations to come.

On 1 October 2018 Tintswalo at Boulders Boutique Villa will be opening in Cape Town, surrounded by fynbos and with unobstructed views across Boulders Beach, which is known all over the world for its resident colony of endangered African penguins. With a total of nine double suites, as well as a children’s suite, Boulders Boutique Villa will operate on a bed and breakfast basis, or as a private villa. Exclusive-use options include either four suites only, or the entire villa for groups of friends or families travelling together for extended stays of four nights or more. Known for its pristine swimming beaches and the penguins as star attraction, Boulders is located on route to Cape Point. Like sister property Tintswalo Atlantic, it also forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.

Bouchard Finlayson has received global acclaim in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2018 for the 2016 vintage of its flagship Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, not only taking a GOLD medal, but also winning Trophies as BEST SA PINOT NOIR, as well as BEST SA RED.

Thousands of wines from 55 countries were put to the test by a panel of experts in this prestigious competition. Now in its 34^th year, the IWC is accepted as the world’s finest and most meticulously judged wine competition which assesses every wine blind and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Throughout the rigorous judging processes, each medal-winning wine is tasted on three separate occasions by at least 10 different judges.

In last year’s IWC competition, the 2015 Galpin Peak also won a gold medal, as well as the regional trophy. It was also announced this week that this particular vintage has been included in the coveted Wine Merchant TOP 100 list for 2018 – a competition devoted to wines in the independent trade and judged entirely by specialist independent wine retailers in the UK.

Tasting notes describe the 2016 vintage as having ‘an earthiness on the nose, followed by excellent colour and bold palate complexity. Dark red fruit with a savoury mixture of cherries, plums and cinnamon drift into an extended palate feel, whilst eleven months in French oak barrels will allow for an extended maturation.’