Digital Guide to the Cape Winelands Available for your Mobile Phone

Turn Left at the Barrel is an interactive guide to the Cape Winelands for mobile phones. Use it to plan a trip to the winelands or find nearby wine estates. View details on each estate, along-side wines recommended and rated by local wine experts. A wide variety of tours, catering for all interests is recommended for exploration. Integration with the phone's GPS provide useful turn-by-turn directions and maps to all destinations.

This comprehensive guide comprises estate details, wine ratings by local experts and the best tour recommendations selected from over 600 cape estates. Integration of the mobile phone's GPS with Google Maps guide users to each way-point, with turn-by-turn directions and visual maps.

Even for a local, the winelands can be a confusing place for a day-trip - so much to choose from! Understanding the attractions of each estate, choosing which ones to visit, determining when they are open, and then getting there is difficult enough. Let alone deciding which foods and wines to try. Now imagine being a tourist in 2010, with limited knowledge of South African estates, wines and roadways.

The Barrel covers all 15 of South Africa's wine producing regions, from Darling, through the Overberg, right down to Cape A'ghulus, comprising over 600 wine estates, producing over 6 000 wines. However, the focus is not just on wines, with 19 recommended tours on interests ranging from Art, Chocolate, Family-friendly and even Green estate tours.

An expert-rated wine is listed along-side descriptions of each estate. Important contacts details like phone numbers, email- and web- addresses are readily available with estate opening times and embedded are clever features like click-to-call, click-to-email and click-to-browse.

For additional information on the release of Turn Left at the Barrel (or for a sample copy), contact Neill Adamson or visit http://thegiraffe.co.za. The Barrel is in beta testing on Nokia touch-enabled phones. Apple iPhone, Blackberry and Android version will be available in early 2010. Versions for additional countries will be published later in 2010.

Google to launch Street View in South Africa!

Google has officially announced that it will launch a South African version of its popular Street View service. Google have already started work – we have spotted them on the streets of Stellenbosch!

Google, using Toyota Prius models, will be driving around the country to take photographs of various locations – including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and Durban.

Street View is a popular feature of Google Maps that is already available in more than 100 metropolitan areas around the world. It allows users to explore and navigate a neighbourhood virtually through panoramic street-level images.

The SA Street View images will also be available in Google Earth and on Google Maps for Mobile. Images collected by the cars will be processed and carefully stitched together, a technological process that can take several months. They will be made available at a later date in Street View on Google Maps for South Africa.

In areas where Street View is available, users will be able to access street-level imagery by zooming into the lowest level on Google Maps, or by dragging the orange “Pegman” icon on the left-hand side of the map onto a blue highlighted street.

Google says the service will be available in time for tourists

visiting the country for the 2010 World Cup, which of course kicks off in June next year.

The pleasure of drinking Pinotage!

Someone once said to me.....

The most important reason to drink Pinotage is because it is enjoyable. Another is that it is red.

Somebody once said that the first duty of wine is to be red. That it has health benefits when consumed in moderation is a bonus. Study after study has shown that the moderate consumption of red wine could be beneficial to your health. Red wine contains high concentrations of resveratol, an anti-oxidant that shows abilities to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

And why Pinotage rather than other red wines? Because it is different, because it is uniquely South African, because it allows you to strike a blow against the tyranny of the conventional.

Click here to read about this years Top 10 Pinotages!

Simonsig succeeds with twosome on the 2009 CWG Auction hotlist!

Simonsig winemaker Johan Malan, has landed a double act at the 2009 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, with two of his red wines making it onto this year’s hotlist – a Pinotage and a Shiraz.

His remarkable duo, specially crafted for this year’s repertoire of rare auction wines to go under the hammer on 3 October this year, includes the elegant Simonsig Auction Reserve Pinotage 2007, which stems from a humble, twelve year old bush vine vineyard.

“This wine proves that looks can be deceiving, because what the vineyard lacks in appearance, its shale soil and excellent fruit quality certainly made up for it in the bottle,” shares Johan, current Chairman and one of the longest serving members of the Cape Winemakers Guild.

The full-bodied Simonsig Auction Reserve Pinotage 2007 was matured in new French (77%) and American oak for 25 months. It lends itself to exceptional ageing potential with the wood influence subtle yet supportive, respecting the complex plum and sour cherry Pinotage flavours, intertwined with smooth, ripe tannins. Dark black berry fruit infused with perfumed vanilla pod aromas add finesse to this boldly structured wine from an outstanding vintage.

The second 2009 auction wine is the Simonsig Auction Reserve Shiraz 2007 crafted from a low yielding vineyard on deep red soil which produced super ripe grapes. Viognier skins were added during fermentation and the wines spent 25 days with skin contact after which it was oak matured in a single new Francois Freres Nevers barrel for 26 months. The Simonsig Auction Reserve Shiraz 2007 exudes juicy ripe mulberries and spicy cinnamon on the nose whilst hints of white pepper aromas, layered with a cedary oak influence, coax the palate.

“Beautifully concentrated fruit in a framework of fine grained tannins, culminating in a long silky Shiraz finish,” is how Johan describes this red. The Simonsig Auction Reserve Pinotage 2007 and Simonsig Auction Reserve Shiraz 2007 are part of a collection of 41 rare and exclusive wines available in limited quantities only and can be purchased at the 25th Nedbank CWG Auction at Spier Conference Centre on Saturday, 3 October 2009.

Wine enthusiasts can taste this formidable pair along with the rest of the auction wines at the 2009 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Showcase to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) at 18h00 on Thursday, 20 August and at the Atrium, Nedbank Sandton at 18h30 on Thursday, 27 August.

All auction wines are meticulously crafted to represent the pinnacle of what can be achieved in South African winemaking – the ethos behind the Cape Winemakers Guild. Tickets cost R100 per person inclusive of a tasting glass. For bookings visit www.capewinemakersguild.com, email bookings@capewinemakersguild.com or phone 021 852 0408.

South African Wine more popular than French in the UK!

For centuries if Britons drank wine the chances were it was French..... but now it seems things are a changing! The British are now drinking more wine from Australia, USA, Italy and SOUTH AFRICA! South African wines are going from strength to strength in the UK market and have now claimed the fourth spot.

Latest market figures from analysts Nielsen show that drinkers prefer reds, whites and rosés from Italy and South Africa - which has only exported to Britain since the end of apartheid in the mid-Nineties - to those from the traditional home of wine. With demand for Chilean wine also rising fast, France could even slump into sixth.

Wine experts said France had been hit by high costs in its small vineyards, the strength of the euro, damaging petty disputes between its 21 wine regions and changing tastes during the recession. The country has seen the mass vin de table market virtually wiped out by the influx of cheap wines from the New World.

The collapse is so severe that British retailers and importers, including Tesco and Morrisons, have even clubbed together to advise the French government on how to improve the image of its wine.

Brian Howard, business development director of Wine Intelligence consultancy, said the recession accelerated the trend: “It is not as if Britain’s 27.9million adult regular wine drinkers have woken up and said ‘I’m not going to drink French wine today’.

“French is still preferred in the over-£6 category but we have seen a move away from formal occasions at home when traditionally a big French Bordeaux or Burgundy would be the must have."

South African wines have been particularly popular over the past year because the rand is weaker than the pound, allowing supermarkets to lower prices. The average price of a South African bottle sold in Britain is £4.25.

Source:

thisislondon.com

New World Wine Alliance Formed

Five competing New World wine-producing countries, Argentina, California, Chile, New Zealand and South Africa have formed a New World Wine Alliance and will take part jointly at Prowein next March – a world first for the wine industry.

The unusual step of competiting countries launching a unified marketing front is aimed at giving the alliance “increased momentum” in the marketplace, said the alliance.

The five members have continued to grow exports despite the global credit crisis and believe that by working together they stand a better chance of competing against EU countries, which are supported by subsidies for marketing initiatives.

An alliance spokesman said: “Although we remain competitors, we believe the potential exists to further advance the New World’s share of the global wine market by sharing best practice. We have already benefitted from each other enormously by exchanging viticultural and cellar research as well as innovations in packaging, marketing and logistics.”

The five generic marketing bodies representing the five New World alliance partners are leading the initiative and are optimistic about the initiative and believe their combined efforts in promoting the New World as a premium source of wines and as a network of innovation, will generate worldwide interest amongst media and trade at ProWein.

The New World Five have succeeded in building their wine trades on the back of aggressive branding, by demystifying wine and thus attracting new consumers; by playing up regional strengths and unique features; focusing on technical, packaging and marketing innovation while giving increasing accent to sustainable wine-growing and wine production.

Click here to read more...

World Fair Trade Day - A Big Day for the Planet, 9 May 2009

Tsiba Tsiba Tours are members of Fair Trade Tourism in South Africa.

It’s taken 60 years to get to World Fair Trade Day 2009. World Fair Trade Day has grown into a global celebration of Fair Trade with events organised worldwide, on and around the second Saturday of May by members of the International Fair Trade Association across 70 countries. Events have included Fair Trade breakfasts, talks, markets, live performances, fashion shows, carnivals, processions and protests, to drive Fair Trade and campaign for justice in trade and promote sustainable environmental policy. Fair Trade products and produce from marginalised communities are showcased on the day.

World Fair Trade Day 2009 is dedicated to individuals with the positive impact they can make in their community, through local and global events, that unite people and opinion, in a voice that can be heard. Please celebrate with us in spirit on Saturday, 9 March. Find out more, by clicking World Fair Trade Day 2009.

Welcome to our site - information and discussions on wine and more!

Hello, Howzit, Molo!!!

Welcome to our new site Wine Tours Stellenbosch, from Tsiba Tsiba Tours. Let me introduce ourselves: we are a small family owned business. We are passionate about our wine and ensuring that everyone we meet can get a feel for this amazing part of the world - the Cape Winelands!

We run wine tours in the Winelands and ensure our guests experience an excellent, efficient and personal service. We want you to enjoy this beautiful part of South Africa, learn about our wine making industry and enjoy the South African Cape Wines. So watch this space or come on a tour with us!

Lucas Swanepoel is the owner and registered tour guide, with over six years experience in the wine tour industry. Lucas has been involved in the Cape Winelands tourism industry since 1995. Lucas is knowledgeable not just in wine and wine making but also in local culture, history and the regions flora and fauna. I am Claire Golding - Lucas' better half of course and I help Lucas with all the tour planning, arrangments and making sure we do our best for our clients.

We have so many favourite wines, wine farms and places in the area to show you, we set up this site so we could start sharing some of our ideas with other wine lovers!

Tsiba Tsiba Tours & Travel is a member of Fair Trade Tourism in South Africa. Currently over 30 tourism businesses have received the prestigious FTTSA trademark. By visiting FTTSA-certified establishments, you are supporting socially responsible tourism and contributing to the New South Africa.