Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

The Gugulethu Wine Festival is new and exiting event on the South African wine calendar.

The Gugulethu Wine Festival is the brainchild of Lungile Mbalo and Mzoli Ngcawuzele.

Mzoli is best known as owner of the successful restaurant called Mzoli’s Place and as a property developer constructing the first mall to be built in Gugulethu – The Gugulethu Square Mall..

Join Kumkani Wines  for a glass of wine at this year’s festival 27 – 28 May.

For more info about the event visit gugulethuwinefestival.co.za

South Africa is an extremely diverse and unique country with a wide array of cultures, wildlife and vegetation. The wines are a product and a representation of this diverse and vibrant uniqueness of this amazing country.

 A culture of our own, uniquely influenced by people and places from all around the world. You can experience the fusion of cultures through our warm and welcoming people.

You can taste diversity of the country it in the vibrant dishes and exceptional wines produced in this beautiful country.

Derived from the Xhosa word meaning ‘king’, Kumkani is an award-winning wine that celebrates South Africa’s rich heritage, eclectic mix of people and abundance of natural resources. Thanks to the fertile soil, suitable South African climate and winemaker’s excellence, Kumkani is worshipped by wine lovers.

Source: southafrica.net

South Africa is triply blessed. A long and varied coastline supplies us with an astonishing amount and variety of seafood; our fertile soils and wonderful climate work together to produce an enormous range of agricultural products; and our chequered history has endowed us with a population with such diverse cultural backgrounds that fusion is hardly anything new here.

Of course, you will find a whole range of restaurants serving anything from hamburgers to sushi, but let’s concentrate on our specialities.

Our seafood is legendary, and is best sampled at one of the West Coast’s open air restaurants – not much more than simple shelters on the beach. As well as mussels, fish stew, grilled fish and lobster, you may be offered pickled fish – a well-loved dish which you’ll also find in some traditional Cape Malay restaurants.

Other Malay specialities include fruity, spicy but not overpowering curries, smoorsnoek (a fish dish not unlike kedgeree), koeksisters (a sweet, syrupy treat), bobotie (a spicy mince dish), and some Indian specialities, such as rotis and samosas, with a local twist.

But our cuisine truly is multicultural, and nowhere is this more apparent than at a typical South African braai (barbecue). Now braais are assumed to be the domain of the Afrikaner male, but the reality is not nearly so simple.

Yes, there is an awesome amount of meat, most notably the very Afrikaner boerewors (a spicy, fatty sausage), but there will almost certainly be sosaties too. This is a lightly curried meat kebab, not unlike an Indonesian satay, which was brought to this country by the Malays hundreds of years ago.

And of course, no braai is complete without pap en sous, which is the staple diet of most of Africa. It’s a grits-like maize porridge, cooked up stiff, and served with a relish of vegetables, usually tomato and onion at a braai, or wild spinach (merogo or imifino) in a traditional African environment.

You’ll get the opportunity to try this at most cultural villages, or at one of the many African restaurants which are scattered all over the country.

And of course, all this food is made even more delicious when paired with a good glass of wine. Embodying South Africa’s rich heritage, cultural diversity and natural beauty, king of South African wines, Kumkani, seems the ideal choice regardless of the cuisine.

Read more on southafrica.info

The King of South African wines, Kumkani,  will be one of the international exhibitors at this year’s ProWein.

ProWein is one of the major wine trade shows in Europe and it seems that the entire world of wine and spirits get together for three eventful days long. Besides the uniquely extensive, international range of wines and spirits, ProWein also offers a comprehensive exhibitors’ event programme, a unique tasting area and special shows with presentations on particular themes.

Kumkani enjoys recognition within the industry and the marketplace as a result of its consistent wine quality. New vintages of the award-winning wines, Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc and Kumkani Cradle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon will be available for tasting.

Join us for a tasting (Stand 6H80 Booth 49) and for more info on the event visit  prowein.com

South Africa has become a very popular Valentines destination as the beauty and the amazing weather enchant romantic visitors.

An international website indicates that ‘South Africa is a beautiful country with the right mix of flora and fauna. As if this was not enough, South Africa also offers good food and wines to complete your Valentine’s Day celebrations with beautiful memories.

South Africa is indeed the country to visit if you want to have a splendid Valentine’s Day. There are several beautiful places which will lure your senses.”

Apart from the natural beauty,  South Africa also has interesting cuisine and produces excellent wines. These two elements are also key aspects of making a great Valentine’s event.

The multi award winning Kumkani Infiniti is an iconic South African MCC sparkling wine which will be the perfect partner , for you and your partner , this Valentine’s Day.

Source: mydearvalentine.com

The Rainbow Nation, South Africa, is an extremely diverse and unique country with a wide array of cultures, wildlife and vegetation. The wines are a product and a representation of this diverse and vibrant uniqueness of this amazing country.

The vegetation of a small part of this country embodies the diversity and variety of the land.

The Cape Floral Kingdom is the smallest and richest plant kingdom on earth. The Table Mountain National Park alone has more plant species within its 22 000 hectares than the whole British Isles or New Zealand.

A stretch of land and sea spanning 90 000 square kilometres, or 0.05% of the earth’s land area, the Cape floral kingdom contains roughly 3% of the world’s plant species – at about 456 species per 1 000km².

Of the 9 600 species of vascular plants (plants with vessels for bearing sap) found in the Cape floral kingdom, about 70% are endemic, ie occur nowhere else on earth.

Wines of South Africa ( WOSA )  indicates that the diversity in soils, matched by the diversity in climate and geography, create a treasure trove of winemaking possibilities. The result is a huge array of flavour and aroma profiles in South African wines.

Kumkani wines embraces and celebrates South Africa’s rich heritage, eclectic mix of people and abundance of natural resources.

Source: southafrica.info

Kumkani promote our award winning wines at the Chapman’s Peak Festival. This festival will be held at Chapman’s Peak Liquor on Sat 27^th November from 11-2pm.

Join us for a glass of bubbly and celebrate the splendid beauty of the Cape.

For more info contact Chapman’s Peak Liquor on 021 790 1088

South African climate, soil and wine growing conditions are different from region to region as the wide range of bio-diversity affects wine production.

From the tip of the African continent, where the two great oceans meet at Cape Agulhas, to deep in the desert-like Karoo and the Free State – such is the stretch of South Africa’s wine regions. Nearly 60 officially declared appellations cover more than 100 000 hectares.

A Wine of Origin scheme was introduced in 1973 that designated production regions, districts and wards. The latter is the smallest geographical unit with distinctive ecological characteristics. Official estates consist of single farms or multiple properties run as a unit.

It has often been noted that the Cape winelands are probably the most scenic in the world. For this reason wine tourism is one of the country’s growing industries. Offering a range of topographical pleasures ranging from high, snowy mountains to arid plains, arrangements for tourists are becoming more and more sophisticated in the various regions.

There are 15 very well organised Wine Route Associations, and information about accommodation, eateries and visits to cellars and farms is readily available through booklets, travel agents and the internet.

Read more…

Iconic and award winning Kumkani wines embody the rich traditions and cultures of South Africa. The grapes are mainly produced in the Darling and Stellenbosch areas and cellar tastings can be done at our Welmoed cellar.

National carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has selected the award-winning Kumkani Lanner Hill Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 as one of their premium class white wines, and this wine also won the Best Overall White Wine at the SAA Awards ceremony.

The wines were tasted by a panel of judges as part of the 2011 SAA Wine Selection, and Kumkani Lanner Hill emerged as a firm favourite in the Sauvignon Blanc category, and subsequently winning the prestigious Best Overall White Wine award for the third time.

It has previously been named the top Sauvignon Blanc in the Swartland and Darling District at the South African Terroir Awards and was also awarded a sterling 4 ½ stars by WINE magazine this year, proving the wine’s consistently superb quality.

The company of wine people^TM’s Brand and Business Development Manager for SA and SADC, Corne Oosthuizen, said: “Kumkani is a sophisticated, contemporary, new style of wine and it embodies the finest modern treasures Africa has to offer. Kumkani is the premium brand of the company of wine people^TM and continues to deliver on quality as in the case of our award-winning Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc”.

The grapes for this wine are harvested from a single vineyard block in the Groenekloof region (near Darling). This location has proven to be ideal for producing grapes with intense flavour and crispness. Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc is a well-balanced, wine with expressive varietal aromas, ripe gooseberry flavours, a rich palate and a lingering finish.  The wine undergoes no oak treatment. It complements a variety of inherently South African dishes such as game or lamb, served with a fresh salad.

The Kumkani Lanner Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2009 retails for R99 at the Welmoed cellar door (tel: 021 881 8062) and is also available at selected retail outlets.

South African artist John Botham’s Cape Winelands exhibition will be held at Welmoed on 12 November. Join us for a glass of wine.

Inspired by the South African countryside with its dramatic colors and abstract shapes, John Botham dedicates his days in studio to transforming these images into oils on canvas.

He paints the beauty of landscape, of creation, and of simply magical moments, such as the break of day.

 Info about the artist

South Africa plays host to another World Cup as the best sommeliers in the world gather in the Cape winelands for the finals.

The world’s best sommeliers will gather in South Africa this weekend when they take part in the WOSA 2010 Sommelier World Cup finals to be hosted by Grande Roche Hotel in Paarl. 

The 12 finalists, representing various countries from around the world, will be hosted in South Africa for a week-long tour of the winelands, visiting some of the Cape’s most prestigious wineries.

The eight month long competition (which has held heats world-wide) will culminate with the final on the October 16th at the Grande Roche Hotel and Restaurant, where all sommeliers will be put through their paces by an esteemed panel of judges.

Iconic South African wine brand , Kumkani , congratulates all the finalists and we hope they enjoy their stay in our amazing country.

Source: food24.com

British Airways announced that BA passengers worldwide have voted Cape Town as their favourite destination and they have reacted by adding second flight. But how can you go to the world’s favourite destination if you already live in it?

Some Capetonians wonder “How can you be a tourist in your own city? “

You go on a staycation. It is a vacation from your own home and you do touristy (or local) things.

Here are just a few things that born and bred Capetonians love:

Picnic at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden- Probably the best way to spend a lazy afternoon with a good friend surrounded by the most beautiful flora and a backdrop of Table Mountain. Get out that checkered blanket and picnic basket and enjoy the fresh air. In summer there are live concerts performed in the gardens amphitheatre for an additional cost.

• Sundays at Mzoli’s – Grab a bunch of friends head to Guguletu for the coolest way to spend your Sunday. With music pumping, drinks flowing and meat on the braai, the proudly South African township vibe is something you can only find here. If you prefer the braai without the buzz of Mzoli’s then head to Tokia Forest, Newslands Forest or Wynberg Park.

• Hiking at Silvermine Nature Reserve – An awesome way to spend time with the family and see a panoramic view of the city. Get a mini work out by following relatively short trails which lead to amazing viewing points of False Bay and parts of the Cape Flats. Also a very cool place to watch the sunset for the romantics.

 • Day in Kalk Bay – Take a stroll along the wharf and browse the quirky shops, enjoy a glass of wine or cup of coffee at the variety of cute coffee shops and visit the natural habour with its superb restaurants and bohemian arty vibe. A must stop in Kalk Bay is Kalky’s. Known for their yummy fish and chips, you’ll always find the most diverse bunch of Capetonians enjoying lunch there

• Capetonians love flea markets - With so many to choose from you can bargain your way to a great deal. Visit Cape Town Stadium Flea market, Milnerton Market, Muizenberg Market and Greenmarket Square for some awesome deals. Or try the Neighbourhood Market every Saturday at The Old Biscuit Mill for some organic treats.

 • Sunsets on the strip – With some of the best sunsets in the world, there’s nothing better than taking a drive to the Camps Bay Strip, Victoria Road and enjoy a sundowner at the variety of little cocktail spots scattered along the beachfront.

Iconic wine Kumkani , is proud to be South African and we celebrate the beauty of Cape Town and its lovely people.

Source: gotravel24.com

It was an amazing experience to be part of the World Cup and South Africans really did a stunning job in welcoming the world and giving the visitors a great time.

It seems that the foreign tourists enjoyed our lovely country as recent survey found that 96% of the World Cup visitors said that they would possibly return and 92% would recommend this country to their friends and family as a holiday destination.

The positive sentiment towards South Africa gave rise to bigger demand for our wines as the export sales of SA wines increased considerable.

We at Kumkani,  salutes all South African who made the FIFA World Cup a success and for giving visitors a great time in our beautiful and friendly country.

Source: sagoodnews.co.za

South Africa was the international flavour month (or the year) with the hosting of Africa’s first and an immensely successful World Cup.

This ‘flavour of the month’ tag gave rise to greater wine  exports, especially to counties with strong soccer interests. This is according to Su Birch , CEO of WOSA.

She indicated that exports of South African wines  have been boosted by the international spotlight on South Africa as a result of hosting the World Cup.
She added that there had been “a marked increase in sales” in countries with a strong interest in soccer even before the event began. “For the six months to the end of June the volumes of packaged wines exported to Germany rose by an impressive 50 percent,”she said.

“Wine exports to the US, which bought more tickets to attend the games than any other country, increased by 32 percent. Sales in Canada, Finland, Belgium and the Republic of Ireland all achieved double-digit growth.”

She said other developments had been a 33 percent growth in exports to Japan and a more than doubling of sales to the United Arab Emirates and China, although from a smaller base.

I think it is great that the world is beginning to realise that SA is producing excellent wines and that iconic SA wines brands like Kumkani is getting the praise it deserves. 

Source: busrep.co.za

The World Cup has brought many foreign visitors to our beautiful country and it seems that the South African tourism industry did exceptionally well in entertaining and accommodating the guests.

So it comes as no surprise that South Africa cleaned up at the annual World Travel Awards for Africa, winning 36 awards out of the total 49 categories.
For the sixth time in seven years the city of Cape Town was named Africa’s leading destination. South African Airways was named Africa’s leading airline, South African Tourism the Continent’s leading tourism board and Durban harbour the leading port.

Cape Town, South Africa’s most-visited destination, regularly receives international accolades for its attractions. This year it joined Paris, London, New York and Venice as one of Forbes magazine’s 10 most beautiful cities in the world.

The iconic South African wine brand, Kumkani , salutes all the people in the hospitality and  tourism industries who  helped to make Africa’s  World Cup the best ever.

Source: sagoodnews.co.za

The hosting of Africa’s World Cup has gained praises from all over as people are extremely impressed by the organising of this world class event. But now it is time for Africa to showcase their best soccer talent , as Ghana tries to keep the continent’s hope alive in the competition.

South Africans are rallying support for the Black Stars of Ghana who will face Uruguay in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Iconic South African wine brand , Kumkani, embraces the African culture and heritage and we support Ghana in their efforts to become the world champions

The ever popular Stellenbosch Wine Festival has taken a different format this year as festival goers will be visiting the farms. The wines from the company of winepeople^TM have arranged a lovely programme and activities for festival goers.

Bring the family and come and enjoy some of the best wines in one of the most beautiful parts of the county.

Arniston Bay, Kumkani, Versus and Welmoed will the wines that will be showcased at this great festival.

Here are some more details about what we’re planning for the Stellenbosch Wine Festival:

• Kiddies corner: Face painting, jumping Castle, colouring in fun
• Tickle your tummies: Spitbraai/ potjiekos. The Duck Pond restaurant will be open daily.
• Free wine tasting!
• Specials on selected wines daily
• A complimentary cool de sac with every case of wine purchased, and other POS materials on sale.
• Foosball fun
• Massages for the ladies
• A jazz band
• A magician

For more info about the Stellenbosch Wine Festival please visit wineroute.co.za

South Africa is synonymous with the amazing Big Five animals and many travellers regard a visit to South Africa as incomplete without having spotted, and perhaps photographed, the Big Five.

Originally used only by hunters, the term ‘Big Five’ refers to five of Africa’s greatest wild animals – lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. As during the bygone hunting era the term “Big Five” still conjure up the romance and excitement of Africa’s exotic destinations and experiences.

With the World Cup reaching the knockout phases it seems that the soccer world is also choosing football’s Big Five as the big teams are proclaiming their place in history.

Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Germany and Spain are the probable big five teams of this tournament with other teams like Italy, England and Portugal breathing down their necks.

It is a privilege to have the Big Five and the other Big Five on South African soil. I believe that Kumkani, the king of South African wine, is the perfect souvenir to take back home as an uniquely South African memory.   

Source: places.co.za

The World Cup has created a lot of attention on South Africa and South African products, especially SA wines. In numerous campaigns all over the world, WOSA put together events to showcase SA’s wines, cuisine and cultures.

It seems that these events are paying dividends has many wine critics has commented about the South African wine in past few weeks.

One such comment came from Canadian wine critic, Rod Phillips, who wrote that he found that only a handful of SA wines could be described as not interesting. He added that “The great majority (of SA wines) were expressive and had good character, and there were some real stand-outs”.

Some of these stand-outs were the Kumkani Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and the Kumkani Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, which he described as “stylish from start to finish, with great structure and balance”.

I think it is  great that WOSA has initiated these global events and promotions to take advantage of the attention that the World Cup is focusing on South Africa.

Source: communities.canada.com

South Africa is buzzing with tourists and World Cup visitors who are enjoying and experiencing our amazing country. An American Soccer tourist asked me the other day how I would describe South African cuisine? My answer was something like this.

South African cuisine is based on numerous influences from both the indigenous populations of South Africa and immigrants or transient workers from the colonial period. The Khoisan and Xhosa, Zulu- and Sotho-speaking people’s cuisine relied heavily on wild game, milk products, and local fruits and vegetables. To this day the ingredients and method of cooking can still be found in some aspect of local cuisine enjoyed by all South Africans. From the colonial period, those from Afrikaner and British descent, India, and Malaysia, brought some of the flavours, spices, and cooking techniques, that turned South African cuisine into a mesh of international flavours yet still greatly retain local traditions.

Braai, the traditional South African method of barbecue consists of a variety of cuts of meat and the local sausage favourite boerewors, as well as sosaties, kebabs, marinated chicken, pork and lamb chops, steaks, and other sausages of different flavours. Monkeygland sauce is an extremely rich and tangy condiment that goes along well with these meats.

Bobotie, what many call one of the more popular national dishes of South Africa, is a savoury meat dish with hints of sweetness due to the addition of sultanas, or raisins.

To add to this lovely cuisine South Africa also has great wines. The iconic Kumkani is one of the award winning wine brands which personifies the South African tradition and heritage.

Source: world-recipes.info