From Businesstech staff Writer 15 September 2021

Multiple records were smashed during a virtual live auction facilitated by Strauss & Co this week, featuring five iconic single bottle lots of South African wines.

The marquee lot and expectedly the star of the sale, a bottle of Grand Constance 1821 fetched a staggering R967,300 including commission, doubling an earlier auction record in April this year.

This extremely rare bottle of sweet wine, likely destined for Napoleon before his death in 1821, is in fine condition and was owned by the Malan family.

Notably, all 5 wines sold are in fine and drinkable condition, having all been tasted recently with high acclaim by local and international critics, Strauss & Co said.null

The coveted 1957 vintage of South Africa’s oldest red wine – Chateau Libertas and the iconic GS Cabernet Sauvignon 1966 both achieved R91,040.

The former, a 100 pointer from Greg Sherwood MW, and the latter 20/20 from Jancis Robison are record prices for red South African wines. Both bottles have recently been re-corked, ensuring perfect condition and longevity.

The night belonged to the sweets though, Strauss & Co said, firmly establishing South Africa’s status as a producer of world-class sweet wines.null

The first commercial vintage of the Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 1987 achieved R34,140, while a 275ml bottle of the Jaubert Family Muscat d’Alexandrie, drawn from a 115L barrel in care of the Joubert family for more than 200 years and seven generations, fetched R91,040.

Auctioneer’s note on Grand Constance 1821 – 1 x 375ml

By 1821, Constantia wine was arguably at the height of its fame, universally known ‘to soften the temper of ministers, and to sweeten the lips of royalty itself’ – Groot Constantia

A handful of bottles remain from a collection purchased by three South African wine personalities on auction in London in 1983. The late Frans Malan’s share was carefully cellared at Simonsig Wine Estate and Strauss & Co is proud to offer a pristine bottle 200 years after harvest.

The 1983 auction bottles were likely from the cellars of Apsley House, home of the dukes of Wellington. The labels stating ‘décanté en 1883’ suggests that their bottling might have taken place in
France in 1883, before being sold to English provenance.

Research compiled by Joanne Gibson for Winemag.co.za earlier this year suggests that Constantia sweets would have indeed changed French hands.

From Frederick the Great of Prussia to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of France, from American founding fathers George Washington and John Adams to Britain’s mad King George,
possession of ‘the sweet, luscious and excellent dessert wine’ was craved by all.

It was sold ‘on allocation’, with much of the 1821 harvest allocated to St Helena, where for five years it had been reserved for the exclusive enjoyment of Napoleon – a bottle a day, in fact.

However, the exiled emperor died on 5 May 1821 – his last request a glass of his beloved vin de constance – which resulted in a supply of Grand Constance 1821 vintage to enter the market.

The Grand Constance 1821 is held in its original, hand-blown glass bottle, each of the bottles taking a unique shape, and presented in a wooden case. Bottles from the London auction have been recorded, with a recent note below by Michael Fridjhon and Jean-Vicent Ridon.

Due to the uncompromised condition of this bottle, the auctioneer has decided not to interfere with the closure and sell in its original state.

At the buyer’s discretion, a complimentary professional recording service can be offered as part of the sale.

This service includes alphanumeric identification on the new closure and a seal to ensure traceability going forward.

The stunning snaps showcase the gorgeous predator prancing around Cape Town’s iconic Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Lunch anyone? There appears to be rodent and spurfowl on the menu.

Take a look.

Just having a look around…

Anybody there?

BINGO!

On the move…

Mad because I missed. 

Pretty sure I saw a spurfowl around here somewhere… 

It’s behind me, isn’t it…

ROUND TWO!

Seriously? Another miss. 

That’s it. I’m going vegan. 

“I shot [these] yesterday morning [Sunday] at quieter (because of the morning rain) than normal Kirstenbosch near the Restios. I spend a good amount of time there with family —walking, birdwatching etc. [It’s the] first time we’ve seen a caracal there.

“[It] was a great treat. [I was] also surprised my two young daughters kept quiet while the caracal walked around and gave us a good show.”

Urban Caracal Project:

“Our analysis of Cape Town caracals’ scats and kill sites revealed that rodents form an important part of their diet. This was dominated by native species, such as vlei rats and four-striped grass mice. Introduced rodents, such as the brown rat seen here, were far less commonly detected – indicating their reliance on natural prey despite hunting close to urban areas.”

With a foreword by four-time Oscar nominated filmmaker Michael Mann.

The story of Paul LeRoux, the twisted-genius entrepreneur and cold-blooded killer who brought revolutionary innovation to international crime, and the exclusive inside story of how the DEA’s elite, secretive 960 Group brought him down.

Paul LeRoux was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa. After a first career as a pioneering cybersecurity entrepreneur, he plunged hellbent into the dark side, using his extraordinary talents to develop a disruptive new business model for transnational organized crime. Along the way he created a mercenary force of ex-U.S. and NATO sharpshooters to carry out contract murders for his own pleasure and profit. The criminal empire he built was Cartel 4.0, utilizing the gig economy and the tools of the Digital Age: encrypted mobile devices, cloud sharing and novel money-laundering techniques. LeRoux’s businesses, cyber-linked by his own dark worldwide web, stretched from Southeast Asia across the Middle East and Africa to Brazil; they generated hundreds of millions of dollars in sales of arms, drugs, chemicals, bombs, missile technology and murder. He dealt with rogue nations—Iran and North Korea—as well as the Chinese Triads, Somali pirates, Serb mafia, outlaw bikers, militants, corrupt African and Asian officials and coup-plotters.

Initially, LeRoux appeared as a ghost image on law enforcement and intelligence radar, an inexplicable presence in the middle of a variety of criminal endeavors. He was Netflix to Blockbuster, Spotify to Tower Records. A bold disruptor, his methods brought international crime into the age of innovation, making his operations barely detectable and LeRoux nearly invisible. But he gained the attention of a small band of bold, unorthodox DEA agents, whose brief was tracking down drugs-and-arms trafficking kingpins who contributed to war and global instability. The 960 Group, an element of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, had launched some of the most complex, coordinated and dangerous operations in the agency’s history. They used unorthodox methods and undercover informants to penetrate LeRoux’s inner circle and bring him down.

For five years Elaine Shannon immersed herself in LeRoux’s shadowy world. She gained exclusive access to the agents and players, including undercover operatives who looked LeRoux in the eye on a daily basis. Shannon takes us on a shocking tour of this dark frontier, going deep into the operations and the mind of a singularly visionary and frightening figure—Escobar and Victor Bout along with the innovative vision of Steve Jobs rolled into one. She puts you in the room with these people and their moment-to-moment encounters, jeopardy, frustration, anger and small victories, creating a narrative with a breath-taking edge, immediacy and a stranger-than-fiction reality.

Remarkable, disturbing, and utterly engrossing, Hunting LeRouxintroduces a new breed of criminal spawned by the savage, greed-exalting underside of the Age of Innovation—and a new kind of true crime story. It is a look into the future—a future that is dark

Experiences where South African and visitors are able to interact with wildlife could be radically altered as the South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) has announced these practices are frowned upon.

Interactions between the public infant wildlife, walking with predators or elephants and the riding of wildlife will all be prohibited under the association’s new wildlife interaction guideline.

The new guidelines released by SATSA, as well as a year-long research process, are aimed at helping operators in the relevant industry make more ethical choices and better protect their wildlife.

South Africa is well-known for its wildlife with a number of tourist-focused offerings utilising animals as part of their experience, but in recent years many visitors have flagged these experiences as unacceptable.

Many visitors felt that these interactions resulted in poor welfare and forcing the animals to partake in activities that go against their natural behaviour.

Since then SATSA has released strict guidelines that the industry are encouraged to follow under the following headlines.

Performing animals

This is now considered prohibited as animals forced to perform are also subjected to training which can expose them to physical and mental abuse. Research also shows that there is no educational or conservational value in these performances.

Interactions with infant wild animals

These tactile interactions are shown to have highly negative effects on young animals as they are naturally scared of humans and need to be separated from their mother in order to be exposed to human contact.

Predator interactions

In order for a predator to safely interact with humans it must undergo extensive training which usually involves harmful and negative techniques. Keeping these animals in captivity also has negative effects on them causing them to behave differently then they would in the wild. The same applies to animals that are trained to walk alongside humans.

Riding of animals

Having a human ride a wild animal is completely contrary to their natural behaviour. As with the above mentioned interactions, these animals have to be trained to accept humans riding on their back and are forced to participate in the activity against their will.

Other points mentioned in the guidelines include warnings about illegal trade of animals parts, hunting, breeding and any advertising that could be considered misleading.

As of July 2020 SATSA hopes to fully implement and enforce these new guidelines

wow your views who was left out

My personal choice. Wolfgat in Paternoster

The winners of the 2019 Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards have just been announced at a sold-out event in Cape Town. Here’s your culinary bucket list for the year ahead: South Africa’s brand-new Top 10 restaurants.

Sunday, November 17th, 2019by Eat Out

1. La Colombe (Constantia, Cape Town)

Position in the Top 10 last year: 3

Chef James Gaag’s interpretation of local flavours presented in a refined, sometimes quirky manner has skyrocketed La Colombe to the coveted number one spot: South Africa’s Restaurant of the Year.

A dish at La Colombe. Photo by Andrea van der Spuy.

2. The Test Kitchen (Woodstock, Cape Town)

Position in the Top 10 last year: 2

Luke Dale Roberts continues to steer TTK with precise attention to detail, creating the culinary adventure that has put him among the top chefs in the world.

Smoked fish mousse at The Test Kitchen. Photo supplied.

3. The Restaurant at Waterkloof (Somerset West)

Position in the Top 10 last year: 1

The faultless, technique-driven cuisine of chef Gregory Czarnecki is still as impressive and nostalgic as ever.

The Restaurant at Waterkloof. Photo supplied.

4. Wolfgat (Paternoster)

Position in the Top 10 last year: 4

Chef Kobus van der Merwe’s fresh approach and a menu that reflects his surroundings continues to make him famous around the world.

Wolfgat. Photo supplied.

5. FYN Restaurant (Cape Town)

Position in the Top 10 last year: New entry

The new city venture of Ashley Moss and Peter Tempelhoff – which makes its Top 10 debut this year – is a theatrical interplay of Japanese and South African flavours.

FYN Restaurant. Photo supplied.

6. La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)

Position in the Top 10 last year: 5

With a menu born of La Colombe, yet with its own blend of whimsy, John Norris-Rogers and his team operate like a well-oiled machine.

La Petite Colombe. Photo supplied.

7. Eike (Stellenbosch)

Position in the Top 10 last year: New entry

Chef Bertus Basson’s newest restaurant celebrates South African food with a degustation menu that changes according to the seasons.

Eike by Bertus Basson. Photo supplied.

8. Salsify (Camps Bay, Cape Town)

Position in the Top 10 last year: New entry

Built on the foundation of modern, classical cooking, Ryan Cole has created a refined culinary experience inside a national monument.

Salsify at The Roundhouse. Photo supplied.

9. Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient (Elandsfontein, Pretoria)

Position in the Top 10 last year: 7

Chantel Dartnall’s food is culinary escapism with its immaculately designed and elaborately plated dishes.

Restaurant Mosaic at The Orient. Photo supplied.

10. Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia

Position in the Top 10 last year: 10

Ivor Jones’s punchy flavours and inspired tapas-for-two menu keep guests coming back.

Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia. Photo supplied.

We’re often asked by our discerning guests to recommend the best restaurants in and around Cape Town. Our team of expert concierges has compiled The Royal Portfolio’s list of Cape Town’s Top 20 Restaurants 2019.

FYN Restaurant

Exquisite food in an equally picturesque environment. The food and décor are perfectly paired, to the point where you can’t tell where the kitchen ends and the restaurant begins. Local ingredients are given an Asian twist.

5th Floor, Speakers Corner, 37 Parliament St, Cape Town City Centre
021 286 2733

Grub & Vine

Chef Matt Manning serves refined bistro-style food, in a relaxed, contemporary space. The small menu changes regularly, but you can expect a selection of dishes in a starter or main-size portion and a fine selection of wines. There’s also a great little wine bar in the same building – Froggit & Vonkel.

103 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre
076 256 8654

Belly of the Beast

Belly of the Beast is a nose to tail eatery, using sustainably farmed animals and local seasonal ingredients. There are no menu options or set amount of courses. All you do is show up and trust them to satisfy with their seasonal fair. Open for dinner only – bookings online.

110 Harrington St. Cape Town
021 461 0335

La Colombe

Chef Scot Kirton delivers exquisitely plated and innovative cuisine at this exceptional fine dining restaurant in Constantia.

Silvermist Wine Estate, Constantia
021 795 0125

Janse & Co

A casual fine dining restaurant on bustling Kloof Street offering tasting menus of varying length and a succinct wine list.

75 Kloof Street, Gardens
021 422 0384

Greenhouse

Fine dining with chef Peter Templehoff at the Cellars-Hohenort hotel. The emphasis is on interesting local ingredients. Dishes are exquisitely presented while the exceptional wine list focuses on the Constantia Valley.

Cellars-Hohenort Hotel, Constantia
021 795 6226

The Pot Luck Club

Luke Dale Robert’s contemporary top floor restaurant serves exquisite tapas style food with wonderful views. Be sure to try out the Sunday Brunch.

Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock
021 447 0804

Chef’s Warehouse

Liam Tomlin’s acclaimed restaurants on Bree Street and at Beau Constantia deliver exceptional modern tapas style dishes in a relaxed environment.

92 Bree Street
021 422 0128

Beau Constantia Wine Estate
021 794 8632

The Granary Café at The Silo Hotel

An extraordinary space in The Silo Hotel offering a mix of classical and contemporary dishes focusing on fresh, local ingredients. Open for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner seven days a week.

The Silo Hotel, V&A Waterfront
021 670 0500

Foxcroft

Delicious, beautifully presented contemporary cuisine in a stylish, modern restaurant located in a local strip mall among the vineyards of Constantia. Look out for the cheese room.

Shop 8/9, High Constantia Centre, Constantia
021 202 3304

The Shortmarket Club

Luke Dale-Roberts and chef Wesley Randles offer a vibrant and contemporary dining experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the city centre.

88 Shortmarket Street
021 447 2874

La Tête

La Tête is the culinary dream of two brothers, Giles and James Edwards. Giles worked with Fergus Henderson, learning his Nose-to-Tail philosophy for seven years at the St John Restaurant in London. The primordial gastronomy would have Asterix & Obelix guffawing with lip smacking delight.

17 Bree Street, Cape Town
021 418 1299

Kloof Street House

Fun, eclectic and quirky with a lively courtyard, Kloof Street House serves contemporary comfort food with a South African twist. Sunday jazz is a winner.

30 Kloof Street, Gardens
021 423 4413

Seabreeze

Fresh seafood and crisp white wines are the order of the day in this relaxed and friendly Bree Street restaurant. Look out for the twice daily Oyster Happy Hour. Great service and great value.

211-213 Bree Street
+27 (0) 74 79 39 349

The Test Kitchen

Voted as one of the Top 50 restaurants in the world, Luke Dale-Robert’s signature restaurant offers an unrivalled gastronomic experience for passionate food lovers. Splash out on the iconic wine pairing.

Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road, Woodstock
021 447 2337

Salsify

Luke Dale-Robert’s new restaurant at The Roundhouse looks out over Camps Bay’s leafy glen to the ocean and Twelve Apostles mountains. Go for the à la carte menu in the interests of tasting the greatest possible variety of dishes.

Round House Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town
021 010 6444

Thali 

Celebrated chef Liam Tomlin’s signature style takes on a authentic Indian theme. You have two menu choices at Thali – take it or leave it. We certainly recommend that you take it. The tapas for two includes seven remarkable dishes rich in exotic flavours.

3 Park Road
021 286 2110

Black Sheep Restaurant

Contemporary gastropub at the top of Kloof Street.

104 Kloof Street
021 426 2661

Bistro Sixteen82

Contemporary bistro on Steenberg wine estate. Ideal for lunch and a wine tasting on a sunny day.  

Steenberg Estate, Steenberg Road, Tokai
021 713 2211

The Food Barn

Relaxed, neighbourhood atmosphere serving really great food. Sophisticated but unpretentious.

Noordhoek Farm Village, Village Lane, Noordhoek
021 789 1390

If you’re looking to head out of town to take in the incredible scenery of the Western Cape, take a look at our list of the Top 10 Restaurants in the Cape Winelands.

Dowload our full PDF of The Royal Portfolio’s latest restaurant and bar recommendations.TRP-RECOMMENDS-2019 (266.06 kb)

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

There were a few that didn’t quite make the Top 20, but which are certainly worth a visit…

Il Leone is a charming, white table-clothed Italian restaurant that’s a favourite among locals. Try the Linguine Portofino. Aubergine is a stalwart of the Cape Town fine dining scene and has a seriously impressive wine list while Carne is an excellent choice for red meat lovers – try the lamb ravioli to start and the T-Bone for two.

Villa 47 on bustling Bree Street celebrates Mediterranean & Asian cuisine across three vibrant and trendy floors. The Stack is where you’ll find the city’s cool creatives enjoying brasserie style food and trendy cocktails in a super-stylish, double-decker venue, housed in the historic Leinster Hall. Upper Bloem adopts the uniqueness of Cape Town and draws inspiration from the port city’s mix of cultures especially the Cape Malay influence. The Commissary is a casual, non-fuss eatery with a fine-dining twist. Harbour House specialises in seafood while Nobu offer a contemporary dining experience with Peruvian/Japanese influence.

Societi Bistro is a casual Italian/French bistro that serves a wonderful mushroom risotto – it has a great al fresco space for long summer lunches and is cosy inside by the fireplaces in winter. Mulberry & Prince is an interesting addition to the Bree Street scene serving unusual flavour combinations in a stylish, modern dining room. And for those more interested in the wine than the food, try out Publik wine bar on Kloof Nek or Bouchon just off Bree Street

 Nicole McCain

After nine years of negotiations, the Khoi and San communities will now benefit from the rooibos and honeybush-producing industry.

A benefit-sharing agreement was signed on Friday between the community and industry representative at the !Kwa Ttu San Culture and Education Centre in Yzerfontein in the Western Cape.

Research by the Department of Environmental Affairs concluded that the Khoi and San communities were the traditional knowledge holders for rooibos and honeybush. This entitled them to benefit financially from the commercial use of the plants, most commonly used as a tea. Endemic to the Cape Floral Kingdom, rooibos is used in a range of products, including toiletries, juices and herbal remedies.

The Honeybush Rooibos and Honeybush Traditional Knowledge Benefit Sharing Agreement includes a one-year pilot granting the Khoi and San communities 1.5% of the farm gate price from the processors of rooibos in the form of an annual levy. This estimated R12 million a year will be paid into trust accounts opened by the communities. The agreement will allow for jobs creation and the upliftment of 160 small-scale farmers.

Speaking at the launch of the agreement, Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy said this agreement would serve as a base and example for many similar settlements to be reached with local communities in future. She added that rooibos has also become known worldwide as a proudly South African product and brand. 

“Such international recognition cannot exist without appreciating the contribution of indigenous knowledge to the use of rooibos and honeybush. That is why it is important that the parties to the Rooibos Traditional Knowledge Industry-Wide Benefit Sharing Agreement, salute the role of San and Khoi traditional knowledge, without which the variety of medicines and other products made from this plant by the rooibos industry would not have happened.”

 Aliyah Shaw4 days ago

The delicious food

South Africa is an incredibly diverse place. With eleven official languages and many different cultures, it’s no wonder this comes out in the South African foods. From traditional staples such as pap to braaivleis and bobotie (to name a few), South Africa is certainly the place for foodies with the desire to try new delicious cuisines filled with culture and back-stories of substance. While South Africa is known for its hearty main meals which truly go the distance and can be divided between large groups or families, we also have desserts to die for, including Milk-Tert (milk tart), Koeksisters and Malva Pudding. We certainly are a foodie nation, and that’s just one of the reasons people travel from near and far to visit.

It has some of the most beautiful Winelands in the world

South Africa is also known to have some of the most exquisite wine regions in the world, producing some of the world’s finest blends. You can travel almost anywhere in the country and find gorgeous Winelands and vineyards, but the Western Cape (Cape Town) is certainly the favorite. Just 45 mins drive from Cape Town city center is the Franschhoek wine valley – a place every visitor should explore. Franschhoek is truly magical, filled with raw beauty, incredible food, delicious wine, and fantastic accommodation. Wellington and Stellenbosch are also not too far from here, making it a perfect day or weekend trip as you make your way through each of these locations. The Constantia wine region is another incredible location and a true thrill to the senses. With a mere 15 minute drive from the CBD, there’s no reason not to visit.

It has a rich history

South Africa is very rich in history, especially political history. Robben Island had many functions between the 17th and 21st centuries. It was a hospital, military base, prison and now an iconic landmark museum. Of course, this was where former president and freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his 27-year sentence, and for this reason, it’s a place visitors are eager to learn more about. A one-hour boat trip from the V&A Waterfront will get you to the island where you’ll be guided by former inmates/officers, who will walk you through the grounds, share stories of the brutal experiences, and of course, show you Nelson Mandela’s cell. Cape Town is also home to the Slave Lodge, the Holocaust Museum, the Castle of Good Hope, and plenty of interesting museums showcasing the city and countries’ fascinating past. In Durban, you’ll find Nelson Mandela’s capture site, and again, many different museums and old forts. Johannesburg is home to the Apartheid Museum, Consitution Hill and the Cradle of Human Kind to name a few.

It’s natural and picturesque

The coastline of South Africa is just so beautiful, and we pride ourselves on our unique, unspoiled beaches and landscapes. In the way of beaches, there are a few that are world-renowned surfing spots, especially in Durban and Port Elizabeth, while Blouberg Beach in Cape Town is every kite-surfers’ dream location. Other fantastic beaches to swim and suntan include Cape Town’s Llandudno, Camps Bay, and Clifton beaches, while Boulders is the place for penguin spotting. In Durban, Gold Mile Beach and Umhlanga are the favorites, and what’s great about this part of South Africa, is that its summer practically year-round!

It’s filled with wildlife (Thanda Safari)

South Africa is blessed with an abundance of wildlife, from the big five to hundreds of species of mammal and birdlife. There are many game reserves and lodges throughout South Africa, including Johannesburg’s Kruger National Park, and game lodges in KZN and the Western Cape. There are plenty of lodges that provide exclusive and guaranteed game experiences such as Thanda Safari. This is a luxury game reserve, with beautiful accommodation and home to the big five.

The people are warm and welcoming

The South African people are known throughout the world to be very warm, friendly, helpful, and welcoming. South Africans, in general, enjoy meeting new people from other parts of the world, because in truth, the majority are unable to travel and so find their connection to the rest of the world through the tourists that pass through. South African’s – as most of Africa – are natural-born storytellers and take great pride in their fascinating history and heritage, which they love to share with anyone willing to listen.

There’s so much for children to do

When visiting South Africa with children, there are many exciting adventures and things for them to do. South Africa caters for young and old. There are very few places that you can’t visit with your children, and most wine farms, restaurants, and places of interest will have a play area for your young ones. Children love the Aquarium, Monkey Town, and the World of Birds in Cape Town, as well as enjoying paintballing activities, the beaches, and theme parks of Durban.

It has incredible hiking trails

With the beautiful landscapes and mountain trails of South Africa, there are some incredible hiking trails, including Table Mountain and Lions Head in Cape Town, Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve and Burman Bush in KZN/Durban, as well as the Wilds Nature Reserve in Johannesburg.