Grand Dédale Country House Newsletter1

Grand Dédale Country House Newsletter

Travel tips by Wordly

Grand Dédale

 

Quest’anno, dopo tanti tentennamenti ed inviti declinati, ho intrapreso il mio primo vero viaggio in Sudafrica. È un paese che per presunzione ho sempre un po’ snobbato, “troppo turistico, troppo poco wild” questo è il pensiero che mi ha accompagnato negli ultimi vent’anni di viaggi lungo il continente africano. Del mio lungo viaggio c’è un luogo che mi ha colpito diversamente, un luogo che oggi mi fa pensare al Sud Africa come ad un paese così ricco da poter essere vissuto in mille modi diversi. Quante volte avete pensato ad un weekend dedicato alla buona cucina ed al buon vino, magari in toscana o nelle langhe? I Sudafricani di Cape Town fanno lo stesso. Dove? Nelle loro winelands!

È qui che incontro Angelo Casu, un italiano espatriato in Sudafrica oramai decenni fa e che in questo paese ha creato il suo eremo felice. Angelo è il patron del Grand Dedale, una bellissima country house immersa nelle campagne di Wellington a poco più di un’ora da Cape Town.

Le mie aspettative, già elevate prima di arrivare, sono state ampiamente superate.

Una signorile dimora vittoriana, organizzata come una casa di campagna, dove i padroni ti accolgono come si accolgono degli amici, dove un buttler è sempre a disposizione per precederti e non farti mancare mai nulla, come in pochissimi 5 stelle accade.

Poche camere per pochi ospiti, desiderosi solo di relax, di bei paesaggi, della tranquillità e del buon vino della tenuta Doolhof, eccellente produttore di Pinotage che ospita questa meravigliosa dimora tra i suoi vigneti.

Il palato degli ospiti viene viziato da Daniel Villiers, chef che mixa abilmente i prodotti locali, orchestrando i diversi menu con un sapiente equilibrio fra cucina locale ed influenze internazionali. Bravo Angelo!

Klink Award Final Results

Grand Dédale was awarded the "The Country Comfort Award for Boutique Accommodation on a Wine Estate" in the inaugural Klink Award.
 
Earlier this year, Wine Tourism South Africa invited foodies, wine lovers, outdoor adventurers and wine farm visitors to show their love for South Africa’s winelands by voting for their favourite nominees in the country’s first ever, consumer-driven, interactive wine tourism awards - the #KLINK Awards.

The nominees were shortlisted by a panel of industry-related professionals across a variety of categories and, for the first time, voting was opened to the public to see who they felt were the best of the best. Since then, thousands of enthusiastic consumers have provided instantaneous feedback on their wineland experiences via Facebook, twitter and email. Their social media voices have been heard and tonight the cream of the winelands crop has been revealed.
The inaugural #KLINK Awards achieved the aims of using social media as a core marketing driver and important means of building relationships and engaging with potential and existing clients. Through the viral nature of these platforms, we have been able to reach a broad base of consumers.

http://winetourismsouthafrica.co.za/klink-results/

Grand Dédale awarded by Great Wine Capitals of the World

LA MOTTE RETAINS TITLE AS GREAT WINE CAPITALS WINNER, GRAND DEDALE WINS ACCOMMODATION AWARD

 

For the second year in succession, historic wine estate, La Motte of Franschhoek is South Africa’s Best of Wine Tourism champion. The 2013 winner of the annual competition run by the Great Wine Capitals (GWC) once again came out narrowly ahead of Waterkloof Estate, Helderberg’s biodynamic winery situated on the slopes of the Schapenberg.

 

The GWC, a network of the world’s leading wine-producing countries that shares international best practice to advance standards in wine tourism across the world, announced the results today (November 8) in Florence, Italy, at a gala dinner attended by leading wine tourism practitioners from around the world.

 

GWC’s members, in addition to Cape Town-Cape Winelands, include Mainz-Rheinhessen (Germany), Bilbao-Rioja (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Florence (Italy), Mendoza (Argentina), Porto (Portugal), San Francisco-Napa (United States) and New Zealand’s Christchurch.

 

Dating back 300 years, La Motte as South Africa's national winner joins the illustrious company of some of the world's most famous wine producers, including:

 

·         France's Maison des Vins de Cadillac, a leading Bordeaux winery run from an 18th century manor house near the canton of Cadillac;

·         Wasems Kloster Engelthal, a former Cistercian monastery in Rheinhessen, Germany, dating back eight centuries;

·         Quinta do Vallado Wine Hotel, one of the oldest estates in the Douro Valley of Portugal, run by the same family for almost 400 years;

·         Spain's Hotel-Bodega Finca de los Arandinos, close to Bilbao;

·         Italy's Fattoria Lavacchio run as an organic operation in Tuscany;

·         Entre Cielos Luxury Wine Hotel & Spa in the foothills of the Andes Cordillera of Argentina;

·         The organically farmed Long Meadow Ranch, nestled in the Mayacama Mountains of the Napa Valley, US; and

·         Renowned Yealands Estate in the Awatere Valley of Marlborough, New Zealand, a carbon-zero winery that has been one of the world leaders in sustainable farming. 

 

As the results were so close between the top two South African contenders, the local chapter of the GWC sought the opinion of the full international panel before making its final decision.

 

La Motte's win was based on its overall performance, taking first place in the Sustainable Wine Tourism category, and second position in both the Arts and Culture and in the Wine Tourism Services categories. Last year the estate earned the top score in the Arts and Culture category. Waterkloof’s position as South Africa's runner-up was earned by coming first in the Architecture and Landscapes category, as it did last year, and by coming second this time in both the Sustainable Wine Tourism Practices and the Restaurant categories.

 

André Morgenthal, spokesperson for the awards, said the virtual tie between La Motte and Waterkloof was a reflection of the extremely high standard of entries. “The difference between the scores was very slight.  We had higher scores across virtually all categories compared with previous years.  It is very encouraging to see that since the inception of the competition over a decade ago, there has been a steady advance in the quality and sophistication of wine tourism experiences entered for consideration.”

 

This finding of the judges was borne out, he said, by the growing international vote of confidence amongst tourists in Cape Town and its surroundings.  Earlier in November, Cape Town was named second-best city in the world and best city in Africa by readers of US-based travel publication Condé Nast Traveller. Its annual survey this year drew almost 50 000 readers and saw Cape Town beaten only by southern US city Charleston, but coming out ahead of Florence, Bangkok, Vancouver and Sydney.

 

Morgenthal said this year, for the first time, the Hemel & Aarde area had been represented in the local GWC competition, with Creation taking top position in the Innovative Wine Tourism category.

 

Other category winners were Grand Dédale of Wellington (Accommodation), Grande Provence of Franschhoek (Arts & Culture), Tokara of Stellenbosch (Restaurants) and Waterford of Stellenbosch (Wine Tourism Services).

 

This year’s judges included wine tourism specialist Margi Biggs; international tourism consultant Rick Taylor of the Business Tourism Company, a former CEO of Cape Metropolitan Tourism and currently a board member of Tourism Business Council of South Africa; lifestyle and wine journalist Joanne Gibson; Joan Isham, the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) extension officer; Marilyn Martin, art historian, curator and writer; architect Alex Robertson; JP Rossouw, food critic and author of the annual Rossouw’s Restaurants guide; and landscape architect Johan van Papendorp.

 

Note to the editor:

 

Winners and first and second runners-up in each category were:

 

ACCOMMODATION

1          Grand Dédale

2          Grande Provence

3          Mont Rochelle

 

ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPES

1          Waterkloof

2          Tokara

3          Grande Provence

 

 

ARTS & CULTURE

1          Grande Provence

2          La Motte

3          Delaire Graff

 

INNOVATIVE WINE TOURISM EXPERIENCES

1          Creation

2          Vergelegen

3          Warwick

 

SUSTAINABLE WINE TOURISM PRACTICES

1          La Motte

2          Waterkloof

3          Avondale

 

WINE TOURISM RESTAURANTS

1          Tokara Restaurant

2          Waterkloof

3          Rust en Vrede

 

WINE TOURISM SERVICE

1          Waterford

2          La Motte

3          Delaire Graff

 

 

How fairly does SAT promotes Wine Tourism?

Below is a letter from a reader regarding his concerns about Vindaba, South Africa’s first specialist wine tourism exhibition, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from September 25-27. Also see Vindaba’s response below.

Reader’s letter:

Dear Editor, Can your publication obtain some clarification from SAT and Vindaba organisers, as I have been unsuccessful, as an individual buyer at Vindaba, in getting the right answers.

Vindaba has been well perceived and received by the industry, so much so that many wine routes, tourism offices, individual businesses and sponsors have signed up. At the first de-brief held in Paarl in March, I asked how smaller and lesser known wine routes and tourism attractions could be assured that the more famous routes such as Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Robertson would not be given priority.

The answer was that all routes would be asked to submit itineraries and all routes would be treated equally, and that priority would be given to individual businesses taking part and buying space at Vindaba, of which I am one.

Three weeks prior to the event, alarm bells have started to ring as none of the businesses and properties featured in the Paarl/Wellington Vindaba tour have received any enquiries or confirmed bookings.

On investigation, I was told that two German journalists would be travelling to Paarl and Wellington and, although very grateful, my question, still unanswered, is: thirty-four buyers and media have been registered as being hosted for the event; only six pre- and post-Vindaba tours are taking place, so if two are allocated to Paarl/Wellington, what has happened to the balance and to the fair treatment among routes? What happened to priorities given to properties that are taking part in the event and paying for it?

At this stage I have only received vague answers blaming teething problems. My view is that there is more to it and would like your publication to assist Paarl and Wellington suppliers to find out the truth. Maybe SAT and Vindaba organisers would prefer to answer my question publicly than privately.

Angelo Casu- Grand Dédale Country House

Vindaba’s Response:
Vindaba has previously sent the following facts directly to Mr Casu and now welcomes the opportunity to share them more broadly.

As a point of clarity: Grand Dédale is not an ‘individual buyer’ at Vindaba, and does not feature on our exhibitors’ list. Nonetheless Mr Casu’s establishment was recommended as a part of the Paarl/Wellington itinerary by the managers of those wine routes, and will consequently host three international leisure journalists and two international buyers over the course of Vindaba.

South African Tourism is a presenting partner of Vindaba and, in that capacity, is hosting 32 international leisure media at the event, as well as on pre- and post-show tours. In partnership with SAA, Vindaba itself will be hosting a further five buyers. The South African Wine Routes Forum designed and submitted nine itineraries that represented all 17 wine routes. In addition all Vindaba exhibitors who had signed up by then (31 May) were automatically included in the itineraries. These itineraries were presented unchanged to our guests, who then made their choices based on their preferences and needs.

The fact that only six of the nine itineraries submitted (Franschhoek, Bot River/Elgin, West Coast, Stellenbosch, Paarl/Wellington and Breedekloof) will be activated over Vindaba is a consequence of the choices made by the media groupings themselves. It is worth noting that at least two of these itineraries can be designated “lesser known”. Vindaba can absolutely assert that every effort was made to be inclusive and fair.

In conclusion, we would also like to remind Mr Casu that the South African Wine Routes Forum is an executive member of the Vindaba committee and has been integral to the design and organisation of the event. Vindaba is a non-profit, non-commercial platform that adheres to the principle of open opportunity. We acknowledge and celebrate South Africa’s wine travel product as being a diverse and wide-ranging offering and will continue over future events to expose that diversity to important wine travel markets.

Susannah Holz - Project Manager of Vindaba.

Have you experienced a similar issue or do you think Vindaba adequately represents all wine routes? Let us know by posting your comment below.



Tourism Update

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Just a clarification Angelo Casu 12 Sep 2012 Although Grand Dédale Country House does not feature on the exhibitors list, is an active member and committee member of Wellington Tourism, which, together with Wellington Wine Route, are paying exhibitors at Vindaba. My queries are intended to get some clarifications on behalf of our members who are actually participating in the costs of the stand. Angelo Casu Admition of faults? Anonymous 14 Sep 2012 Interesting to read snippets of an email circulated by the organiser: This has always been an imperfect scenario: nine itineraries, guests given free choice by SAT, and only about 34 media means we will invariably have an uneven spread; Please note I formally requested that SAT redistribute the Franschhoek group, to spread them better amongst the routes, but they were unwilling to do that; Please let me know how I can help with any other hiccups, queries,disgruntled members. Maybe SAT should also answer some questions to why certain routes have not been considered at all!!!! Does Franschhoek needs more advertising and exposure!!!!! I am also a disgruntled member, but will I hear the same excuses given to Grand Dédale Country House, who I understand, is paying contribution to his stand, but he is not seen as an exhibitors. Therefore, if we are contributing to the expense of our Route stand but we are not seen as exhibitors, what are we classified as???? Looking forward to hearing some answers

Grand Dédale to partner with AfriAsia

AfriAsia and Beyond are delighted to announce they will be representing Grand Dédale Country House in the UK & Ireland.

Located close to Wellington with sweeping views of the valley as well as the Groenberg, Limietberge and Hawekwa mountains, AfriAsia are looking forward to working with this exclusive brand of elegant country house living; the former Doolhof Manor House and private residence of the owners of Doolhof Wine Estate.

GRAND DEDALE COUNTRY HOUSE – A SOUL-RESTORING ROMANTIC RETREAT

‘Doolhof’ or ‘maze’ was the name given by the early 18th century settlers to the area surrounding the quaint town of Wellington in the Western Cape – a reference to the fact that its many rolling hills and valleys allowed only one way in and one way out.

Today, Grand Dédale Country House nestles snugly in the centre of this picturesque labyrinth of mountain ranges, vineyards and forests allowing guests the delicious opportunity to cocoon themselves away from the rest of the world, and to do so in utter luxury and comfort.

At the heart of the Doolhof Wine Estate, the sensitively restored Manor House continues its tradition of Cape Dutch hospitality by welcoming a whole new generation of guests looking to get away from it all.

FINE LIVING
The white gabled exterior of the Manor House retains its classic early Cape Dutch appearance, while the interior, by contrast, is a wonderfully eclectic mix of modern design elements punctuated by European and Asian antiques, grand statement pieces and small oddities.

A colour palette of cool white, with blue and muted green accents creates an elegant ambience, while inviting sofas encourage guests to linger awhile over an interesting book or to gaze out of the window at breathtaking mountain or vineyard views.

ACCOMMODATION
This attention to comfort and elegance continues in the three ‘Elegant Living’ suites. Each one boasts its own distinct feel but all three share a luxurious sense of space and an attention to the finer details in life, such as extra length king size beds complete with percale cotton linen, i-Pod docking stations and under-floor heating.

An architectural spiral staircase leads one to the three ‘Loft Living’ rooms, each facing a different mountain range and beautifully appointed under the Manor House’s sweet smelling thatch. A stay in one of these attic rooms has an added storybook feel to it, complete with fine furnishings, romantic Victorian bathtubs and walk-in cupboards.

The quaint Old Wine House – a freestanding thatched stone cottage – dates from 1707, and is an ideal hideaway for honeymoon couples or those guests craving that extra bit of privacy. A fully equipped kitchen, private patio and minibar complete the experience.

FINE DINING
Delicious ‘Cap Classique’ continental breakfast buffets, light lunches, homemade high tea treats, sundowner canapés and three-course candlelit silver service dinners – dining at Grand Dédale is definitely an elegant affair.

Resident Chef, Daniel de Villiers, has a deep love for the Wellington area, and it shows in his menu, which is largely inspired by locally sourced produce, such as his current favourite ingredient: authentic buffalo mozzarella from Wellington’s own Buffalo Ridge; one of only two farms in the southern hemisphere producing mozzarella from original Italian buffalo.

It features strongly on the menu, as does classic Cape seafood and game, all artfully paired with the estate’s own wines.

ACTIVITIES
For those guests keen to savour the serenity of Grand Dédale, the cool salt water pool encourages lazy morning dips after a treatment in the poolside spa, while comfy chairs on the terrace allow for quiet contemplation of the estate’s gracious old oak trees, horse paddocks and orange orchards.

For the more active, the estate offers 380 hectares of vineyards and indigenous fynbos to explore, either on the back of a mountain bike or on foot; while other activities such as hot air ballooning, quad biking and canyoning are available close by.

DESTINATION
Less than an hour’s drive from Cape Town, Wellington is a quirky destination that is often overlooked by tourists, but which promises a host of interesting attractions, from the organic farms that supply Grand Dédale’s kitchens to nature and game reserves, wine estates and even its own brandy route.

Situated just outside this historic town, Grand Dédale is perfectly placed to offer visitors not only a base from which to explore the region, but also one to return to and forget the world for a while.

For rates, contracts, training and general enquiries kindly contact us on:
enquiries@afriasia.info

For more information please visit:
www.granddedale.com

 

UK Sales & Marketing Office:
AfriAsia & Beyond
7 Braid Drive, "Fairways", Cardross G82 5QD
Office: +44 (0) 1389 849001 Fax: +44 (0) 1389 849002
e-mail: enquiries@afriasia.info
website: www.afriasiaandbeyond.com

 

Debbie and Terry wedding at Grand Dedale. Just beautiful