An hour north of Cape Town, the Swartland, one of the largest wine-producing areas in the Western Cape, doesn’t receive nearly the same attention as its polished neighbors in the Cape Winelands; the clean-cut vineyards of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek, where a hop-on, hop-off wine tram runs through the valley. Instead, the Swartland is the opposite of a wine tourism hub, with dirt roads carving through golden wheat fields that form a pattern of stripes along the foothills of Paardeberg mountain. Along the highway, carefully stacked hay bales form a makeshift café—one of the sole roadside stops—and the only pop of color punctuating the blonde, desert-like expanse (which could double as a backdrop for a Clint Eastwood film) comes from the patchwork of old-bush vines and olive groves. After the winter rains, the native rhinoceros bush takes on an inky hue, which is how the Swartland (Afrikaans for “black land”) earned its name.
Celebrate The Massachusetts Dining Scene At This Year’s Nantucket Wine & Food Festival
07.05.2024 - 13:17 / forbes.com
Rife with pristine beaches and sprawling sand dunes, Nantucket has served as one of the Bay State’s foremost tourist destinations for well over a century—and to sweeten the deal, this scenic island also comes complete with a thriving food scene for visitors to enjoy. Seafood reigns supreme around the island, with no shortage of classic Massachusetts dishes up for grabs spanning from lobster rolls to New England clam chowder, while high-end wines can be encountered all throughout the island’s many restaurants. Yet for those who want to experience the region’s prowess at both drinking and dining in one fell swoop, there’s no better event than the annual Nantucket Wine & Food Festival.
First launched in 1996, this lauded celebration draws visitors in droves to explore the island’s culinary prowess, with several thousand guests set to arrive on its sandy shores from May 15th to 19th. Given Nantucket’s close proximity to Boston, attendees can expect to see a wealth of renowned chefs from all across the city, with this year’s talent ranging from Woods Hill Pier 4’s Charlie Foster to David Daniels, Executive Chef at the lavish Boston Harbor Hotel—but of course, it’s not just restaurants that are represented throughout the event.
As one can guess from the name, wine plays a major role in the festivities, with world-class vintners and experts coming from both near and far to attend. South America’s rich bounty of Carménère and Malbec can be discovered firsthand during a deep dive on both Chilean and Argentinian wine, with polished producers like VIK Wine—a state-of-the-art facility operating just south of Santiago—and Mendoza’s Catena Zapata both in attendance. Alongside these two nations, attendees can also look forward to representation from France’s Champagne region, the South Island of New Zealand and South Africa’s stunning Stellenbosch district. And of course, California wines abound throughout the festival, with whites, reds and rosés from Napa and Sonoma all up for grabs.
As an added bonus, the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival also offers ample opportunity for educating oneself about the food and drink industry as a whole thanks to its many seminars and speaker series. For any serious seafood fans, the SHUCK IT! Oyster & Wine Seminar offers insight into the delicate art of pairing shellfish with white wine, while the Climate, Sustainability, the Future of Wine panel draws experts from across the globe to discuss how winemaking is evolving to minimize carbon emissions and embrace renewable energy in the production process. And for any night owls, the Stars, Sips & Sweets event is an absolute must, providing guests with an opportunity to taste flavorful wine and learn about the inner workings of the cosmos
This Pretty Capital Is Europe’s Cheapest City Break Per New Ranking
Travelers looking for a budget break in Europe this year have something to smile about. A new report that surveyed cities on the continent found costs are down in 60% of destinations.
1954 - 2024 Relais & Châteaux celebrates its 70th anniversary
Today, on May 12, 1954, the Relais de Campagne is born: eight properties located between Paris and Nice unite under the slogan ‘La Route du Bonheur’–The Road to Happiness. They would write the first chapter in the history of the Association, a meaningful movement that inspires its guests to discover the world in the most beautiful of ways. Starting in 1960, Relais de Campagne expands outside of France with its first European properties.
Disney Announces Opening Date for 'Princess and the Frog' Ride — and We're 'Almost There'
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will officially open on June 28 at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World, the company announced Sunday night.
These hotels celebrate Memorial Day in style every year
Strip off your sweaters; the official start of summer is coming in hot. Gear up for a long weekend where the smell of bonfires, the taste of freshly grilled hamburgers and the feel of the ocean wash all the winter blues away. Memorial Day Weekend — when millions of Americans take off for vitamin D-drenched destinations from sea to shining sea — is just around the corner.
20 Stunning Photos As Northern Lights Illuminate Skies Of Europe And U.S.
It’s been a dazzling spectacle of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, since Friday, May 11, across the night sky of the U.S., Canada and Europe, high-energy particles from the sun interacting with the earth's magnetic field to cause dazzling and mesmerizing geomagnetic storms.
I was born and raised in Greece. These are the 11 best luxury resorts in the country that are actually worth the money.
Traveling in Greece is always an adventure — even for a local like me.
The New Hotels To Check Into In France This Summer
More travelers than ever will be heading to Paris this summer as the 2024 Olympics unfold. These new hotels across France are worth taking a diversion for.
Healdsburg Wine And Food Experience Returns For Its 3rd Year
The first time is a point, the second time is a line, and by the third time it’s a pattern. Healdsburg Wine & Food Experience (HWFE) is back on Thursday, May 16 for a 4-day celebration. It’s here in Sonoma County, amidst the clinking of wine glasses and laid back luxury that first-time visitors will question why they didn’t find this place and event sooner. Having had the distinct pleasure of attending this Healdsburg wine and food event since its inception, I've witnessed its evolution firsthand. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a must-visit for any serious food and wine aficionado, each year has built upon the last, refining and expanding the experience in ways both subtle and significant.
They're back! This major cruise line is restarting a beloved Southern Caribbean routing
Princess Cruises is bringing back a much-loved set of itineraries that it hasn't offered in years.
Airbnb International Expansion: 'We Are Ready to Step on the Gas'
Airbnb execs have used the phrase “expanding beyond the core” to mean launching new products and services for guests and hosts, and also their hope to lift growth beyond the company’s main five markets: The U.S., Canada, UK, Australia, and France.
10 of the best car-free places to visit in the USA this summer
Settling yourself for a week or a weekend on a car-free island can come with unexpected benefits: the joy of getting around via bicycle, the conversations that happen while walking from one place to another, the hilarity of golfcart transportation. But while we all love a good road trip, sometimes the car is just a means to getting from point a to point b. On these islands, even the getting around is part of the fun. Not to mention its stress-free and incredibly freeing for everyone coming along on the trip.