Veuve Clicquot Masters Polo 2013

THE THIRD ANNUAL VEUVE CLICQUOT MASTERS 2013 SETS THE BENCHMARK FOR GLAMOUR AND SOPHISTICATION.

The Masters polo tournament took place last Saturday, 23 February 2013  at the Val de Vie Polo Estate and proved, once again, to be one of the most sophisticated events on the South African social calendar.

The prestigious Champagne House sponsors some of the world’s leading polo events such as the Manhattan Classic, the LA Polo Classic and the UK’s Gold Cup as well as the Veuve Clicquot Masters Cape Town, their first and only on the African continent. 

Jenny Button Couture Collection

Enjoying near perfect weather on the day, crowds were entertained by musical act Magic Carpet Ride, a striking fashion show by Jenni Button Couture - Summer 2013 and Hilton Weiner and impromptu games of table tennis and pétanque on the grass.

Ritza Janse Van Rensburg

Jen Su and guest

Best Dressed Couple

Best Dressed competition judges Warrick Gautier, Creative Director for Jenni Button, celebrity reporter Jen Su, and representatives from Grazia magazine and BlackBerry awarded the best dressed prizes to Greta Scholtz (Best Dressed Female, dressed by Gavin Rajah) Matt Gerstner (Best Dressed Male) and Elrico Bellingan and Ritza van Rensburg (dressed by Ricci Janse van Rensburg),who won Best Dressed Couple on the day.

Tanya Van Graan and Kasper Kristoffersen

Andrew and Natalie Becker

Liezel van der Westhuizen

Some of the celebrity guests in the Veuve Clicquot VIP Lounge this year included Jeannie D, Jen Su, Bjorn Steinbach, Natalie Becker, Liezel van der Westhuizen, Tanya van Graan, Lee-Ann Williams, Mathew and Sonia Booth, Gerry Rantseli-Elsdon, and MC for the day, Top Billing presenter, Simba Mhere. 

Creative Director for Jenni Button and Hilton Weiner and MC Simba Mhere

Gretha Scholtz (Winner of Best Dressed Female) wearing Gavin Rajah

Matthew and Sonia Booth

Grant Paul Roy and Kelly Roy

The 2013 Veuve Clicquot Masters also attracted sponsorships by some of the world’s top brands, such as Bentley Motors, who was the official automobile partner for the event, BlackBerry, the official technology partner and Elizabeth Arden, the official beauty partner, who created a Pamper Lounge for all female guests to enjoy.

Media partners include a broadcast partnership with SABC 3 and Grazia as the magazine partner. Other significant brand partners on the day included Jenni Button and Hilton Weiner, who put on a showstopper of a fashion show, HaagenDasz, The Taj Hotel, Avantgarde, and Mango Airlines as the official airline partner for this year’s event.

Kerry Elsdon and Gerry Rantseli-Elsdon

With international commentator, Jamie Hayward, providing up to the minute play, the nail biting game will certainly become the stuff of local legend with Team Val de Vie beating out the crowd favourites Team Veuve Clicquot by 5 goals to 4 in the end.

The Veuve Clicquot Masters was a day not to be missed, and the 2014 event has already been diarized for Saturday the 1st of March 2014. For more information, visit the Veuve Clicquot Masters Facebook page.

Jeannie D

All images courtesy of Vivid Luxury

Franschhoek Summer Wines Festival

Celebrate the last few days of summer in style and head off to Leopard’s Leap Family Vineyards on 16 March, set in the picturesque Franschhoek Wine Valley, for the annual Franschhoek Summer Wines.

 

Regarded as one of South Africa’s leading wine destinations, more than 30 of the Valley’s finest wineries will be showcasing their top summer wines at this exclusive event.

Participating wineries include, amongst others, La Bri, Morena, Colmant, Môreson, Anthonij Rupert’s Cape of Good Hope and Terra del Capo, Franschhoek Cellars, Bellingham, Noble Hill, Leopard’s Leap, La Motte, Solms-Delta and Haut Espoir. Wine lovers will have the opportunity to browse at their leisure or engage with the winemakers.

To ensure you don’t go hungry visitors will be able to purchase mouth-watering deli-style food from the Harvest Table, prepared by the chefs in the Leopard’s Leap Kitchen. Round off your meal with delicious ice cream from the Ice Cream Bar.

Relax and unwind, taking in the scenery of the valley as live entertainment ensures an unforgettable experience throughout the day. Taking full advantage of the glorious summer days the festival will be open from 12pm until 5pm, and the theme for this year’s event is ‘elegantly white’.

Tickets cost R180 per person which includes a tasting of all the wines on show. Wine aficionadas can look forward to tutored tastings which will take place at 1pm and 3pm on the day. As seating is limited visitors are requested to pre-book their seats which can be done via events@franschhoek.org.za.

Tickets can be purchased directly from www.webtickets.co.za and booking is essential as tickets are limited to 500 people only.

Make the most of the experience and book an overnight stay in one of Franschhoek’s fine accommodation establishments, ranging from the finest bed and breakfasts to luxurious boutique hotels, all nestling in a picturesque and safe environment. We recommend La Clé des Montagnes Luxury Villa's For more information contact the Franschhoek Wine Valley offices on 021 876 2861.

Camelot Aqua Spa

Enjoy unlimited views of the Indian Ocean while you unwind at Camelot Aqua Spa with a variety of packages lasting just a few hours to half or full day. Situated at the Three Cities Square Boutique Hotel & Spa in Umhlanga, Durban and accessible to both the public and guests.

Indulge in a Cleopatra milk bath, purifying detox, mineral salt and sensorial scrubs or Rasul mud treatments just some of the body therapies to leave you completely relaxed and restored. Facial therapies include Thalgo facials, Dermalogica facial therapy specialised Lamelle facials or peels all lasting between 60 to 75 minutes.

A selection of body massages include Reflexology, Indian head massage, mums to be massages, hot stone massages, deep tissue sports massage, Swedish and Aromatherapy massages and Lomi Lomi massages. Complete the new you with your choice of grooming session be it nails, waxing, threading, tinting or hand and feet treatment.

Different spa packages, lasting between two and four hours, as well as half day and full day packages, are available with specials for men, women and couples which include a spa lunch. Treatments promise to unwind, purify, groom and treat; exfoliate, nourish and brighten the skin; and rebalance the body and soul.

The Camelot Aqua Spa allows access to the compact fitness centre, sauna, steam room and pool area with the ultimate relaxing experience of enjoying sundowners on the rooftop’s pool/bar area with striking views of the Indian Ocean.

A magnificent, tranquil village setting offers the ideal Spa destination for corporate and leisure travellers, in an international urban lifestyle with a cosmopolitan buzz.

About Camelot Aqua Spa

The award-winning Aqua Spa in partnership with the Camelot Health Spa Group’ world of wellness brings you a spa of international standards. Welcoming Aqua Spa at the Three Cities Square Boutique Hotel & Spa, but also Aqua Spa at the soon to be opened Three Cities Urban Park Hotel & Spa with therapists from the world class Camelot International Education Group.

“Purity and balance constitute the essence of the Camelot Spa Group experience, with our products and therapies inspired by the harmony of the earth. This is exactly what Aqua Spa’s offering is and the reason why we felt our group would benefit with having Aqua Spa as our Durban based spa.” Says, Michelle Dickerson, Camelot Health Spa Group representative for KwaZulu.

Jenny Pillay owner of both Spas said, “The Camelot Aqua Spa is the perfect locale for ultimate leisure and pampering with professional therapists, personal attention, quality products and the ultimate in rejuvenation therapy.” Pillay goes on to say that, “Camelot Aqua Spa will offer every invigorating treatment and uplifting therapy you can ever think of at both hotels.”

Visit the Camelot Aqua Spa at The Three Cities Square Boutique Hotel at 250 Umhlanga Rocks Drive, La Lucia or contact them on +27 (0)31 566 4562 or e-mail aquaspa@thesquare.co.za

CONSTANTIA FRESH Festival 2013

Fine Wine Events is proud to announce the Constantia Fresh Festival which aims to present and further discover fine wines. This year’s event will invite the finest South African wine producers to showcase not just their Sauvignon Blanc, but other wines exhibiting that all important character: Freshness.

Once again Constantia Fresh explores the distinctiveness of Constantia’s fine wine, while exploring and contrasting with offerings from other regions of South Africa and the rest of the world. Kicking off on the 1st of March with a fine wine dinner hosted by Jörg Pfützner of Fine Wine Events alongside the notable Peter Tempelhoff of Cellars Hohenort's esteemed The Greenhouse restaurant regarded as one of the best in South Africa.

Fine Wine Events will present some of the finest white, red and sweet wines of Constantia, together with well known wines from Piedmont, Toscana, Sancerre, Marlborough, Condrieu, St Joseph, Tokaji and Bordeaux. Guests will be welcomed with a selection of Constantia’s Méthode Cap Classiques, and a welcome address presented by Tempelhoff. He will prepare a delectable five-course degustation menu carefully paired with 16 local and international wines.

Guests can expect to savour wines from producers such as Buitenverwachting, Steenberg, Luciano Sandrone, Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Constantia Glen, Groot and Klein Constantia, Eagles Nest and many more. Seats at the dinner are limited due to the intimate nature of the restaurant. Tickets are on sale at R1500 per person.

The March 2nd main event will have wine enthusiasts wandering about the lawns of Buitenverwachting sampling South Africa's finest and freshest wines paired with canapés made by South Africa's best chefs. An elegantly constructed braai will take place in the early evening. Tickets to this tasting are on sale at R400 per person.

As an advocate of new perspectives, Pfützner has extended the invitation to other top South African wine producers, with the emphasis on freshness in their wine. ‘Constantia Fresh’, now in its fourth year running, is possible thanks to the support of the host region and participating Constantia producers namely Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia, Steenberg, Eagle’s Nest, Buitenverwachting and Constantia Glen.
 

Tickets to these events can be bought at the participating local and regional wine farms or from www.webtickets.co.za. For further information, please visit www.constantiafresh.com or contact Fine Wine Events on enjoy@finewineevents.co.za