Monthly Archives: November 2009

With the festive season well on the way, it's time to enjoy lazy Summer evenings, relaxed meals with friends and to start planning for the all-important Christmas feast. No meal is complete without exceptional wine, and Val de Vie has the perfect wines to match any dish or occasion.

Here's how to celebrate the end of 2009 in style! Sabrage is set to host a glamorous new years eve party, complete with a three course dinner and plenty of Moët & Chandon. Click on the image above to view all the details for this sophisticated event.

The new Ryk Neethling Swimming School at Val de Vie has opened! Located at the Val de Vie Gym, the school teaches children of all ages to swim in a professional, modern and safe environment, coupled with the expertise of a team of experienced coaches. A recent open day showcased what the school has to offer.

As four time Olympian Ryk says, "I feel passionate about teaching children how to swim and look forward to sharing my experience, ideas, knowledge and above all my love for the sport of swimming with the youth of South Africa."

Val de Vie is thrilled to be part of this fantastic initiative, which will help to discover the swimming stars of tomorrow. For more information about the school, visit learntoswim.co.za.

Wine Magazine is always a good read, offering a comprehensive look at all things wine-related. The November issue of Wine Magazine rates the Val de Vie 2006 as the best red blend to enjoy at special occasions, and we have to agree!

It seems like we're not the only ones getting excited about The Killers' upcoming tour - the band themselves are ready to rock South Africa! Read about what they have to say about their tour, or get all the information you need to know about their highy anticipated performance at Val de Vie on 6 December.

As Christmas approaches and the bustle of the festive season begins, it can be difficult to find original gifts for family and friends. At Val de Vie we know of the perfect present: a polo lesson! Treat someone special to a fun polo lesson and give them the chance to discover the excitement of this captivating sport. With the expert guidance of our polo school, it's sure to be an unforgettable experience for amateurs and keen riders alike. In addition, a polo lesson is a wonderful way to enjoy a day in the countryside, even though the estate is only 40 minutes away from Cape Town.

Be sure to visit our website for more information about polo lessons.

True to its name, the Secret Wellness Studio at La Terra de Luc has to be one of the best-kept secrets in the winelands. This little piece of heaven offers an extensive range of luxury treatments and services, such as facials, massages and anti-aging therapies. A communal lounge and four en-suite rooms with features such as DSTV and air conditioning ensure that clients enjoy their treatments in absolute comfort. Set in the gorgeous Franschhoek valley, there's no doubt that the studio is the perfect pampering spot for brides to indulge in before the big day. Visit the studio's website for more information about this relaxing escape.

As the year comes to an end, many businesses are starting to organise office parties and year end functions. The Val de Vie Polo School offers corporate days that make a fantastic end of year outing for the office. We offer a variety of tailor-made events that include:

• Polo Experience – with our polo coaching services, your staff or clients can actually have a chance to play on the same day.
• Sponsored Event – teams playing for your company in your branded shirts.
• Day Out – Enjoy Val de Vie’s hospitality with your staff or customers by reserving a place to entertain them while watching a game.

With our world-class facilities, experienced staff and trained ponies, there's simply no better setting to enjoy an entertaining day out in the Cape winelands. And we’re only 40 minutes from Cape Town!

This exciting concept is not limited to corporate clients. We can also do learn-to-play-polo days for weddings, bachelor and hen parties or simply a fun get-together with friends, the list is endless! It's bound to be a fun and unique experience that your friends will never forget, whether they're keen riders or have never even gone horse-riding before. Visit our website or call 021 863 6170 for more information.

Christmas is coming and it's time to start shopping for the perfect gifts! Val de Vie's award-winning wines will appeal to any wine lover, with each wine being individually crafted to respect its characteristics. A case or two would make a great present for family and friends or as a corporate gift. Be sure to place your order on our website or visit the estate itself.

SA’s hottest new rock act Zebra & Giraffe have been chosen by The KILLERS to be the support act on their South African tour, which commences with two nights at the Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg (Thursday 3rd December and Friday 4th December 2009) and then moves to one performance on Sunday 6th December at Val De Vie itself!

Zebra & Giraffe is the pseudonym of Johannesburg based artist, Greg Carlin. Zebra & Giraffe have had a whirlwind 2009 winning the SAMA Award for Best Rock Album, MTV MAMA Award for Best Alternative Act (beating Coldplay & Green Day), playing at the Coca-Cola Zero Fest alongside Oasis and Snow Patrol and releasing their debut album ‘Collected Memories’ which has produced seven hit singles so far including ‘The Knife”, “Arm Yourself’, “Running Faster”, “In My Eyes”, “Oxymoron” , ‘Fight Fight Fight” and their latest chart topper “Leaving Again”

When asked about supporting The Killers, Zebra & Giraffe’s Greg Carlin said: “I am so excited that we’ve been chosen to support the Killers on their South African tour. They’re one of my favourite bands and it’ll be an honour to share the stage with them. I can’t think of a better way to end the year than to play with one of the biggest bands in the world!”

The Killers presented by Heineken in association with 94.7 Highveld Stereo and 94.5 Kfm live in South Africa. Tickets for the concert are exclusively available from Computicket.

Val de Vie was proud to be the venue for the elegant and stylish launch of Polo SA, an exciting new publication for South African Polo. Endorsed by the South African Polo Association and produced by Quantam publishers, it will be published on a quarterly basis and distributed amongst polo players.

The event was a phenomenal success, boasting a spectacular crowd turn out on a perfect Spring day. Dressed in Gatsby era inspired attire, guests enjoyed a relaxed picnic lunch on the terraces, the perfect spot to watch a game of polo and take in the views of the winelands countryside. Prizes were awarded for the best dressed guests, and there was also a charity auction in aid of the SPCA.

The event saw a record turn out of polo players: no less than three four chukka matches were played, as well as one lifestyle match for newcomers to polo. Nearly 30 polo players entered, a sure sign that polo around Cape Town is growing at an incredible rate. There is no doubt that this promises to become an annual event!

The main game (or final match) between Val de Vie and Cape Hunt was a fast and flowing game. The teams competed to win a coveted trophy designed by Federico Aliverti of Aliverti jewelry. The hosts were off to an exciting start with a goal by Charl du Plessis from the line out ending the 2nd chukka with 3 / 1 to the hosts. But the experience of the visiting side rallied the Cape Hunt team and they went on to draw and finally win by one goal in the 4th chukka. The final score was 5 / 4 to Cape Hunt and Polo Club. This trophy promises to be hotly contested again next year at Val de Vie!

All games were watched over by professional umpire, Guy Benson, who held a coaching clinic on the Saturday to explain the rules of the sport and how to umpire. He even joined to play some chukkas with everyone! It was a fantastic learning opportunity and a wonderful chance to play with a past high goal player. Guy Benson has played internationally and represented South Africa several times. Having this kind of professional input is essential in improving our polo and allows more players to be exposed to learning and keeping up with polo rules and regulations.

For more information about Polo SA, kindly email robyn@quantumpublishers.co.za.

1. Savour a sundowner (or two!) at Sabrage to the sounds of live music
2. Enjoy a picnic on the estate, taking in the views of mountains, vineyards and lush countryside
3. Discover award-winning wines at our wine-tasting room
4. Attend one of the many exciting events lined up at the estate, such as The Killers concert
5. Get caught up in the excitement of watching an exhilirating polo match