Recipe of The Month: Kingklip with curry sauce, corriander, mango and granny smith apple served on wild rice

Recipe: Chef Gregory Czarnecki of Waterkloof

Ingredients: 800 g kingklip, cut into four portions • ½ mango • ½ granny smith apple
• 8 sundried tomatoes • 1 red pepper comfit • 120 g wild rice • Garlic
• Thyme • Bay leaf • ½ bunch of coriander • 1 onion • Curry powder
• 1 tin of coconut milk • Salt • Pepper • Olive oil

Method: Cook the wild rice in a casserole with a crushed clove of garlic, bay leaf and a bit of thyme.
Peel and chop the onion. Sweat it in a casserole with a bit of olive oil.
Once cooked, add the curry powder and continue cooking. Add the coconut milk and cook for another 30 min.
Strain and adjust flavour with salt and pepper.
Cut the mango into small cubes. Do the same with the granny smith apple, sun dried tomatoes and comfit red pepper.
Season the kingklip with salt and pepper.
Pan fry the pieces on the skin side in a very hot pan.


Plating: Plate the wild rice in the middle of the plate with the portion of kingklip on top.
Pour the sauce around the plate.
Mix the cubes of mango, granny smith, sundried tomatoes and comfit red pepper and plate it around the sauce.
Chop the fresh coriander coarsely and sprinkle on the fish.

Serves 4

Drink with Care

We chat to Stefan Coetzee of Cybercellar about their collaboration with WESSA | The Month May 2012

Stefan Coetzee of Cybercellar gave our office an excited call recently, keen to tell us all about the online wine seller’s decision to partner with South Africa’s oldest environmental organisation, The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA).

Knowing Stefan as an affable sort, and more importantly, that his Taste SA base in Franschhoek generally has some decent wines to sample, I suggested we meet up for a glass of wine and a decent chat.

Turns out that Cybercellar has been appointed the exclusive online partner for the sale of wines under the Cura label, which in turn is a WESSA wine initiative that serves to raise funds to support the organisation’s conservation and environmental education work. They aim to work in partnership with different wine estates to produce specially-branded WESSA wines. Given that they’ve been in the
conservation business since 1926, it’s appropriate that they’ve chosen the term ‘cura’ which means ‘care’ in Latin.

The first wine estate to partner with WESSA on this project is the Voor Paardeberg-based, Vondeling. According to the WESSA “Vondeling Wines was a natural ‘partner of choice’ due to its long-term commitment to conservation. The estate has over 400 hectares of indigenous fynbos on its mountain slopes, including critically-endangered Swartland Granite Renosterveld. Innovative practices employed by the winery include a renewable energy project and the use of compost teas instead of chemical fungicides to combat fungus. Vondeling is Biodiversity and Wine Initiative certified and is currently working towards Champion Status.”

For WESSA, Vondeling winemaker Matthew Copeland produced a Shiraz based on the Vondeling Erica Shiraz (Platter 4-star) with the addition of Mouvedre (8%), Carignan (3%), Petit Verdot (3%) and Viognier (1%). The result is a unique, premium wine that is good for the imbiber and the environment.

Cura Shiraz 2010, R78.50 p/bottle for 6 or R70.00 p/bottle for 12
The wine has a rich deep purple colour, with luxurious red and blackberry fruit on the nose. The hints of sweet spice, nutmeg, cloves and coriander are reminiscent of the smell of the fynbos depicted on the attractive label. The palate is full-textured and complex, with a lingering finish that carries the floral and spice character seamlessly!

Quo Vadis Local Wine Marketing?

The White Wine Ou* wants locals to drink more | The Month May 2012

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) ran a conference last month in Stellenbosch promoting the Nigerian export market to local wine producers. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time that WOSA promotes wine exports, which is of course entirely in keeping with WOSA’s brief. Why else would it be paid 7c for every litre of wine exported from South Africa?

According to the SA Wine Industry Directory 2011/12, we exported 378 549 900 litres (of a total 780 700 000 produced) of wine in 2010, contributing R26 498 493 to WOSA’s coffers. That’s a tidy sum of money in anybody’s language.

Opinion is divided on just how efficacious WOSA is in
promoting wine exports. There is a faction which belittles virtually everything that WOSA does, suggesting that the payoff to exporters does not justify the levy paid. There are those who believe the opposite: that WOSA has done much to increase our export market penetration in key markets like the EU, America, Russia and increasingly African markets like Angola and Nigeria. Trouble is, it is very difficult to say with any certitude, what impact a particular action taken by WOSA has had on wine exports.

Why? Because not all export promotional initiatives are executed by WOSA. Producers large and small send winemakers, marketers and brand ambassadors to many of our key markets every year, where they spend money, time and shoe leather in promoting their various offerings. Such focussed initiatives are arguably more effective at creating producer-specific (and therefore more measurable) demand than WOSA’s more shotgun-style approach (no disrespect intended).

Whichever side of the WOSA fence you may find yourself on, it remains that a funded organisation that exists to promote South African wines abroad. Unfortunately the same cannot be said of an inward-focussed organisation, similarly funded, which could do much to promote wine consumption in South Africa. “Is it necessary?” you may ask.

Yes it is! Per capita consumption of alcohol (in litres) has declined from 2001 to 2010 for most sectors of the local liquor market. The actual market shares over the decade deserve further scrutiny: Alcoholic fruit beverages (3.3 to 6.2), whisky (2.8 to 5.1) and sparkling wine (0.2 to 0.4) shares have all but doubled, with beer (42.4 to 46.1), brandy (5.9 to 6.1) and fortified wine (1.9 to 2.4) showing more modest gains. Shares of traditional African beer (24.6 to 16.6), natural wine (14.0 to 12.6) and other spirits (4.9 to 4.5)   have all declined.
Clearly the wine industry has suffered locally, experiencing declining per capita consumption, as well loss of market share.

This is even more telling when one considers that  in 1994 there were around 350 000 ‘middle class’ families in the country, and that there are now an estimated 3.8 million; the bulk of which do NOT drink wine.

The bleat that an internally focussed WOSA equivalent would not get off the ground because of powerful corporate wine interests (that would see it as a threat to their market dominance) is so much hooey, that it should be summarily dismissed. The pending alcohol advertising ban makes it obvious that the battle lines have clearly been drawn between government and the liquor industry, so now is the time for that industry to take the initiative, and voluntarily fund an organisation which can focus on the large untapped market with a clear message promoting responsible consumption.

The alternative is a regime that will cause aggregate decline in consumption, while doing little or nothing to reduce alcohol abuse, the admitted expectation of the proposed ban on alcohol advertising.

*The White Wine Ou writes regularly for a number of well-known South African publications on topics that range from food and wine to politics and the environment. Recognising the freedom he has at The Month to speak his mind, he intends to do just that. We’ve agreed to allow him to use a nom de plume as occasionally his comments may well cause some to reach for the shotgun…

Don't miss the Constantia Food and Wine Festival

From the 4th to the 6th of May experience the magic of the Constantia Valley at The Constantia Food and Wine Festival, where more than 40 of the finest wines and delicious food from the region's award winning restaurants will be showcased. Visitors to the Festival will be treated to multi-layered culinary delights, local wines, and live entertainment to showcase Constantia as one of the world’s premier food and wine destinations. Open air kids play area with activities for children of all ages will also be available.

A Toast To Good Taste

We visit Taste SA in Franschhoek and see virtually every wine in SA | The Month April 2012

Trying to get to grips with that ever-changing beast that is the SA wine industry – from the many family run, small scale producers  to the massive cooperative cellars – is no mean feat, and it’s no wonder then that getting to know the wines produced by that beast is more than daunting for most.

Aware that our regular wine contributors, Cybercellar.com have had some success with introducing a broad range of palates to a massive array of wines and many of South Africa’s most loved producers, we popped over to their Taste SA facility in Franschhoek for a chat to team-member Stefan, to get an idea of what it is that set’s their offering apart from the rest.

The rather swish tasting room in The Yard takes an interesting approach to making its wines available by showcasing up to 14 different wines from a selection of estates and producers, at any given time. What’s immediately clear is that Taste SA and Cybercellar work hand-in-hand giving supporters of the online store the chance to enjoy more than a virtual drop and those visiting Taste, the chance to purchase any of the wines available through Cybercellar (and to say there are many is a euphemism!). Be warned though,
the tasting room only has the 14-odd wines on show at any given time available for tasting, so don’t expect to walk out of the place with arms laden the way you would a liquor store; instead the Cybercellar team will have your wines, from all over the country, delivered to a door of your choice.

Tastings are R50 per person, with optional cheese platters also available, and you can expect to see the likes of Boschendal, Glen Carlou, Topaz, Oak Valley, Diemersdal, Diemersfontein, Amares, Oldenburg, Boschkloof, Marianne, Meerlust, Mont Rochelle, Sumaridge, Spier, Dieu Donné, De Grendel, Steenberg, Elgin Vintners and many, many more.

Noting my impressed gasp, Stefan wasted no time to add that he has a couple of wines available at the moment that come with free nationwide delivery. “I live just up the road,” I point out. Sharp as a tack Stefan points out that with the kind of savings I’m likely to enjoy, it’s time to move. For the record here are the two wines he recommended that come with that free delivery:

Bartinney Wines Noble Savage Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot Blend 2009, R65 per bottle for 6/R59 per bottle for 12
The intense, powerful flavour of the Cabernet Sauvignon in this blend is classic dark fruit and black berries and integrates absolutely beautifully with the softer, sexier, more sensuous cherry and raspberry nose of the Merlot.  The palate is round and concentrated, with spicy fruit and juicy tannins! This is an absolutely superb wine that will go well with a range of food and achieved a 4-star rating in Platter’s.                                                              
FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA!

Druk My Niet Wine Estate Mapoggo White 2009, R49 per bottle for 6/R47 per bottle for 12
At first, this wine impresses the nose with layers of fruit that include pineapple, mango, peach and dried apricot. On the second whiff the unmistakable hints of Melon and Green Apple come to the fore and follow through on the palate, perfectly  complemented by hazelnut and vanilla flavours courtesy of the wood. It’s a surprisingly big wine given it’s relatively low alcohol content of 12.5%.
FREE SHIPPING TO ANYWHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA!

Email Stefan stefan@cybercellar.com for orders or more info on Taste SA and Cybercellar.com

This is the year of the "Hurry Up and Wait" harvest...

Across the board, local wine makers are excited about the prospects of the 2012 vintage. Not everyone is sure of exactly what to expect, but each time I ask the question, I get a sense that it's going to be good, and the caveat that "we'll have to wait an see". So I was chuffed to get the following release from Distell:

The 2012 harvest has produced excellent quality aromatic whites and reds of intense colour and well-balanced ripeness, according to Callie van Niekerk, who heads all Distell’s winery operations. This is despite the early January heat spikes that initially were a cause for concern, as well as shortages of water in some areas.

“Overall, yields are about 5% higher than last year.  The average,

however, doesn’t tell the full story of the crop losses in some dryland vineyards as a result of the lack of rain, nor of those areas that had access to supplementary irrigation and saw yields up by 10% to 15% on 2011.

Erhard Wolf, responsible for Distell’s grape and wine buying said: “In the main, we are very pleased with the outcome of a harvest that has not been without challenges. A cool winter allowed vines to go into proper dormancy. We were expecting a very different scenario with the cool start to spring and early summer which we thought would delay the start of the harvest.  Then suddenly, the heat rose in early January and again in early February. 

However, for the most part, February and March were relatively mild, making for long, slow and very beneficial ripening.

“What also enhanced quality was the drop in night time temperatures that in some instances were 1,5°C to 2°C lower compared with the average for February. This helped fruit to retain aromas and flavours. 

“In the case of reds, the early heat, followed by cooler conditions later during ripening, helped to eliminate green flavours and produce optimally ripened berries at lower sugar levels and with soft but firm tannins.”

He said the berries were smaller than average with excellent skin to fruit ratios and that the standout red for this year was undoubtedly Shiraz but with top quality fruit also coming from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and Merlot vineyards. 

“We are very excited by the whites across the board and the aromatic varietals like Pinot Grigio, Riesling and Gewürztraminer are looking excellent,” confirmed Van Niekerk. “The season has also been very good to the Muscat varieties for which there is now a significant international demand. We are also expecting some superb noble late harvest and special late harvest wines from this vintage.”

The company was both planting and sourcing Mediterranean varietals such as Grenache, Carignan, Tempranillo and Mourvèdre to meet market interest and that these were proving exceptionally well suited to local conditions.

Van Niekerk said Distell’s ongoing research into ripening and ideal harvest times was proving a major advantage to the company. “By planning wines in the vineyard, we follow different strategies where viticultural practices are matched with eventual wine style and price point.  With the enormous diversity of offerings within our portfolio, our access to more detailed information about optimal ripening helps us plan with greater accuracy the harvest times of individual vineyard blocks and to co-ordinate the related logistics.

“Operating in such a complex environment means we need to be able to plan in detail to maximise the use of our cellar and other resources, manage costs as tightly as possible and control our environmental impact.”

He said a strong company focus was research into achieving optimal flavour development at lower sugar levels to reduce alcohol levels in wines, particularly in the face of warmer temperatures that were the result of climate change. “Worldwide there is a call for this across all varietals and styles. Our viticultural practices are continually being refined to better manage the impact of climate change so we can produce fruit of well-balanced ripeness with good colour, acid levels and flavour.”

Wolf added that Distell was in the very fortunate position of being able to source excellent fruit from across the Cape, particularly in the cooler-climate areas but also to compensate for shortfalls in those areas adversely affected by climatic conditions. “Low water reserves have really been an issue this season.  We have the technology at our disposal to monitor soil moisture content very closely and to fine-tune irrigation, saving water as far as possible.  

Careful canopy management, planting cover crops and strategic mulching also helped to counteract the impact of the dry conditions in some dry-farmed vineyards,” said Wolf. 

He confirmed there was still capacity to extend plantings across prime wine-growing areas to ensure the steady access to top quality fruit to address future demands.

Tossing The Keys

California Dreaming, Dave Rundle surfs the net | The Month April 2012

Like many South Africans, we woke on the 19th of February to witness some amazing hitting by Richard Levi when he smashed the Blackcaps to every corner of Hamilton’s Sneddon Park. In fact, the ground was not big enough for him and it was interesting to see the selectors send him back to SA to torment the local bowlers, rather than keep him to destroy New Zealand in the ODIs. What is so good about his batting is that he stands so still when hitting - he is the David Warner of South African cricket.

While watching, I surfed the internet for interesting reading and came across an article by Tim Read entitled: ‘The US Foreclosures Crisis, Beverly Hills style’.

There are some 180 houses in Beverly Hills, the storied Los Angeles enclave rich with Hollywood stars and
music moguls, which have apparently been foreclosed on by lenders, scheduled for auction, or served with a default notice. Apparently, this is the highest level since the 2008 financial crash.

As in the default-ravaged suburban subdivisions of Phoenix, Arizona, and Tampa Florida, it is plunging real estate prices that is the root of the problem in Beverly Hills. But the dynamics of residential real estate are very different in elite neighbourhoods such as this. The majority of the delinquent homeowners, who owe more than a million dollars, are walking away - not because they can’t pay, but because they feel it would be foolish to keep paying when the asset is falling in price.

These are called ‘strategic defaults’ and they are an especially appealing option in California, one of the primary states where mortgages made by banks are ‘non-recourse’ loans. This means the loan is secured solely by the property, and banks cannot go after a delinquent owner’s income, or other assets, if they default.

In South Africa, things are very different. If you default, the bank will take everything you own until they have recovered their asset. Obviously, this prevents the ‘Beverly Hills’ thing happening here, but I am sure there are a few people who, having bought a ‘dog’ property, have thought it would be a good idea to chuck in the keys at the bank.

This has a big influence on the price of property in SA and means that most banks are very careful about the amount they are prepared to lend. Maybe our system is tougher to live with but, at the moment, it is saving us.

If you have a financial question that you’d like Dave to answer in his column, please submit it to dave@rundle.co.za and he’ll gladly oblige

This article is solely intended to provide you with objective information about financial products and services and is not intended to constitute a recommendation, guidance or proposal with regard to the suitability of any product in respect of any financial need you may have.

Dave Rundle
Rundle Management Services

Win tickets to The Riebeek Valley Olive Festival

The quaint little Swartland towns towns of Riebeek Kasteel and Riebeek West come alive as they showcase the best they have to offer in food, wine and olives in May.

A past winner of the West Coast Tourism Awards in the ‘Tourism Event’ category, the Riebeek Valley Olive Festival will showcase the diversity of olives by offering a wide selection of olives to buy, delicious olive oils, preserves, tapenades and an assortment of olive-based beauty products. Amongst the many new activities at this year’s festival will be an Olive Emporium, a country fair, a fresh goods market and an Olive Martini bar.

Whilst in the area visitors are encouraged to visit the local wineries for tutored tastings or simply to sample the wines at their leisure. Live entertainment will also be on offer.

An R80 passport, valid for the entire festival weekend allows you entry to the various wine farms, the town based marquees, a complimentary tasting glass and a free tasting of olives or wine.

For more information and a full list of participants email olivefestival@gmail.com or phone 082 909 1116 / 084 207 3820 and tickets may be purchased at www.webtickets.co.za

WIN! The Month has FIVE double tickets to give away courtesy of the festival.
Simply SMS the word Month and your name and contact details and the name of the suburb in which you live to 36968 or email the same details to olive@themonth.co.za (closing date 20 April 2012)

Don't miss a weekend Travelling Dinner with the wine makers of the Slanghoek Valley

By now everyone knows that The Month loves the Slanghoek Valley (read our April writ-up here). If you'd like a taste of our experience there, set aside the weekend of Friday, 1^stJune to Sunday, 3^rd June and enjoy a weekend and a traveling dinner with some of the valley's resident wine makers.

Here's the press release: Excellent wine, glorious food and good company, not to mention some of the most picturesque surroundings and hospitality second to none.   With its rugged beauty, this small valley is fast becoming a draw card to visitors for whom

its gorgeous scenery, surrounding Winelands and family-run cellars are all very appealing.

Join us as we celebrate winter with a travelling dinner, a small intimate affair hosted by the quartet of Slanghoek Mountain Resort, Slanghoek Cellar, Jason’s Hill and Opstal Wines which will introduce you to the wines, their winemakers and the hospitality that they have become famous for.

Nestled in the magnificent Slanghoek Valley on the slopes of the Badsberg Conservancy you will find the Slanghoek Mountain Resort, a haven for those who appreciate spectacular views and the natural beauty which surrounds them.  

Included in the weekend package is:

• Accommodation at Slanghoek Mountain Resort, a haven for those who appreciate spectacular views and the natural beauty which surrounds it.  This includes dinner on Friday evening, as well as breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning.
• For a fun-filled Saturday morning a visit to Slanghoek Cellar for their Blend & Bottle has been arranged affording visitors the opportunity to make their own wine in their own style, using a combination of three varieties.  Wines are bottled under guests own personalised label and will most definitely impress family, friends and colleagues.
• The travelling dinner will commence with sundowners, canapés and a wine tasting at Slanghoek Cellar hosted by cellar master, Pieter Carstens. 
• The main course will be hosted by Stanley Louw, resident sixth generation owner and vintner of Opstal Estate which has a wine history dating back to 1847.
• Finally join Ivy du Toit of Jason’s Hill Private Cellar, where the tradition of vine growing and wine making for the fifth generation is kept alive, for dessert and coffee.

Full cost of package  :  R1 250 per person (inclusive of B&B, dinner – both Friday and Saturday evening, Blend & Bottle session at Slanghoek Cellar).  A detailed itinerary will be provided upon booking your weekend away. Booking is essential as space is limited to five couples. The closing date for bookings is 21 May.

To book this memorable experience contact Jenny at Slanghoek Mountain Resort on info@slanghoekresort.co.za or 023 344 3138.

Hold on for May and the Holden Manz Winter Secret getaway!

I'll admit that I didn't try the Holden Manz boat (pictured left), but I can vouch for the rest of their offering. There's a write-up in May's The Month, but just in case you can't wait, here's their press release:

Spoil your loved one from May until the end of July with a picturesque winter getaway amidst fruit orchards and vines, with the special Winter Secret accommodation package on offer at the luxurious 5-star Country House at Holden Manz, the magnificent Franschhoek boutique wine estate nestled between two rivers with majestic mountain views.

Complemented by exquisite art adorning the interior, with masterfully applied feng shui and a beautiful courtyard koi pond, the gorgeous Country House is the ideal country getaway at one

of the Winelands’ best kept secrets - your own little piece of Franschhoek paradise.

Make your stay even more memorable and pamper yourself with a visit to the Holden Manz spa adjacent to the Country House, where you can choose from treatments such as the signature Holden Manz full body massage (a combination of a Swedish and aromatherapy massage), facials for men and women as well as various delightful body therapies using only local Africology products.

Enjoy a picnic with delicious eats and breathtaking views in the magical setting on the banks of the Franschhoek River, and visit the Franschhoek Kitchen, the signature restaurant above the Holden Manz cellar, where seasoned executive chef Cheyne Morrisby prepares succulent dishes bursting with flavour. Prepared with seasonal, fresh ingredients from the estate’s own fruit orchard, vegetable garden and chicken coup, you will have a delicious variety of winter dishes to savour during your stay.

The ultimate in relaxation, the intimate Holden Manz Country House with exquisite lunches and dinners at the Franschhoek Kitchen is the ideal winter warmer.
 

The special Winter Secret rate from May to the end of July at the Country House is R995 per person per night. Picnics are available the whole year, except for the month of June. Phone 021-8762738 or e-mail collette@holdenmanz.com for bookings at the Holden Manz Country House.

The Franschhoek Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner from Tuesdays to Saturdays and Sundays for lunch. Call 021-8762729 or e-mail wayne@holdenmanz.com for bookings. The Holden Manz tasting room is open daily from 10h00 to 17h00.

Visit Holden Manz on Facebook or www.holdenmanz.com. To reach Holden Manz, turn right at the Huguenot Monument in Franschhoek and follow the signs for two kilometres.

GPS coordinates: Latitude: 33° 56’ 7” S; Longitude: 19° 6’ 54” E.

Friday 4 May - The Filly's host James Bond in the Casino at Val de Vie...

You are invited! But hurry as there are only 450 tickets available.

The Filly’s comprises of a group of woman who have joined skill’s in an effort to raise funds and create awareness for a variety of charities in their community.

The charities that will benefit from our fundraising events this year are as follows:

Kibwe Kids – social development programme

STOP (Stop Trafficking of People)

Human Trafficking- the sale, transport and profit from human beings who are forced to work for others

Paarl and Franschhoek Hospice

Wellington Primary School

The Cart Horse Protection Association

Rock Community Care

 

Book online at http://www.valdevie.co.za/bond-casino-fund-raising-event.html and see www.filly.co.zafor more info.

10 reasons not to miss Decorex Cape Town from 26-29 April

Imagine: A bedroom inspired by a bird’s first memory; a lounge-design with the mood of a ‘50s detective novel; designer bookshelves promoting literacy and Man Caves cause célèbre. 

If you're wondering what exactly that bird was thinking, you'll need get to Decorex in CT at the end of the month. And if you're not keen to leave your own Man Cave to swing by the ATM to collect the R130 you'll need for a double ticket, simply email decorex@themonth.co.za and you may be one of the five double ticket recipients.

The rest of the press release:

The imaginative concepts planned for Decorex Cape Town 2012 is why this décor and design exhibition is still leading-edge fourteen yearslater.

Plascon is the main sponsor and M-net is the media partner of the four-day exhibition taking place from 26 to 29 April at the CTICC. Visitors will be impressed with the many curated trend

installations, creative collaborations with a charity-angle and cutting-edge concept stands.  

“This year we celebrate the design status of Cape Town and the extraordinary creative energy of our local talent,” says Cairey Baxter-Bruce, General Manager of Decorex SA.

“A ‘back-to-basics’ non-trend movement is fast gaining momentum, fuelled on by global natural disasters as well as political and economic uncertainties,” she says. This urges designers to apply their their imagination to age-old ways of doing things – creating unique solutions to 21^st century realities,” she reckons.

Be sure to tick off:

1. Plascon Colour Forecast 2012 trend installation with designers Laurence Brick, Porky Hefer, James Mudge and Aidan Bennetts. Experience their interpretation of the colour palettes Expression, Memory, Origins and Mystery.
2. Fabric masterminds Design Team unveil their 2012 collection – exclusive to Decorex Cape Town.
3. Operation Man Cave for charity. Four local celebrities team up with four designers to see who can raise the most money for charity. Keep an eye out for Bob Skinstad and his brother Dan, Aidan Bennetts and Ryan Botha.
4. Inspire Theatre, kitted out by Whirpool and Sembel-It,  will host inspirational décor talks throughout the show, so pull up a chair for talks on  Sunday Lunch, Living with Colour, High Tea and Sunday Night Sundowners.
5. Contemporary Country promises to be a jaw dropping trend installation of rural goes city with the powerhouse team of Laurence Brick, Timna Russell and Cathy O’ Clery.
6. Decorex Designer Collection of homeware in a soothing palette of greys and blues, by SA’s top creative and goes on SALE at a pop-up store! So pull in to stock up the gift drawer for 2012.
7. M-net Cares Café will be putting creative bookshelves on show and encouraging visitors to donate children’s’ book. M-net personalities will be doing lives reads, so get your celebrity on.
8. District Delicious is a foodie paradise, with gourmet food and designer gadgets.
9. Design inspiration in the Dream Rooms section where roomscapes by top talent will be on show.
10. After a great walk around, with inspiration to take home and a new home gadget or two, enjoy a lovely glass of bubbly from the Graham Beck bar by Wetherlys. Oysters, a tapas menu and a delightful range of Graham Beck wine will be on the menu.

Exhibition details

Decorex Cape Town:

26 – 29 April, CTICC

Industry day: 26 April

Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (closes at 18:00 on 29^th April)

Cost: R65 adults. R55 pensioners and students. R10 Children under 12.

Visit www.decorex.co.zafor regular updates on exciting competitions and speaker line-ups.

Facebook: Decorex SA

Twitter: @decorexSA and stay in touch using #decorexcapetown

Decorex Cape Town forms part of the Decorex SA portfolio of interior design shows and is owned by the Thebe Exhibitions & Projects Group.