Prestige 89

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89

FA S H I O N | DESIGN | J EW E L L E RY | T R AV E L | BU S I N E S S | P RO PE RT Y 100 years – the movie you’ll never see • Audi’s new R8 • casino square in Monaco luxury apartment living • mercedes takes to the seas Issue 89 – 4/2016

Africa’s Premier luxury Lifestyle Magazine

THE EXCEPTION RULES. THE ALL-NEW BMW 7 SERIES.

The All-New BMW 7 Series available in 730d, 740i, 750i and 750Li.

The best way to predict the future is to create it. The All-New BMW 7 Series ushers in a new era of driving luxury.

Beneath the sculpted contours, inside an ultra-lightweight Carbon Core, lies an experience unparalleled in innovation, comfort and technology. Touch Command offers ďŹ ngertip dominion over the cabin. The Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system and the Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge caress the senses, while unprecedented Laserlight technology illuminates your vision of the future. For more visit www.bmw.co.za/7

BMW 7 Series

Sheer Driving Pleasure

OPENCO/6115/E

www.bmw.co.za/7

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contents

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Upfront Ed’s Letter – Page 8

Inside Jewellery and Watches – Dior, Audemars Piguet and Cartier showcase their latest collections for 2016 in scintillating jewels and fine timekeeping – Page 10 Time Keepers – The pre-owned watch sector is burgeoning as more and more watch enthusiasts recognise the similarities between the investment in vehicles and in timepieces – Page 16 Rare Find - Television is awash with programmes that have people digging around the attic and the shed hoping to come across an heirloom that’s worth a fortune – Page 20 Silver foxes – Dr John Demartini says organic leadership outweighs the company structure when it comes to influence and mentorship – Page 26 Rolling into the Future – Pedro Carneiro looks at a vision for a luxury icon into the next 100 years – Page 30 Golden Dawn – Aurum luxury apartments on Cape Town’s Atlantic Seaboard offer absolute luxury, affordable on a global scale and the best view in the house – Page 34 Skin – Vanessa Gounden presents Artivism for Breast Cancer – a collection for Spring/ Summer ’16 – Page 38

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Getting Away from it all

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A Matter of Taste – Carl Bailey Natasen spends time at Leeu Estate in Franschhoek to find food, wine, art and culture woven into a magnificent landscape – Page 46 A Delectable Luxury Safari – There are luxury safaris and then there are luxury safaris that exceed not only in accommodation and wildlife viewing, but also in food. Vanessa Stephen had the best of all three at Zarafa Lodge in Botswana – Page 52 Monte Carlo – It’s the playground of the rich and famous and the envy of all who watch the Grand Prix on television. Carly Bailey Natasen spent the weekend – Page 58

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Food and Wine

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Café Society – Coco Safar opens in Cape Town, offering Michelin-star quality patisserie and Third Wave coffee in capsule format – Page 64 Haute Cuisine – Seven years ago a restaurant opened in Dunkeld in Johannesburg and called itself DW eleven-13 and the first question on everyone’s lips was “why DW eleven-13,?” – Page 68 Century’s End – Louis XIII Cognac has embarked on a unique project with an artistic visionary to predict the world in 100 years from now, and nobody will get to see it – Page 72 Pop That Cork! – Champagne is synonymous with celebration and none more so than Moët & Chandon. 2016 sees the 11th of the Maison’s exceptional celebrations since 1743 – the first edition of the Moët Party Day – Page 76 The Wood in Whisky – A phenomenon called maturation. Patrick Leclezio bows respectfully but unflinchingly to one of the great forces in whisky – Page 78 The Full Kit – Primed and ready for action. Patrick Leclezio gets to grips with the right spirituous gear – Page 82

Getting Around Floating Mercs – Vivien and Carly Natasen experience the Mercedes lifestyle boats launched at the Monaco GP – Page 86 Skinny Mac! – The Mclaren 650s is a great vehicle, so it was always going to be difficult to make it better….enter the 675 LT – Page 94 Quattro Wonder… – The latest Audi R8 was unleashed on the track to media, dealers and customers and Vivien Natasen experienced the pinnacle of Audi Sport – Page 98 Banting bull! – The Lamborghini Huracan is now offered in rear wheel drive and Vivien Natasen found it hits a sweet spot – Page 102 Are Friends Electric? – BMW has pinned its colours to the mast and made its commitment to electric hybrid technology. Chris Buchanan drove the new X5 hybrid and the sublime i8 – Page 106 Dare to Differ – Our conditioning when we think luxury performance coupes is in need of a shake up and Lexus is doing just that – Page 108

Final Say From the Publisher – Page 112 PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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UPFRONT

Publisher Vivien Natasen +27 11 484 2833

ED'S

Editor Chris Buchanan chris@prestigemag.co.za

old 'n new

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n a premature moment of madness I decided that the perpetual hamster wheel of the big city needed to take a back seat and that life in a slower lane would be beneficial to my psyche and wellbeing. It was also an entrepreneurial calling and it saw me selling up my assets in Johannesburg and trading a steady job in media for a new found career in making coffee, bistro food and selling books in a small university city.

I learned the art of traditional Italian coffee from a gentleman who pioneered the business in the 1970s with The House of Coffees. He taught me to foam the milk to the ideal temperature and to introduce the coffee to the milk to prevent curdling – so if you need to run to the facilities after a cappuccino it’s this basic mistake that your barista is making.

Fundamental to this art is a solid espresso machine with a reliable boiler and as few electronics as possible.

Ultimately you want a lever system to push the water through the coffee with the subtlety of a barista’s hand to extract the flavour from the ground bean but modern machines rely on pumps to do this for you. My Carimali machine was the core of my business, making superior coffee for a clientele that would hopefully linger and browse the bookshop and spend their money on intellectual fare. It was tradition in the coffee style combined with modern technology in the machinery, new and second hand books, and innovative food using traditional ingredients.

Kees van der Westen makes espresso machines that would be at home in any museum of modern art. He’s a Dutch industrial designer whose first machine exploded and perseverance has seen his creations in demand with the trendiest

establishments around the world marrying coffee tradition with modernity. If you’re anywhere near Cavendish Square in Cape Town you can see one of his machines in action at the new Coco Safar coffee emporium where old meets new in patisserie and coffee.

And where better for old to meet new in a brand that defines luxury – RollsRoyce. The Vision 100 looks to the next generation of a car that prides itself on tradition yet introduces innovation to merge heritage with progression.

Timepieces also marry heritage in the development of complicated tourbillons and movements, with modern designs and the evolution of iconic releases that represent milestones in human achievement. And then, if you dig around the memorabilia collected in your family over the generations, old and new will again combine to reflect collectables that sit comfortably with a contemporary aesthetic.

But, what has to be the ultimate construct of heritage and futurism is creating something that only future generations will experience. There is a film, locked in a safe that is timed to open in 100 years from now, never seen by those who made it and representative of the craftsmanship that will endure for years to come.

All is revealed the pages of Prestige and central to this theme is that time creates intrinsic value, whether it’s heritage in a brand or whether it’s patience in an investment. Those traditional coffee recipes have given rise to monumental brands in the space but an espresso on a piazza in an old Italian town rams home the value of heritage.

CHRIS

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Deputy publisher/brand ambassador Carly Bailey-Natasen carly@prestigemag.co.za Layout and Art Direction Daniel Jonathan info@danieljonathan.co.za Advertising Sales Carly Bailey-Natasen carly@prestigemag.co.za Operations and Circulation Eugene Reuben eugene.reuben@neoafrica.com Digital Marc Rudman marc.rudman@neoafrica.com Contributors Patrick Leclezio, Vanessa Stephen Printing Paarl Media Kwazulu Natal Subscriptions: To subscribe please go to www.prestigemag.co.za click on the Subscribe tab and submit the form. An invoice with banking details will be sent to you. Your first issue of Prestige will be despatched as soon as payment is made. Costs: 6 Issues = R600 per annum excl VAT, other countries are subject to a postage surcharge and will be calculated accordingly.

Single copies of Prestige can be purchased for a nominal fee of R89.00.

PUBLISHED BY Neo Publishing (Pty) Ltd Tel +27 11 484 2833. Fax +27 11 484 2899 All rights reserved. Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher or any of its clients.

Information has been included in good faith and is believed to be correct at the time of going to print. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information and reports in this magazine, the publisher does not accept any responsibility, whatsoever, for any errors or omissions, or for any effects resulting therefrom. No part of this publication may be used, or reproduced in any form, without the written permission of the publisher. All copyright for material apearing in this magazine belongs to Neo Publishing and/or the individual contributors. © 2014

jewellery & watches

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Hypnosis This new graphic women’s design featuring diamonds and onyx interlayed in a hypnotic relief is revealed as a bold expression of precision craft. Classic techniques are abstracted to new effect: the Millenary’s zebra-like stripes come to life in brilliant-cut diamonds and velvet-black onyx.

The design is all the more remarkable because the balance wheel and bridge are an integral part of the decoration: a technical challenge that reminds us how Audemars Piguet’s gem-setters and horological engineers work side-by-side, developing an unparalleled understanding of related crafts.

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Magnetic Pearls Audemars Piguet underlines its contemporary approach to Haute Joaillerie, transporting pearls – the all-time classic jewel – into a new horological realm.

Over a century ago, seed pearls were used to decorate watch cases. In 2016, an avant-garde re-think of traditional decorative techniques sees pearls light up the Millenary dial like little electric studs, creating a magnetic geometric weave against the gleaming black onyx.

This original timepiece required the special skills of a traditional jewellery workshop. Even before creation could begin, Audemars Piguet expert jewellers handpicked each pearl for perfect roundness and size (1 mm diameter), and then set them with exceptional precision. The unique oval dial of the Millenary becomes a new canvas for pearls.

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Royal

oak offshore

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ith its tough case, strong-look pushpieces and chronograph function, the Royal Oak Offshore, created for men in 1993, complements the style of modern women thanks to its performanceready credentials.

A new “Lady Tapisserie� design gives the dial of this Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph a softer look, perfectly offsetting the 37 mm case size.

A precise circular grain sweeps around the dial, playing with light and shadow.

Available in two versions, the bezels, crowns and pushpieces (previously made in rubber) are now sleeker in steel or pink gold. A choice of interchangeable strap colours has been created and slender indices replace the sporty Arabic numerals and cabochons of previous designs.

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dior VIII Grand Bal Piéce Unique Ondine

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xtremely feminine jewel-timepieces, the new Dior VIII Grand Bal Pièce Unique Ondine models are inspired by the untameable beauty of molten gold, as if this liquid metal was frozen for eternity and crystallized into precious stones to complete its divine transformation.

Comprised of twelve one-of-a-kind pieces, this collection is equipped with the automatic “Dior nversé 11 1/2” calibre. Combining refinement and technical complexity, the shapes of the oscillating weights recapture the movement of fabrics, sometimes pleated, sometimes gathered, always recalling the swirl of a ball gown.

These elegant pieces are adorned with dials, sometimes snow set for dazzling sparkle, sometimes paved with a woven pattern evoking a dress’s delicate fabric.

Their leather straps reflect the gold colour of their cases. One-of-a-kind pieces.

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cactus

de cartier…

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its simplicity with this sun-drenched collection.

The very essence of primal beauty, it radiates irresistibly under Cartier’s gaze.

Dignified yet fantastical, this is a joyous tribute to these beautiful plants crowned with dew, some of which only flower at night. Seductive at daybreak, they are a luscious blend of the sometimes gentle, sometimes cruel pleasure of duality.

In this sublime, spiky collection, Cartier has overturned convention and redefined jewellery. Geometry, cutouts, proportions: the unapproachable becomes softer and tamely reveals three unexpected faces.

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utting a twist on traditional sources of inspiration, Cartier reveals the secret, distinctive beauty of these fascinating, uncompromising plants that we dare not touch, but observe from afar.

A hardy child of the desert, resistant to freezing nights and arid days, originating from a time before time began. Opening and flowering as it did at the dawn of time, it offers itself up unreservedly in the brilliance of

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A bold, freespirited collection of powerful, sculptural pieces to love unconditionally.

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time keepers The pre-owned watch sector is burgeoning as more and more watch enthusiasts recognise the similarities between the investment in vehicles and in timepieces. Chris Buchanan spoke to Topwatch.

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ike the proverbial ‘death and taxes’ there’s no escaping your capital loss on the purchase of a new car the minute you drive it out of the showroom. You will be tempted by service agreements, balloon payments and warranties but the reality is an up to 40% immediate loss on the purchase price, which takes far longer to recoup than the payback term.

Watches are no different and if you want to trade up on the Rolex you bought brand new a year ago, despite the original paperwork, certificates, etc, you will lose up to 40% on the original premium price you paid for it. High street retailers will sell you the latest in any of the suppliers’ catalogues but there’s little chance they will understand which watches are better as investment pieces and the heritage that will work in your favour in the long term.

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High on the list are the Rolex Sports Daytona, Cartier limited editions and one of the coolest brands at the moment, Audermars Piguet.

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Johan Dreyer, Topwatch’s owner and founder says there’s a lot more to watches than picking it off a catalogue, putting it in your window and hoping somebody buys it. His business is discounted luxury, where the +/- 100 watches on the website are pieces that are in demand, have a track record from an investment point of view and have a more realistic value compared to a brand new timepiece. And where watches have it over cars, is within the movements and tourbillons which, although highly intricate, don’t suffer the same wear and tear of turbochargers, gearboxes and engine components.

Every timepiece Topwatch purchases for resale is tested for its ability to keep time and mechanical integrity, and given a full service, either in their workshop on premises or in the workshop of the specific brand. Wear and tear is assessed through the testing procedures and through the amount of wear on the bracelet which is a good indicator of the “mileage” of a watch. Any trauma the watch may have suffered by being dropped or abused will show up well enough in the testing process, as well as the visible blemishes on the case and bracelet.

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who specialise in the preowned market evolve into the process through their interest in the complexity of the timekeeping process. Johan says new customers are generally the ones who have been hurt by losing that initial value on a new watch and realise the value of pre-owned. They would then become the enthusiast collectors who look for particular watches linked to rarity or demand.

Then there are the ‘rotaters’, often celebrities or socialites who want a new look on their wrist but don’t want to accumulate large collections.

Ultimately Johan believes that, despite being surrounded by the time on every device we look at, the value of a good watch as the predominant jewellery piece worn by men, and a luxury accessory worn by women, is in the heritage of the brands and the precision workmanship that keeps them in time for hundreds of years.

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Wear and tear is assessed through the testing procedures and through the amount of wear on the bracelet which is a good indicator of the “mileage” of a watch.

Cenel Renney, who holds the operation together from marketing to sales and client relationships, says if all the above are in good condition for the age of the watch and the original packaging and certification papers are in order, there are three more criteria that will significantly affect the value – whether it is a limited edition, whether it’s linked to an event or a person or whether it’s a re-issue of an icon.

High on the list are the Rolex Sports Daytona, Cartier limited editions and one of the coolest brands at the moment, Audermars Piguet.

The term “vintage watch” is another element to the pre-owned market where you might want to celebrate an anniversary with the gift of a watch that was released in that specific year.

Johan says you’re guaranteed to obtain a timepiece that is as good as new, and that Topwatch will know the history of the watch which resonates with the history of the occasion.

The typical clientele for these guys

rare find lifestyle

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Television is awash with programmes that have people digging around the attic and the shed hoping to come across an heirloom that’s worth a fortune, but the world of antiques, as charles kerr explains, is a road carefully travelled.

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he adage “one man’s junk, is another man’s treasure” certainly does apply – and there is nothing specific that deems any particular category of antique to be more desirable than another. Generally speaking, however, people normally consider the more obvious categories – namely furniture, silver, porcelain etc. - but an old household item such as a copper pan could just as easily qualify. These days, the more general term “collectable” has found its way into antique circles, and the term generally applies to items which may not necessarily qualify by virtue of being 100 years in age, but certainly meet the requirements of value, rarity, etc.

A good example of this would be an Art Deco bronze by Romanian sculptor Demetre Chiparus. Although only manufactured in the 1920s and 30s, such items are highly desirable by virtue of their rarity and excellent craftsmanship. In Christie’s sale of “Historic Design” in November 2015, a Chiparus bronze figure of an “Exotic Dancer” was sold for £134,500 in spite of an estimate of £80,000 - £120,000 There are no hard ’n fast rules about what to collect, but Charles’s advice to would-be-collectors is always to buy the best that you can afford, and buy things that you like – for, at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with your purchases. Avoid items that are in poor condition or that have had extensive restoration, and always ask your dealer if he will provide a guarantee. Reputable organisations such as the South African Antique Dealers Association (SAADA) of which he is a member – will provide a full buy-back guarantee if an item is proven to be anything other than as described by the dealer on his invoice/ certificate of authenticity.

Although antiques make for an excellent alternative investment, Charles normally cautions the public not to buy for investment alone. As with most other

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Some tips: Antiques can easily be incorporated into a contemporary setting – especially if the interior is very clean and modern with one or two stand-out pieces. Definitely go for a less is more approach – for example, a fabulous burr walnut loo table dressed with a large vase of flowers in an otherwise sparse entrance hall.

Contrary to belief antiques are not always more expensive. The cost of handiwork and the exotic materials used (rare woods/bronze/silver inlay, etc.) make many antique pieces impossible to replicate today at a price that is in line with the cost of the item. Antiques actually offer surprisingly good value when compared with their contemporary counterparts.

In terms of value items where the value has already been established by virtue of their rarity, design, or superb craftsmanship will generally hold their value and will still be sought after in the

future. Avoid the halo effect surrounding certain designer names which come into vogue. Just because it has a “Clarice Cliff” or “Moorcroft” back-stamp doesn’t necessarily mean that it will hold the same value as the fine and rare example that featured on the Antiques Roadshow Always ask your dealer if there has been any restoration – asking him to point out where and when it was done. Avoid pieces which have been excessively or insensitively restored. Rather have and original patina which carries the scars and character of old age than a piece which has been sanded down and freshly re-polished. Ask your dealer if he can give an indication of age, and whether he would be prepared to back that up with a certificate of authenticity. Where pieces come in two parts – for example the top and bottom of a cabinet or book case – check to see that they started out life together and that they are not a later “marriage”.

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investments, there are no guarantees.

Fashions may change, and this year’s coveted object might be next year’s fashion faux pax. Currently the market is in love with “Mid-Century Modern” furniture that would not have made it into an auctioneer’s catalogue a few years ago, whilst the grand furniture from the Victorian era has been somewhat relegated to the wings.

The joy of antique furniture is that you can live with a piece and use it, whilst it (generally) increases in value.

Many pieces of antique furniture are often better crafted, and are hewn from far superior materials than their modern, mass-produced counterparts – solid wood always trumps fibre-board!

Charles says Con Amore tries to cater for all tastes, and are always in stock of both the serious and the not so serious.

The frequently changing stock might at any time include an Anglo-Indian brass bound military chest, merchandised alongside a 1950s G-Plan coffee table or a Victorian burr walnut loo table from the 1860’s. He is a member of SAADA in his personal capacity, and every year participate in the annual SAADA Fair at the Wanderer’s Club – an event which is the jewel in the crown of all antique fairs and markets in this country. The next one will be held 27th-30th October.

PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

McLaren 540C Coupe

McLaren 650S Coupe

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R3 750 000

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37 months

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business

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silver

foxes When looking for guidance or mentorship

within your organisation, to whom do you turn – the person who has been appointed as your direct manager, or the person you feel holds the best knowledge of their subject. Dr John Demartini says you’re better off looking to the latter because they will hold a better natural sphere of influence.

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an organisational structure – there are people who are artificially there because it looks good (the paths that have been put there by the planners) and then there are the ones who get the job done (the organic paths that are the more effective way to get through the park).

But, with any form of influence there’s the necessity to embrace your ‘hero and villain’. Dr Demartini equates it to the Law of Eristic Escalation – whatever one group wants to do to bring order to society, a group of equal size and magnitude will surface to counterbalance it. So it’s the person who can rise up and handle the paradoxical pairs to be both liked and disliked and to see how both of them serve their objectives. “In order to get the job done you will make someone happy and you’re going to pi** somebody off”.

We then broached the subject of responsibility within spheres of influence and whether there’s a

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nfluence, according to Dr Demartini, is an organic development based a person’s perceived ability to find solutions and to get things done. He says organisations have management and mentor structures in place but they’re only likely to be followed if those mentors and managers have garnered respect through their organic success and have earned the right to be seen as a leader.

“We have a desire to expand our sphere of awareness and influence.

Anybody we feel can help us in that area, we’re going to turn to and that’s an organic pathway”. He cites the example of pathways that have been created in public parks by the planners and then there are the natural pathways that people use to more effectively walk through the space. Sometimes, he says, the formal pathways haven’t been used at all and that’s the same thing within

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responsibility that comes with any form of leadership. The word responsibility, says Dr Demartini, is subjective within the value system of different people.

You will act responsibly in your parents’ value system if you abide by their rules and in your company’s value system if you abide by the company’s rules.

If you start your own company and do things by your own rules you run the risk of being labelled irresponsible by those who don’t share your values.

“You’re only responsible to those whom you subordinate to at each level. Eventually you will transcend those levels so you’re responsible only to those values that you have not yet transcended above. So the term

responsibility is a relative term based on whom you’re subordinating to and whom you’ve transcended.”

To illustrate the offset between responsibility and human values Dr Demartini talks about the old subject of a better career opportunity. We all have a responsibility to our employers to get the job done to the best of our ability and, in turn, receive payment for that job. If another company comes along and offers more money and benefits, the responsibility shifts from the company you work for to yourself and your best interests.

So, ultimately, it boils down to what gives you more advantage over disadvantage as to where your

If you start your own company and do things by your own rules you run the risk of being labelled irresponsible by those who don’t share your values.

responsibility will lie. “I know nobody’s going to be honest with me unless I give them more advantage than disadvantage by being honest. I know no one is going to be loyal to me unless they perceive there’s going to be more advantage than disadvantage to playing that role”, he says.

When it comes to influence and mentorship there are things that might not add up in terms of responsibility and character – just as there are negative traits to great leaders but because someone showed a responsibility to themselves, does that make them a bad person? Corruption, says Dr Demartini, is never the title somebody gives if they’re getting an advantage out of the behaviour. They only label it corruption when they feel they’re being screwed by the behaviour.

Founder of the Demartini Institute, International best-selling author, educator and consultant

www.dr.demartini.com

w w w.aegirper formanceyachts.co.za | info@aegirper formanceyachts.co.za frederic@neoaegir.co.za +27 (0)21 554 1743 | john: 072 683 2660 | frederic: 072 244 1982 Head office: Cape Town – South Africa | Service points: France & Italy

Authorised Dealer

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feature

rolling into the future Pedro Carneiro looks at a vision for a

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luxury icon into the next 100 years.

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wonder if Sir Henry Royce and Charles Rolls had ever envisioned back in 1906 that after 110 years of building the best car in the world, Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 was today delivering the dream of an effortless future.

This Vision Vehicle is one of four announced by the BMW Group in Munich back in March, as it launched its centenary celebrations – The Next 100 Years. For Rolls-Royce it’s the end of the seventh generation Phantom and it also represents the completion of the first phase of the Rolls-Royce brand’s renaissance under the BMW Group custodianship.

The success of Phantom, Ghost, Wraith and now Dawn serves as the foundation for a bold new chapter.

This highly successful era for what is considered the world’s most celebrated luxury brand has been driven by a restless commitment to always looking forward.

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feature

involve themselves even more in the design of the shape, size and silhouette of their personal Rolls-Royce vision.

For the 105 years since her creation in 1911, modelled by the sculptor and artist Charles Sykes, on Eleanor Thornton, who may have been the

model for his Spirit of Ecstasy, has silently guided every Rolls-Royce and its owner through the momentous events of their lives. She has stood as an elegant presence at some of history’s most notable events. Today, the voice of Eleanor inhabits the Rolls-Royce Vision

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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have a vision and that vision is the 103EX. This is the first ever vision car and it combines their most forward-thinking innovations with a host of previously unseen technologies.

This is the future of luxury mobility, the pinnacle of effortless autonomous travel.

The car is a sanctuary of calm, gliding silently though the cities of tomorrow. A truly unique vision of the future designed like a sculpture, with one seamless surface whose beauty can be viewed from every angle. The future belongs to those who create it, a unique work of art with lines that glow with warmth, romance and opulence. A unique sculpture that’s pure automotive haut couture.

Enter the grand sanctuary. Sink back into the expanses of rare silk and be inspired. The interior space is designed to be a retreat from the world, evoking a feeling of privacy, warmth and ultimate relaxation. The finely-crafted Rolls-Royce clock is the only analogue element in the 103EX – a reminder that the ultimate luxury in life is time. The elegantly hidden wheels of the 103EX give the impression of floating, marrying grand dimensions with lightness. And in the spirit of great coach built cars of the past, this “Effortless Journey”,is enhanced by the hallmark Rolls-Royce ‘magic carpet ride'. Rolls-Royce will create the chassis of the future, hand-built from the most advanced materials and powered by zero emissions drivetrain and advanced suspension that sees the vehicle almost skim across the road surface. Advanced technologies will enable customers to

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The future belongs to those who create it, a unique work of art with lines that glow with warmth, romance and opulence.

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Next 100, delivering the dream of an effortless future to her owners. Inside 103EX, the Spirit of Ecstasy comes to life. Eleanor becomes the virtual assistant and chauffeur, freeing you of all effort and encumbrance. Imbued with her own artificial intelligence, she works intuitively to advise her owners on itineraries, schedules and options before they leave their residence, reminding about appointments and tasks and making suggestions to ease any anticipated impediments. She brings the car around when her passengers are ready to travel and, whilst conveying her chargers to their next destination, helpfully but discreetly makes suggestions and recommendations, briefing them ahead of their arrival so they are ready to ‘perform’.

And ever vigilant, ‘Eleanor’ safely delivers her passengers to their destination, having already predicted the situation and surroundings that wait them.

The Hand-cut lead crystal Spirit of Ecstasy glows from within. A beacon of luxury, leading you forward into the future.

Who would have thought that from the humble beginnings as an electrical pioneer, Sir Henry Royce together with a different pioneer of motoring and aviation Charles Rolls would co-found the biggest luxury brand company in the world and pioneer the future.

Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist design it. The Rolls-Royce Vision Next 100 is here.

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property

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golden

dawn Cape Town can be seen as the Monaco of the Southern Hemisphere, boasting some of the world’s most pristine and scenic coastlines. It’s no secret that Bernie Ecclestone would like to see a F1 Grand Prix in Cape Town – which presents a cosmopolitan lifestyle in a city that seamlessly pairs with its natural beauty, by: Carly bailey natasen PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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A

urum shapes the future of luxury living with their upmarket apartments and will establish its presence against the scenic backdrop of Lion’s Head, in Bantry Bay. There is a substantial increase in property values in the Atlantic seaboard (Clifton, Bantry Bay and Camps Bay area). Recently a home was sold for R290 million, with several transactions in these locations selling for in the region of R100 million. Furthermore, there is an increasing uptake by foreign investors, recognising the tremendous value for money that property investment in Cape Town represents. For example, R25million translates to £1,2 million approximately (1.6 million dollars), so in terms of return on investment for a relatively low outlay, you are attaining properties with value five to ten times the price when compared other locations globally.

Closing your eyes and picturing your dream home does not just consist of a construction made from brick and mortar. It is the ability to shape your life around a modern lifestyle and peaceful environment. Aurum’s vision and mission is to define a luxury lifestyle by encompassing all the areas of life.

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& Olufsen. Indeed, the continent has yet to see a development of this calibre.

A retail area below the residential component enhances the lifestyles for residence, with a luxury spa, an upmarket bistro and a 24-hour concierge and a valet service.

The development is targeted seamlessly at residents who will use their acquisition as a permanent abode, a holiday location or merely for investment purposes, the benefits will be yielded no matter what your intention, and it is Cape Town after all, you could never go wrong with property in this part of the most beautiful city on the continent.

Aurum is a Latin word meaning ‘shining dawn’, while Au is the symbol for gold. Taken together, it is a name that instantly conveys the scintillating beauty of this location, along with a world-class construction and artistic interiors.

Aurum will consist of two sides: eight open-plan Presidential Residences and fifteen Luxury Residences both will enjoy spectacular ocean views and superb designer specifications. The interior has been designed with chic compositions and an eye for modern artistry that takes advantage of the incredible views. With Armani Dada designer kitchens, fittings

by Molteni & C, Gessi bathroom fittings, designer appliances from Gaggenau and the sound and visual systems from Bang PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCES

AHSAN HASSAN DARVESH

“

“

Our vision is to combine opulence and nature to culminate in lifestyle artistry.

LUXURY RESIDENCES

Presidential Residences from R40m and Luxury Residences from R12m M: +27 81 842 0937 | E: aurumsa.darealty@darvesh.com The AURUM project is currently in planning and development phase and the final product may differ from the artist’s impressions/pictures depicted

100168 ADMAKERS.COM

darealty.com/aurum

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fashion

skin

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Vanessa Gounden presents Artivism for Breast Cancer – a collection for Spring/Summer ’16.

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anessa combines original artworks and photography to create highly individual and contemporary prints. Her work is easily distinguished by its attention to detail and luxurious fabrics. Also signature to the brand and present in every collection is the Vanessa Trench, a coat dress cut to a strong classic

feminine silhouette.

With a strong sense of citizenship and responsibility, Vanessa is committed to uncover and sponsor new artists as well as train and employ craftsmen in fine skills and pattern making.

Artistry and techniques already used in Vanessa Gounden creations have revived bygone textile skills and provided employment to local artisans not only in her South African based Atelier but in various parts of the world where unique talent is discovered and nurtured.

Artivism for Breast Cancer is collaboration between designer Vanessa Gounden, artist Amita Makan and Reach for Recovery, a vital breast cancer support group. These are three very different sectors – fashion, visual arts and care – and their partnership establishes a model that sees these three international practitioners work together to bring about positive, meaningful and proactive change.

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For the collaboration, Makan produced a series of artworks in fabric, a decision she writes is based on the fact that “Fabric is reminiscent of skin – sensual, porous, and vulnerable to time,” and further that “The art-making process combined with the repetitive act of cutting threads, fabrics, and obsessive stitching have strong associations to the disease of breast cancer.”

Her use of cotton gauze and silk threads provide further association with surgical suturing. Makan’s artworks form three groups: Waiting, Ravaged Butterflies and Links and Chains.

Together these provide a narrative, which in many ways becomes the account of all women who experience this form of pain.

Makan’s chronicle provides the conceptual inspiration and visual reference for Vanessa Gounden’s new range of garment designs.

Using digital tools, Gounden reinterprets Makan’s works as prints on garments and, in this way, these narratives literally become wearable art.

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“The art-making process combined with the repetitive act of cutting threads, fabrics, and obsessive stitching have strong associations to the disease of breast cancer.�

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made to order

Décolleté Celebrate the special uniqueness that is you

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by customising your ultimate dream shoe.

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hy does being unique matter?

Since there is no one who is identical to you, why not have a designer pair of shoes that is truly you?

Selecting will be the hardest part with 19 customised styles, 90 colours and materials, three sole colours, and 7 heel heights, you can let your imagination run wild! Prada made-to-order gives any shoe fanatic the opportunity to combine an Italian brand label with their own initials below the designer logo.

The natural human inclination is to fit in. Standing out and being unique can make it hard to fit in, but why not be bold and step out of your comfort zone with extensive selection of materials available - calfskin in the brushed and metal versions, leopard print pony, and python and Ayers amongst the fine leathers.

Beyond the quick rush provided by making a purchase, an interactive shopping experience where you can be part of the design process, is truly special. People tend to crave a buying experience that is more engaging than merely choosing and swiping your card. In this instance you get a little bit of both - The excitement of designing something really beautiful and then getting to enjoy the use of it afterwards. “Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.� ~ Cecil Beaton

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on the

red carpet Integrating all fashion capital corners of the globe, Red Carpet Fashion Show goes global for their sixth annual production, in partnership with Prestige Magazine and DSTV Fashion One.

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aking a leap into the international arena, the Red Carpet Concepts production will be held on Saturday, 17 September 2016 at The Bay Hotel in Camps Bay in the stylish beachside restaurant, Tides. Showcasing a mix of some of the world’s finest designer brands, guests can expect to see runway fashion from Devernois (France), Max Mara (Italy), Hackett London, Juicy Couture (USA) and Vilebrequin (Spain), to name a few. Together with SA’s King of Couture Jacques Le Grange and rising fashion powerhouses House of Hedley, BeachCult (known for her showstopper run in Africa Fashion Week London and MBFW Joburg), The Hive (recently featured at Cannes Film Festival and CTFW) and OnTrend. Designer eyewear, Etnia Barcelona is also set to make a few appearances.

International TV News Anchor and Radio Presenter, Jen Su will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening and will undoubtedly entertain guests with her incredible charm. With a strong technical team made up of leading high-end technical equipment specialists, Kilowatt AV and New York and SA Fashion Week’s music producer, Dino Moran, together they will set the standard for an international production throughout.

Mixing fashion and art is something Jade Allen, Director of Red Carpet Concepts has an eye for, bringing together a sophisticated event with a holistic approach. Allen has brought on board two incredible artists, Kelly John Gough and Natasja de Wet, creating focal points around the venue with their

extravagant artwork.

Sandy B Private Beach Club will welcome guests as they arrive and complimentary gourmet canapés from Mediterranean Delicacies and wine and Method Cap de Classic sparkling wines from Deetlefs, will be served.

Accompanying the decadent welcoming cuisine and drinks is local South African Artist The LoneRaynger, setting the tone for the evening. Guest will soon after be ushered to Tides where the fashion show will commence and each designer will show off their pieces with much anticipation and poise. During intermitted intervals dancers from Tulu

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Entertainment will embrace the runway with elegant performances ensuring every aspect of RCFS2016 is on a cutting-edge international standard. Intervals will also be used to top up champagne glasses because this fashion show has the freedom to eradicate the norm and invites guests to take part in an experience.

RCFS2016 has partnered with Relate and upon arrival each guest will receive a complimentary custom RCFS2016 Relate bracelet where all proceeds will go to The Endangered Wildlife Trust for the Dugong Project, the Rhino Project and Cheetah Project as well as the Save The Elephants Project, ensuring RCFS2016 is giving back and creating an event that not only showcases couture but also acknowledges the incredible wildlife of South Africa and surrounds.

Guests are invited to end the evening at Sandy B Private Beach Club for the after party where top SA DJs, Ian Skene and Dino Moran will perform the night away. Each guest will walk away with a prestigious gift bag filled with special goodies to commemorate the evening.

The Bay Hotel is RCFS2016’s official accommodation partner and is offering guests exclusive accommodation rates from R840 per night through Village N Life. Tickets for the show can be purchased through Quicket for R695 and VVIP tickets are R1000.

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travel

a matter of

taste Beauty is produced by the pleasing appearance

and good taste of the whole, and by the dimensions of all the parts being duly proportioned to each other - Vitruvius

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by: Carly bailey natasen

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here are concepts in life that we can’t exactly grasp, we can maybe just get a tiny glimpse to a certain extent, but then as we are about to define it, it simply refuses to be boxed. Love would probably be one of these instances. Then there is taste and beauty. It is always interesting to see how people perceive a tasteful event or something that is “done in taste�, because beauty at the end of the day is in the eye of the beholder.

Driving through Leeu Estate one cannot help but notice the attention to detail - from the well-manicured gardens to the unique architecture. It makes you want to meet the person behind it all, just picturing a man with immaculate taste and who just demands the best. Speaking to the staff themselves, you can just hear that Mister Singh is a man that is not only a reputable business man, but appreciates the finer things in life.

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Franschhoek is a region that speaks the currency of opulence. With 52 wine farms and 48 restaurants, some of the most renowned wines and gourmet cuisine are synonymous with the area. It is easy to understand why foreigners would visit South Africa and fall in love with this quaint little town.

When Analth Singh, a business man from India, arrived in South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World CUP, it was no surprise that he decided to have a piece of this beautiful land to call his own.

Singh bought three adjoining historic farm properties (Dieu DonnĂŠ, Klein Dassenberg, and Von Ortloff) within a year and the Leeu Collection was born.

Leeu (meaning lion) and his own family name Singh, which is the Sanskrit for lion, were the perfect links to associate him with the property.

His taste doesn’t just encompass a beautiful property, but the detail extends to his fine taste in art. He handpicked all the sculptures himself that you can view

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all over the properties standing proudly larger than life. These bronze structures were crafted by South African artist Deborah Bell. His collections include inspiring art from Gandhi and Nelson Mandela and are just a few of the pieces he curated from all over the world.

The Leeu House is the latest addition to the Leeu Family (the first being Le Quartier Francais, also in Franschhoek) and boasts 12 private rooms and suites with spectacular views of the Franschhoek valley. Positioned between the mountainside and river it is perfect for a private hideaway.

Even though the property is a stones throw away from the CBD of Franschhoek, there is more than enough reason to stay on the property itself: the Wine Studio. Designed by the eminent Spanish Architect, Tomeu Esteva, the Mullineux & Leeu team sommeliers

guide guests in the finer nuances of these handcrafted wines and offer a truly informative wine experience. All the Leeu Properties house the award winning portfolio of The Millineux & Leeu Family wine collection. Chris and Andrea Mullineux are the talented husbandand-wife winemaking team behind it all.

Using grapes that are sourced exclusively from vineyards in the Swartland, Leeu Estates is also home to a number of the newer vineyards.

George Clooney said “you can’t legislate good taste.” In this instance you most definitely can when the Leeu’s Estate has a mantra of attention to detail. Maybe taste is not something we should stick into boxes, maybe it is just a feeling, like love. It is something you need to experience – like sitting on the scenic terrace with a glass of wine looking at a beautiful sunset.

Maybe taste is not something we should stick into boxes, maybe it is just a feeling, like love.

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flavour PRESTIGE

food & wine

par excellence

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Vivien and Carly Natasen have a date night at the Tasting Room.

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t was the first time in ages that we went through to the Tasting Room in Franschhoek having generally preferred the lazy afternoon lunches on the La Quartier Francais deck looking onto the beautiful garden and the scenic mountains behind. On a recent overnight trip to Leeu Estates in Franschhoek, we were treated to a romantic dinner at the restaurant, also forming part of the Leeu Estates portfolio.

The dĂŠcor is quite contemporary against the backdrop of everything else in the area, yet deliberately European in ambience, I suppose to make tourists feel at home as most of their clientele appear to be foreign. The Tasting Room is famous for its South African infused flavours into its courses without appearing to be too complicated.

Fine dining includes the ability to evoke more than one sense (taste) in the person dining. The Tasting Room masterfully combines the theatrics

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of watrons, the visual layouts in presentation, the amazing aromas and finally, the taste, to get the diner worked up into an experience. Some of the dishes required completion at the table or the diner to do “some work” in getting to the end product, a clever touch.

The smartest move we felt though, was that in the dinner for two, most times we were served different dishes.

The waitron had said that this was based on different palates between men and women – I didn’t buy that story.

However, what that did achieve was a

lot of sharing of food between us making us feel more at home in the venue as well as adding to the experience. Of course, we elected to go with the pairing of the courses with local wines – Viva South Africa! The pairings were well thought out and were spot on.

There were several favourite elements in the courses like the starter homemade breads arriving baked in a Lucky Star fish tin. If you are ever in Franschhoek, or even Cape Town, a visit to Tasting Room is always on the cards and is always well worth it.

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a delectable

luxury

There are luxury safaris and then there are luxury safaris that exceed not only in accommodation and wildlife viewing, but also in food. Vanessa Stephen had the best of all three at Zarafa Lodge in Botswana.

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safari

by: Vanessa stephen pictures by: beverly joubert

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t was time to head out on the afternoon game drive but I was eyeing the tower of mini éclairs smothered in white chocolate and vibrant nasturtiums. I felt that it really made sense to try another one – just to be sure that the first two were that sumptuous. Besides, it would be another couple of hours before we would be offered more imaginative snacks whilst out in a scenic spot with vivid, setting sun.

I had been won over by Zarafa, not simply because of the pure spacious, luxury of the camp and fine attention to detail, but also because of their Chef, Pierre van Zyl. He’d had two goals during the years that he’s worked for Great Plains Conservation: to cook for Botswana’s president and to win the coveted Safari Award for best safari cuisine. In the last year he’d achieved both of these goals and I was looking forward to seeing what came out of the kitchen in this camp so very far away from any shop or market.

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As you would expect from a Relais & Chateaux property, Zarafa is the epitome of luxury and is Great Plains Conservation’s flagship camp. Set on the Zibadianja lagoon in northern Botswana’s Linyanti area, it is part of the Selinda Reserve, a reserve well known for its packs of painted dogs and ridiculously relaxed leopards. Privacy is key with only four tented villas available - and what tents they are. A vast lounge leads to the bedroom with airconditioning, an enormous 4-poster bed, copper bath and shower. For cold winter nights, there’s a large fireplace and if the day is warm, an outdoor shower will spray you with multiple jets of water.

Afternoons are best spent on the deck by the plunge pool looking out over the lagoon with a beverage of your choosing.

There’s wi-fi if you need, a library of wildlife guides and photographic books and a pair of Swarovski binoculars to check if that blob in the distance is in fact a leopard fighting a giant python or a tree stump. If you’re keen to try your hand at wildlife photography, there’s also high-end camera gear for your use.

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Best of all, the animals have settled and ignore the lone vehicle moving through the plains, letting us get close to them for those special photos.

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Surreptitiously grabbing one last éclair, we headed out, binoculars and a Canon 5D MKII with 100-400mm lens in tow, to experience the pristine wilderness on the afternoon’s game drive.

Of course anything can happen out in the bush and I’ve experienced enough days without big cat sightings in my time to have reasonable expectations. However, had I had unreasonable expectations I would still have been blown away. The wildlife is phenomenal. Only 10 years ago the Selinda Reserve was a hunting property and the numbers of animals were low. Elephants would hurry through in the dry season, there were no buffalo and only a handful of lions. Zebras and tsessebe were virtually gone. When Great Plains Conservation took over, hunting stopped immediately. Today there are between 5000 and 7000 elephants, more than 1000 buffalo, giraffe roam everywhere and zebras and tsessebe have recovered. There are three big prides of lion, painted dogs denning and

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It was manager Antoinette’s specialty to pair the best wines with her husband’s culinary creations. regular sightings of leopard. Best of all, the animals have settled and ignore the lone vehicle moving through the plains, letting us get close to them for those special photos.

The guides seem to have an inbuilt setting that lets them know where the action is. We watched endangered painted dogs on the hunt, lions narrowly missing an ambushed warthog and a young leopard used our car as a shield before running up a tree like smoke and grabbing a squirrel. I’d never experienced wildlife like it.

As the sun began to set, the car parked in an open plain and a shelf was lowered from its front. This was soon laden with exquisite nibbles and drinks and we could immerse ourselves in this beautiful landscape and contemplate the wonders that we had seen as the crickets began to chirp, birds sang their last songs of the day and the first of billions of stars shone.

I was trying not to eat all the snacks as Pierre had told us that he would be

preparing a special seven-course tasting menu, which would be carefully paired with fine wines from South Africa.

In keeping with Zarafa’s ethical, low impact stance with all focus on conservation, wines served would themselves be ethically produced or would raise funds for conservation initiatives without any compromise on quality. It was manager Antoinette’s specialty to pair the best wines with her husband’s culinary creations.

Back on the main deck of Zarafa, lanterns warmed the area, the giggles of hyenas floated in on the warm evening breeze and the first of the night’s courses was presented – a mojito like no other. A transparent ball - like a large wobbling marble was placed in front of us. It burst on the tongue with a cool, minty freshness and a quiet tang of alcohol.

Our palettes were set. Zuccini soup with tempura and Oak Valley Mountain Reserve 2011 was followed by a cured duck and goat’s cheese salad with an incredible vanilla seed dressing paired

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with Thelema Sutherland Riesling 2013. Delicious crispy skinned tilapia, parmesan potatoes and a glass of Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2014 was then outdone by roasted quail and mushroom risotto complemented by Iona Mr P Pinot Noir 2014. A deconstructed apple crumble and Tierhoek Straw Wine further sweetened the end of a fine evening.

Sated, happy and looking forward to the next day, we were guided back to our villa, where we found the bath surrounded by candles, scented bubbles piled high. It appeared that we would never run out of luxurious surprises here.

Settling into the warm water, it became obvious that while Zarafa may have won numerous awards over the years, they now most definitely had my seal of approval too.

For more information visit www. greatplainsconservation.com or email info@greatplainsconservation.com to book.

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photos: Valentin Valkov / MarinaDa / Shutterstock.com

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monte carlo The first three words that enter my mind

when I think about Monte Carlo are royalty, glamour and speed – the ultimate expressions of luxury. This is no surprise, since Mister Bond himself is a frequent visitor to the famous Monte Carlo casino in “Never say never again”, “Golden Eye” and “Casino Royale”. by: Carly bailey natasen

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arrived, literally.

A few days before the event we took a drive through the actual track, trying to picture the euphoric feeling the drivers will experience in a few days’ time on the same road. For drivers, this specific track distinguishes between the good and the great, since it leaves no margin for error. The streets are very narrow with tight corners and there is little opportunity to overtake and therefore the qualifying position is extremely important. Funny enough, Monaco boasts 300 sunny days a year, yet every final it often rains and promises a very thrilling race – this year was no different.

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omehow the Monaco Grand prix just stands alone from the sport from which it was born. I would say there are a few bucket list items on the Prestige calendar, but when it comes to racing there are only three events that form part of the “Holy Trinity” of motorsport: The Indianapolis 500, Le Mans 24 hours and the Formula One Grand Prix in Monte Carlo.

The Monaco Grand Prix has been part of the calendar since 1955 which gives drivers and spectators the sense that they have

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We viewed the qualifying session from the Mercedes apartment directly overhead the start/finish line, a prime position. It is only with the benefit of the screens and the live view of the track coupled with the Mercedes management chewing their fingernails around us that one gets to experience the true adrenalin of F1, short of being a driver or team member.

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Aristocrats from all over Europe used to travel to the South of France “To take in the air and recuperate”. For spectators, it is one of the greatest social events on the calendar. It’s not unusual to sit next to some of the world’s biggest celebrities. This year some the familiar faces were Patrick Dempsey and Justin Bieber alongside some of the motoring legends of yester year.

For the petrol heads, the drivers themselves are more of a draw card though, the true celebrities. We were privileged to be invited on a private tour of the pits and the Mercedes Benz “motor home” which is really the hospitality for drivers, teams and VVIP guests, and even bumped into Niki Lauda outside the venue. It was also interesting to note the correlation between teams’ budgets, performance in the championship and the quality and size of the motor home facilities - at this rate Alonso will be sitting in a cubicle next to the toilets next year. The pit visit was a treat in itself gaining insight into car set up and preparation prior to the qualifying and main races. With Mercedes Benz leading the championship and with the unpredictability of the Monaco GP, there was a sense of nervousness in the camp, especially with the improvements in vehicle and driver performance that have been seen recently in some of the other teams.

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himself. Being a Mercedes hospitality venue, it was packed with VIPs and celebrities. IWC brand ambassador Rosamund Pike was also present as a guest on the yacht, who was surprisingly quite approachable, so much so that we had an animated discussion around Formula One and her movie “Gone Girl”.

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With Monaco’s coastal position, it is home to some of the world’s most expensive yachts that make this one of the most beautiful harbours with its dramatic cliffs as a backdrop to the Grand Prix. The yacht we viewed the actual race from, Mariu, is owned by Giorgio Armani, which he designed

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The yacht we viewed the actual race from, Mariu, is owned by Giorgio Armani, which he designed himself.

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The race itself is a difficult one to follow if one does not have access to view one of the large screens as the drama seems to always unfold on specific corners or in the pits. As predicted, there were splashes of rain and the race started under a safety car. A bit of tyre confusion in the Red Bull pits gave Hamilton a tiny window that he quickly capitalised on to secure the lead and the race. Being on the winning yacht just made it a little bit more special as Mercedes hadn’t expected to win this race, but we

received a lesson in tenacity again from Lewis Hamilton. We were even treated to a winning melody of the horns of our yacht.

Teams always manage to make it a little bit more exciting by buzzing up the hype. Mercedes Benz introduced the cigarette boat this year with Lewis Hamilton at the helm (Get the full story on page 86) and Silver Arrows Marine cruiser being part of Nico Rosberg’s toy collection, again keeping up the rivalry that has permeated through this year’s championship.

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The ideal thing being based in Monaco is that it is so central. You can have breakfast in Italy, lunch in Monaco and dinner in France, all in a radius of 25km. Most of the streets are cordoned off during this period and it makes it very difficult to get around if one is unfamiliar with the closures. Since the Grand Prix is only three days, it is ideal to stay in a neighbouring town like Nice or St Tropez where one can enjoy the freshness of country living without the madding crowds.

Securing a good restaurant in Monaco is also very difficult to say the least as all the good ones are generally fully booked.

However, there are some boutique holesin-the-wall with great chefs that one could find with some help of the internet or one of the apps like Trip Advisor.

Shopping in Monaco is also great as all the major brands have a presence there and one usually can pick up a few exclusive and unique pieces that are not generally available in other locations.

Monaco would not be Monaco unless one ventures into the Casino for a bit of a flutter as well.

Whether you are a petrol head F1 fan or just there to enjoy a great vibe, the Grand Prix Monaco is a glamorous event with an abundance of speed.

Monaco would not be Monaco unless one ventures into the Casino for a bit of a flutter as well.

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Conceived in New York, designed in Toronto and made in Cape Town, Coco Safar combines the finest Michelin-star quality patisserie, baked goods and a cafĂŠ style casual food, paired with world class Third Wave coffee and cold brew.

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no need to exist.”

Yet, it wasn’t quite that simple... the brand took over 10 years of hard work, research and development, to get to where it is today - mainly because of the multi-layered approach of the brand.

Everything that Coco Safar touches is of outstanding quality, every product pushes the boundaries of innovation and excellence. “It’s about daily escapism; an escape from the ordinary”, enthuses co-founder Sirois, who is integral to the creative direction of the brand.

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Sirois’s epicurean passion for a unique café experience that combines equally great food and coffee, saw them opening a string of cafés in Montreal, Toronto and New York as part of an insightful street level R&D process to shape and refine the business model and brand identity.

“It has always been about excellence, authenticity and relevance”, says cofounder Liebenberg, “and the drive to be unique. If you’re not relevant and you can’t bring a distinctly new consumer experience and product offering, you have

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C

oco Safar is the culmination of a lifetime of journeys and discoveries in the café, coffee, patisserie industries for the entrepreneurial visionaries behind this highly innovative, multi-sensory consumer experience.

Both creative and entrepreneurial at heart, Wilhelm Liebenberg and Caroline

food & wine

From custom fixtures, designer handcrafted wood and linen counters filled with beautiful, bespoke boxes of coffee and Rooibos capsules, the Coco Safar Capsule Emporium is like none other.

For the first time, Third Wave coffee has made its way into the inside of a capsule, thanks to Coco Safar. The revolutionary capsules make use of the finest grade, small batch and microroasted coffee, meticulously sourced from the best producers around the globe.

Previously reserved only for coffee snobs in grungy espresso bars, consumers can now enjoy the taste and quality of Third Wave quality coffee in the comfort of their own homes, or in Coco Safar’s luxurious cafés. Each capsule has further been sealed in high barrier-proof sachet, ensuring that the coffee is as fresh as the day it was roasted – a fact that’s evident by the incredible aroma released when opening a Coco Safar capsule sachet.

The revolutionary capsules make use of the finest grade, small batch and micro-roasted coffee, meticulously sourced from the best producers around the globe.

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The entry-level capsules come in the form of the City Roast collection with colourful cinematic boxes. Like the iconic cities that have influenced the founders and their travels, each blend is inspired by the evocative characteristics of its particular city, whether it’s the smooth and gripping Havana, the sleek and elegant Saint Tropez, or the boisterous and gutsy Jakarta, there’s a blend that suits everyone’s taste. For the more discerning, there are also the exclusive luxury collections, which consist of specially sourced and unique coffees like limited edition Cup of Excellence from micro-lots bought on auction and top graded rare coffee beans individually merchandised.

The red and green Rooibos capsules, aptly named Kaapstad and Stellenbosch, have a special proprietary and secret blend of spice-infused maple syrup, crystalised via a complex process, to elevate the flavour of the Rooibos in ways never thought possible. “We are incredibly proud of our Rooibos capsules. It’s taken years of research and development to get it to this point,

and the result is phenomenal”, says Liebenberg, even ensuring them the support of Rooibos Limited, the world’s leading supplier and exporter of Rooibos tea.

The good news is that all Coco Safar coffee and Rooibos capsules are completely compatible with Nespresso systems available on the market.

No detail has been overlooked when it comes to the ambience of the Coco Safar Café and Espresso Bar, or the comfort of its patrons. From the cinematic lighting, to the music, to the seating, every aspect has been crafted to ensure a truly

indulgent experience. And the focal point is an espresso machine by Kees van der Westen of the Netherlands, considered to be the finest in the world.

Coco Safar is an authentic, understated luxury café experience, whether you have a few hours to spend, a few minutes to grab a great coffee and a proper croissant to go or want to take away unique and awesome patisserie or a special dessert experience to enjoy back home.

For more information, visit Coco Safar at www.cocosafar.com or at the store in Cavendish Square, Cape Town.

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haute cuisine Seven years ago a restaurant opened in Dunkeld in Johannesburg and called itself DW eleven-13 and the first question on everyone’s lips was “why DW eleven-13,?”. Chris Buchanan went for lunch with a special twist and asked the same question.

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t was the brainchild of Marthinus Ferreira who decided to reference the suburb of Dunkeld West and the shop numbers 11-13 of the shopping centre it occupied and it made perfect sense to him because that’s how addresses are referenced in London. The name has also created a number of spelling derivatives for itself, referred in media as DW 11-13, Dw Eleven-13, DW ELEVEN -13, or dw eleven-13 as it’s presented on the restaurant website. We’ll call it DW.

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He was probably ahead of the time when DW first opened but that influence and constant edging of the boundary are what put this restaurant and chef consistently among South Africa’s finest.

In the seven years it’s built up such a following and reputation that it seems to have been around for a lot longer, almost more of an institution in the Johannesburg food landscape and consistently in the top 20 restaurants in the country. The first few years were a bit shaky as Marthinus pushed for innovative food in a climate where tastes were still comfortable with the traditional. Mainstream media changed that with programmes like Masterchef and the advent of food bloggers and

DW rode the crest of the new food wave although the kitchen had been doing it for some time.

Marthinus spent his formative cooking years in the Michelin star kitchens of some of the UK’s finest culinary masters developing techniques that lift food into the arts in terms of presentation and the innovative use of ingredients. He was probably ahead of the time when DW first opened but that influence and constant edging of the boundary are what put this restaurant

and chef consistently among South Africa’s finest.

There’s not much in the way of convention where this chef is involved so we were invited to a tasting of his best dishes to celebrate seven years………. not five or ten, but seven. He talked us through the courses and, despite the fact that he’s reached somewhat of a celebrity status on Ultimate Braaimaster, this is a chef who prefers to be in the kitchen until you get him really talking about his thinking with his dishes.

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These are Marthinus’s top dishes of the last seven years: 2009 – Curry-cured Norwegian salmon with pickled apple and cucumber, with oat crumble served as a snack. The beauty of this dish is the presentation on crispy salmon skin and a bed of sea pebbles.

2010 – Crab cocktail with corn sorbet served beautifully in a glass jar and is a taste and colour sensation – paired with Domaine Grier French sparkling wine, not from Champagne.

2011 – Fricassees of langoustine and quail not on our menu.

2012 – White button mushroom risotto with truffle oil, shaved raw mushrooms, parmesan and porcini powder also served as a snack.

2013 – Chocolate ganache with coconut sorbet and banana ice-cream and hot peanut butter, not on our menu.

There’s not much in the way of convention where this chef is involved so we were invited to a tasting of his best dishes to celebrate seven years… not five or ten, but seven.

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2014 – Black wildebeest with pumpkin seed crumble, celeriac puree, sweet potato tarte tatin and an apricot jus which was remarkably smokey on the palate and soft in texture and paired magnificently with a 2013 Eenzaamheid Pinotage.

2015 – Crispy polenta balls served with kale, cauliflower spume. The dish of the day in my book served in a rustic wooden bowl to complement the polenta and paired with a 2011 Oak Valley Mountain Reserve White Blend.

2016 – Pork belly with slaphakskeentjies, candied carrots, smoked potato, roasted apple puree and pork jus. Not on the menu on the day.

2016 – White chocolate ganache with honeycomb, burnt meringue, lemon curd and thyme and honey ice-cream which had a savoury surprise in all the sweetness and went down well with a De Krans Cape Tawny.

We ended the meal with petit fours and coffee, wandering why Johannesburg hasn’t embraced DW as Cape Town has its restaurants that strive to innovate in cuisine and emulate the Michelin standards for food. Marthinus is definitely not the boisterous celebrity chef we’re used to seeing on television, he seems more of an introvert by nature, but where his food is concerned, he shouts out loud and expresses himself without compromise.

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The last century on planet Earth has been a busy one with a juxtaposition of immense human suffering and conflict, against the goodness of the human spirt and the great technological leaps of flight, computers and advancement in medical science.

As for the next 100 years, Louis XIII Cognac has embarked on a unique project with an artistic visionary to predict its outcome.

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saw John Malkovich on the Graham Norton Show. He seemed to enjoy the scratching of the surface and the camp, overplayed innuendo of the occasion but was emphatically uncomfortable with talking about himself and his thespian genius. It struck me like a freight train his communication and demeanour a level above the average intellect, almost, but not entirely bored with the mediocrity of a populist British television talk show.

He said he had never watched any film in which he had starred, not one minute of the more than 70 movies that bear his name in the credits. Fitting then that he partnered with Remy Martin’s Louis XIII Cognac to make a film no one will see for 100 years.

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The legacy of Louis XIII and the eau-de-vie that it contains stretches way back into the past with cellar masters selecting the best dozen or so out of the 800 to 1000 samples presented to them by distillers between the months of January and March each year. The youngest eau-de-vie to finally make the blend in a bottle of Louis XIII will be 40 years old and the oldest more than a century interacting with the wood in its cask.

This laid the creative foundation for Malkovich and director Robert Rodriguez to conceive of ‘100 Years – The Movie You Will Never See’, which envisions our planet 100 years from now and which has been locked in a safe that will open automatically on 18 November 2115 – no combination code or key, just a timed mechanism scheduled to reveal its contents whether humanity is still around to watch it or not. So, just as a cellar master will never taste the final blend of Louis XIII that contains their eau-devie selections, the cast and crew will never see the final cut of ‘100 Years’.

The guests who were invited to watch a preview of the film in Los Angeles in November last year, after which Malkovich and Ludovic du Plessis, Global Executive Director for LOUIS XIII Cognac, placed it into the safe, will leave a legacy for their descendants who will attend the official premiere at the Domaine du Grollet in Cognac, France in four generations time.

On its journey to Domaine du Grollet, the safe will travel to a number of destinations around the world where invited guests will watch an official preview, covering behind-the-scenes and the making of the film, and three trailers which communicate three different future scenarios of Earth in a century from now as interpreted by Malkovich and Rodriguez.

And South Africa was no exception when in June this year the safe was revealed to guests in Johannesburg along with elements of the film including visuals of the filming and costume designs. Caroline Sarrot Lecarpentier, Global Communications Director of Louis XIII was the custodian of the safe in South Africa, introducing the concept to a handful of local a-listers and media personalities.

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The youngest eau-de-vie to finally make the blend in a bottle of Louis XIII will be 40 years old and the oldest more than a century interacting with the wood in its cask.

The essence of the message is that it takes time to create something special and in the years from conception to finality, the world around us will have reinvented itself at a perpetual rate, always changing and evolving, never stopping to take a breath.

The makers and custodians of ‘100 Years – The Movie You Will Never See’ are acutely aware that the world in 100 years’ time will be unrecognisable to you and me, but for our descendants who take our place, there is something that will not have changed much at all – the contents within a bottle of Louis XIII Cognac because, like the cellar masters before them, today’s creators know exactly what their next 100 years will look like.

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POP that cork!

Champagne is synonymous with celebration and none more so than Moët & Chandon. 2016 sees the 11th of the Maison’s exceptional celebrations since 1743 – the first edition of the Moët Party Day. PRESTIGE: in the lap of luxury

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ohannesburg joined cities in 35 countries around the world including, London, Dublin, Paris, Wellington, Lagos, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Hong Kong and Mexico City in a global celebration for 24 hours dubbed Moët Party Day, across the time zones . The venue was the Four Seasons Westcliff Hotel and the party heralded the recognition of Moët & Chandon’s celebrations through the years: 1807 – Napoleon I visits Epernay, the home of the Moët & Chandon Maison 1953 – The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II 1956 – The wedding of Prince Rainier III of Monaco to Grace Kelly 1967 – Le Mans winners Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt celkebrate their victory by being the first racing drivers to spray the champagne from a Moët Jeroboam 1975 – The opening of Club 54 in New York City 1976 – The celebration of the bicentenary of the USA independence 1993 – 250 years of Moët & Chandon celebrated with the ‘Spirit of 17431993’hot air balloon that travelled around the world 2006 – Moët & Chandon illuminates the Statue of Liberty on it 120th anniversary 2013 – The 270th birthday party of the Maison celebrated in New York with global ambassador Roger Federer 2014 – Food and champagne combine in the celebration of Moët & Chandon for ‘Le &’ in Epernay 2016 – Moët Party Day

Arnaud de Saignes Director of Marketing for Moët had this to say about the new celebration “Moët Party Day is a huge, day-to-night party that was held on June 11 around the globe.

It is a modern, fresh and vibrant take on Moët & Chandon’s greatest tradition since 1743: creating #moetmoments.

These are moments of celebration, of sharing and living life to the fullest, of recognizing milestones. We wanted to create a global moment where people could enjoy themselves, enjoy our delicious champagnes, and celebrate that tradition together.

“We entertain people, we create traditions and memories with grand formats and grand gestures. Moët & Chandon has an innate ability to make moments even more meaningful and memorable. This is the basis of our deep savoir-faire in how to celebrate and throw a party. At Moët & Chandon we call this savoir-fête (savoir = to

know, fêter = to celebrate, to party).

“There are two important reasons behind the date. The first is that June is the gateway to summer. At Moët & Chandon we say that summer rocks – it’s a key season for us, and a great time to create #moetmoments.

Specifically, June 11th is a milestone in our savoir-fête history. It’s the date in 1967 at the Le Mans car race when the winner, American driver Dan Gurney, created a celebratory gesture that would forever be linked with Moët & Chandon. On the winners’ podium he was given a Jeroboam bottle of Moët & Chandon. To celebrate, he sprayed everyone with the champagne. And this continued the tradition of Moët & Chandon as the champagne of victory, and as the champagne that makes great moments even more special.

All the world hopes now is that this party day will become an annual event as a celebration across the globe.

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malt

the wood in

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A phenomenon called maturation.

PATRICK LECLEZIO bows respectfully but unflinchingly to one of the great forces in whisky.

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he use of wood in crafting whisky is enormously important.

Many years ago – almost all the players seem to have their own quaint, romantic story about how it occurred – someone put their spirits into an oak cask, ostensibly for storage or transport, left it for longer than intended, and realised that the resultant, conditioned liquid had been considerably enhanced. I can only imagine the joy of that discovery, the whisky equivalent of fire, or the wheel, or penicillin (or maybe that’s me imagining what I would say after appropriately celebrating the discovery). Anyhow, in the aftermath of this happy accident laying spirits in wood gradually became a deliberate practice, utilised across the board.

It is now of such importance that the makers of fine spirits, and other drinks too (wines and fortified wines in particular), dedicate massive resources to what is known as maturation.

I’ve repeatedly been told that the most important influence on the flavour of a whisky is its maturation, or, similarly, that maturation contributes 60% of the flavour of a whisky…and I’ve probably passed on these same suppositions myself. No longer, or at least, not in these terms. I have no problem with the direction of the sentiment (there’s no doubting that maturation is important, enormously so, as I’ve already said and will say again, and in many or even most cases of majority importance), but I find it tenuous to reduce it to a fixed, universal, and absolute point. Firstly the effect of maturation on different whiskies is variable: most obviously because of its duration, the weightings of its input into a 3YO and a 25YO will be dramatically different, but also because wood is a natural substance, and therefore not consistent in its impacts, and further because the relative scale of other influences will also vary. Secondly, flavour is subject to interpretation – it simply can’t be factually referenced in quantitative terms, or even in definitive terms. I

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may be predominantly captivated by the biscuit notes in Maker’s Mark, which I attribute to the wheat in the mashbill, but someone else, sitting drinking the identical whisky opposite me, may be more captivated by the sweet vanilla derived from the casks.

The reason I’m labouring this point is that flavour is suggestive. If you believe that maturation is the be-all, end-all, that’s often what it will be, perhaps to your detriment. During a business trip with two seasoned industry professionals we were served a cognac which we were told was a Scotch whisky. We proceeded to debate amongst ourselves whether it was a blend or a single malt. In retrospect (blushes notwithstanding) I knew I had identified something funky, but I had simply ruled it out of my mind before even picking up the glass that this was anything other than whisky.

When we talk about maturation, we effectively refer, in very simplistic terms, to the process over time where a liquid resting in a cask absorbs (and relinquishes) certain characteristics, primarily from (and to) the cask itself, and to a lesser degree from the environment in which the cask is accommodated, which permeates as the cask expands and contracts (breathes) with temperature fluctuations, and where the liquid further evolves as the result of chemical reactions between its component compounds and those being absorbed.

The cask plays the pivotal role, both intrinsically, by contributing the natural elements of the wood from which it’s made, and by passing on “secondhand” flavours that it has absorbed in its previous maturations, typically of bourbon or sherry, but increasingly of other drinks as well. I recently

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The wood in whisky is the mighty oak as is the case for most spirits.

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out of all the trees in all the world, it’s curiously only oak that works properly, and furthermore only oak that has been grown in the right climate and conditions. The attempt to grow Quercus Alba (American white oak) in South Africa was a disaster; the wood was of such poor quality as to be unusable. This is the reason why a company like Glenmorangie pays such close attention to wood cultivation, to the point where Bill Lumsden, their whisky supremo, flies out to the United States to individually select the trees that’ll be used to make their casks; and why a brand like Glenfiddich celebrates the intricate role of the wood in its whisky – as evidenced by the beautiful “Journey of the Cask” photo essay, from which I’ve chosen images to accompany this piece.

The basics of the process are as follows: The wood performs two functions.The charred or toasted inner layer, like the charcoal that it is, absorbs impurities from the raw spirit, making its smoother and more palatable. It also gives the spirit a

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worked my way through a bottle of the Glenfiddich 21YO (“raised in Scotland, roused by the Caribbean”… classic), finished in rum casks, with the molasses underpinning that spirit startlingly and deliciously evident in the final liquid. Glenmorangie has just released Milsean, a whisky finished (extra matured in their parlance) in Portuguese red wine barriques. Michel Couvreur, a brand with which I was previously associated, produces Spiral, which is finished (double matured might be more apt given the duration) in Jura vin de paille casks and which is one of the outstanding whiskies of my experience. William Grant, and now Jameson (and possibly others), make whisky finished in ale casks.

The wood in whisky is the mighty oak - as is the case for most spirits.

There are indigenous Brazilian trees that are used for maturing cachaça, the odd, old, arbitrary chestnut cask has turned up here and there in Scotland, and I’ve read of an American whiskey using maple for finishing, but these are strictly exceptions. Somehow,

pathway into the wood, from which it absorbs vanillins, lignins and tannins – the elements that make such a central contribution to flavour.

Lost to this simplistic explanation are a multitude of other considerations, that all stake a claim: the seasoning of the wood – the process and time governing the drying of the cut wood; the toasting and charring levels; the skill of the cooperage; the selection and proportion of virgin casks, first fills or refills; and, very important, the species - the most common being the Quercus Alba already mentioned, and Quercus Robur, the European oak.

Maturation then is a critical lever for flavour. Even today it retains a sense of that natural world mystique that must have astonished the first person to have stumbled upon it. Its influence on whisky is both broad and deep.

It’s an easy trap to fall into though to think that it is all-important. Look at a whisky, nose a whisky, taste a whisky and the first thing that dominates your thinking is a consideration of the casks from which it’s made. As with all things that are imposing and extraordinary though, it’s worth taking a measured perspective to keep from being overawed. If I can leave you with only one guiding sentiment about maturation it’s this: appreciate it but don’t exaggerate it. May the dram be with you.

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full kit

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don’t consider myself to be a materialistic. I don’t covet for the sake of it. I’m not a shiny new toy type of person. I do subscribe though to the philosophy that I must have what I need for I want to do. There is a certain comfort, a fulfilment, a confidence in being properly equipped. Maybe it’s a lingering impetus from Boy Scout times – Be prepared! - or maybe it’s a harking back to that first-day-of-school, new-uniform-and-stationery (full set!), ready-toface-the-world feeling that made such a deep impression, or maybe it’s just an innate striving for completeness. It just is – and if attended to it makes the endeavour more enjoyable. If you’re going to do something, be ready to do it properly – this goes for drinking and entertaining, like anything else. Here’s how you go about it.

Strategy You’ll want to be able to serve beers and ciders, wines, sparkling wines, fortified wines, a range of spirits, and a few cocktails. Our focus here will be on what you need for spirits, but I mention the others because there’s no point in being well fortified (no pun intended…well maybe a little bit) over here, and leaving your defences gaping over

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photos: Shutterstock.com

Primed and ready for action. PATRICK LECLEZIO gets to grips with the right spirituous gear.

style of cocktail execution, particularly for my favoured drinks: there’s less risk of over-dilution or aeration (i.e. lots of bubbles on the surface).

Spoon The typical bar spoon is of an extended length, to enable you to easily reach to the bottom of a cocktail shaker or a tall glass. This can make it cumbersome to wash and store. I would recommend a telescopic spoon, which can be extended to the desired length for any conceivable purpose, and then contracted to store easily.

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Bar tools Tot measure Even if you’re a free pour type of person you’ll need this for controlling proportions when mixing up a cocktail.

You might also find that the occasional guest will want regulated portions, especially in these days of heightened awareness about drink driving. I recommend the version with both single

and double measure combined – it’ll save time and hassle with continued use. In bar speak these things are known as jiggers.

Cocktail shaker There are two common types: the regular three-part Cobbler shaker and the two-part Boston shaker. The latter is more theatrical but also more messy and difficult to use – especially as intended without a strainer. The third option for cocktail preparations is a mixer, where you would use a large, robust glass (effectively one half of the Boston shaker), a spoon, and a strainer. I favour the latter option, the stirred-not-shaken

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there. Your equipment requirements will need to cover bar tools and glassware and, while not equipment in the strict sense of it, the drinks and their ingredients shouldn’t be overlooked.

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provenance, perfectly serviceable but uninspiring, and one that’s made by the German manufacturer Schott Zwiesel.

I remarked the other day that unless I’m hosting a large gathering the former remains unused. I just unconsciously gravitate towards the other. The shape, the balance, the surface texture and the general glass quality are all superior, and it makes a difference to my enjoyment of the drinking experience.

I’ve subsequently bought their wine and whisky glasses, with similar results in satisfaction. You don’t need labourintensive crystal necessarily, unless that’s your thing, but it’s worth investing in quality glassware.

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Drinks and ingredients Spirits The stocking principle which I’d advise is to achieve a good balance between choice and excessiveness. You should try to have at least two options of all the major spirits, but a depth of selection for at least two types, specifically those where flavour diversity is expected – such as whisky and gin. Over and above I’d also suggest you also have a few exotic spirits available – cassis, amaretto, calvados, and cachaça for instance are both intriguing and delicious.

this is an essential bit of kit. One of the problems with ice is that it introduces uncontrolled dilution into a drink, which is stronger when the ice is added, and gradually weaker as the ice melts.

Crushed ice allows the addition of a measured volume of ice (conveniently using a measuring spoon), and it melts far quicker than cubed ice, giving a more consistent drinking experience.

Muddler Optional, depending on what cocktails you’ll be making. I’m contracting myself (as far as the use of makeshift equipment goes), but for occasional use you can get away with a heavy spoon in its absence.

Squeezer Also optional, if your concoctions call for lemon or lime juice in particular, the former being better fresh, the latter being almost impossible to find.

Ice-buckets You’ll need two sizes: a small one for dispensing ice, and a large one for

chilling a bottle (wine of course, but also useful for vodka and tequila).

Jugs Two sizes also needed here: a small one for dispensing water for spirits, and a large one to mix cocktails in party batches.

Glassware Styles These are the basic requirements: tumbler, highball or zombie (tall glass), and nosing, balloon, and shot glasses, and optionally martini and margarita glasses. It’s all in the mind of course but it just feels better to be drinking the right drink from the right glass. If you’re a GnT fan you may also want to consider copa de balon glasses (the Spanish style balloon glass on a long stem).

Quality I have two sets of martini glasses: one that’s from one of the local homeware stores, undoubtedly of Chinese

Mixers You’ll almost certainly need tonic, soda and cola, and obviously others may be required depending on your particular taste and that of your guests. I’d recommend keeping a supply of tomato juice (bloody Mary / virgin Mary), ginger ale (versatile for brown spirits), lemonade (rock shandy), and bottled water (unchlorinated water for adding to brown spirits) at hand.

Other ingredients The last considerations are garnishes and cocktail ingredients. The most versatile garnishes are lemon and lime, which can be used in drinks ranging from a GnT and a martini to a cuba libre and a tequila shooter. So they’re critical. The rest will be driven by the cocktails that you intend to mix and offer. You should specialise in a few cocktails, which will come to represent your own particular signature style. My personal favourites are the martini (vermouth and olives or lemon needed) and the margarita (triple sec, sea salt and lime), but I’m also partial to the odd caiparinha (sugar and lime) and mohito (mint, lime and sugar).

Let the fun begin.

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ONE CENTURY IN A BOTTLE Each decanter takes 4 generations of Cellar Masters over 100 years to craft.

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Vivien and Carly Natasen experience the Mercedes lifestyle boats launched at the Monaco GP.

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he healthy, and sometimes not so healthy, competition between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in this year’s F1 championship appears to have continued off the track.

Mercedes has elected to capitalise on this rivalry in its other lifestyle segments. We were at the Monaco Grand Prix this year to experience first-hand two of these new offerings being the AMG Cigarette Boat and the Silver Arrows Marine Cruiser.

Part of the hype was to link the personalities of the drivers to the character of the boats, the AMG cigarette boat is aggressive, “in-your-face” and has that wild child, untamed persona that sometimes Hamilton is prone to be. The Silver Arrows Marine Motor Yacht is designed on the latest philosophy of Mercedes Benz – elegant flowing lines and packed with technology and innovation resembling most of the elements of Mercedes Benz.

I guess, after sampling both boats, that I have schizophrenic tendencies, as I genuinely love both craft – the AMG cigarette boat when I want to provide a twofingered salute to the world and the Silver Arrows Motor Yacht for when I simply want to cruise along in luxury.

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The AMG Cigarette Boat Cigarette Racing from the Unites States has partnered up with Mercedes Benz on the Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder AMG® Monaco Concept which was inspired by this season’s Formula One racing car.

The 50 foot-long and eight footwide “Cigarette Racing 50 Marauder AMG Monaco Concept” can reach an estimated top speed in excess of 142 mph mainly due to its two Mercury Racing V8 racing engines, which each provide 1550 horsepower. These are the most powerful series-production twin engines in the Cigarette portfolio.

Its superior performance is also due to the use of a new lay-up process that was designed specifically for racing. It gives the boat better handling under high loads whilst also reducing weight.

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The powerboat matches the Mercedes-AMG personality perfectly.

In addition to its high level of performance, its appearance is the perfect blend of sleek MercedesAMG styling and classic Cigarette Racing design elements, such as its cockpit.

Our ride out on this boat was to showcase the immense power of this monster. Although we didn’t get up

to the claimed top speed only due to inclement weather, it is clear that the boat is capable on flatter water of achieving the claimed high speeds.

The boat’s passenger area and cockpit is typically cigarette styled and is more designed to hold passengers in place under high speed, not really a cruising type craft as under low speeds it almost feels like the boat is evilly tempting one to max out the throttle!

Although we didn’t get up to the claimed top speed only due to inclement weather, it is clear that the boat is capable on flatter water of achieving the claimed high speeds.

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yachting

The Silver Arrows Marine Yacht The 14 metre long luxury motor yacht "Arrow460–Granturismo" was designed by Mercedes-Benz Style using the proportions from the automobile designs, hence its unusual lines. The first example of this new yacht model is named "Mercedes". The craft boasts 706 kW (960 hp) and combines the performance of Mercedes-Benz sports cars with unique innovations from the boat industry. The yacht also combines the advantages of an open boat with those of a hull cabin cruiser in unique fashion. Its crossover design offers the ultimate in variability, resulting in a boat that is equally suitable for day trips and overnight stays on board. The boat can accommodate ten persons as a day boat cruiser. As standard the yacht is equipped with every feature an owner might wish for. Apart from an air conditioning system and a high-quality audio system, it has a "wine-cellar" and an ice-making machine.

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"In developing the new motor yacht, we have transferred our expertise to the marine industry, creating something never seen before in the process. The 'Silver Arrow of the Seas' stands for modern luxury, avant-garde style and comfortable elegance. The yacht embodies the Mercedes-Benz's progressive, dynamic design philosophy of sensual purity on the water. Or, to put it another way, it is hot and cool in one, and stands for emotion and intelligence," said Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design Daimler AG. "Together with Silver Arrows Marine we

have managed to develop a totally new boat concept. By virtue of maximum variability, the yacht combines the advantages of an open boat with the generous interior and privacy of a cabin cruiser. It weds charismatic design with perfect functionality, much in the same way as is familiar from our road vehicles. As such, the 'Arrow460– Granturismo' is sure to cause a stir on the seas and at marinas throughout the world in the coming years."

Silver Arrows Marine Chairman Ron Gibbs said: “Almost everything about Arrow460-Granturismo is unique, from

its concept to the smallest bespoke detail. It is a motor yacht with a personality that truly embraces life, combining the best marine engineering with the inspired innovations and elegance that the world associates with the Mercedes-Benz name. By merging marine and automotive worlds, with their respective design language, technologies and ideas, we have created a new standard of motor yacht, unlike all others.”

On our ride out, the boat is truly pleasurable to use. The joystick controls make manoeuvring a breeze.

The front windshield lifts like a sunroof and the side windows operate like that of a Mercedes sedan. Even the fittings resemble that of the S Class Mercedes.

I loved the extending rear platform for swimming or sunbathing. The hull is well designed and handles choppy waters well within its stride. If I have to choose one of these two boats, it would have to be this craft.

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Vehicle specifications may vary for the South African market.

Thrill instructor.

The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 CoupĂŠ S. Visit www.everyterrain.co.za

A Daimler Brand

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y n n ! i k s ac

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. s ide 675 LT v ro w n p e ne se h ata on t N e n tiv ivie c V pe rs e p

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he Mclaren 650s is a great vehicle, so it was always going to be difficult to make it better.

McLaren however has a knack of introducing special editions that become collectors’ pieces which represent significant improvements in design and performance over their base models.

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Whilst the 650s has that balance between comfort and performance to achieve better everyday usage, the 675LT strips most of that away to leave one with a brutally quick super car bordering on hyper-car levels.

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I can just imagine the Mclaren team with a pencil on a chart with the following mandate: shed weight, increase power and improve handling and performance. Whilst the 650s has that balance between comfort and performance to achieve better everyday usage, the 675LT strips most of that away to leave one with a brutally quick super car bordering on hypercar levels. To achieve this, the 675LT sheds almost 100 kilograms, has loads more of aerodynamic improvements to increase downforce by up to 40% and a horsepower increase of 16 taking the 675LT to a devilish 666 HP. The LT, acronym for “longtail” pays homage to the McLaren that was successful during the Le Mans in the 90’s and is characterised by the working extended tail fin, which is noticeably longer yet lighter than the 650s.

The LT is significantly more expensive than a 650s and the wild

currency fluctuations have not helped the “poor clients” who signed up at order book opening as they are an extra million out of pocket between order and delivery.

All in all, the 675LT is at its roots a modified 650s. Is it worth the difference in price? On paper the answer is a definite “No.” However, due to its limited production run, volume and race-car type credibility, all of the allocations to South Africa have been accounted for, so clearly buyers see this vehicle as the ultimate reflection of performance short of owning a P1 (which is not sold in South Africa) and that there would be some speculation of value being held as a collector’s car.

Me personally, I am eagerly anticipating the release of the replacement of the 650s (due in 2017) as this promises power in excess of 700 HP and looks that modernise it significantly past the beautifully stunning 570s.

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wonder‌ The latest Audi R8 was unleashed on the track to media, dealers and customers and Vivien Natasen experienced the pinnacle of Audi Sport

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pictures: marc rudman and supplied

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he Audi R8 was revolutionary for all the luxury sedan marques as it represented a transition into a space of “everyday sports cars” where these marques had only until then focused on luxury sedans. Whilst the design and styling of the first R8 in 2006 made it in essence a “supercar” version of a TT, the R8 has evolved over time to become a significant force in this segment.

The R8 itself represents an anomaly to the group that owns Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini, so the existence of a super car in the Audi stable is an interesting spin on strategy, one that I am sure the group executive meetings must have debated ad nauseum.

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the R8 recipe had hit a sweet spot from the start and the designers were careful in refining that concept through modernising the design as well as implementing newer more innovative technology. The signature blades on the sides of the vehicle have now been split by the shoulder line which to me adds to the muscular stance, though some purists have stated unequivocally that that signature should not have been interfered with.

The new designs have sharpened the front and rear ends of the car with looks

Up close and personal, the new Audi is evolutionary rather than a complete rethink of the R8.

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However, in its time, the R8 has proven itself to be a strong contender, sometimes pilfering sales from its cousins (especially Porsche whom is the closest competitor in pricing and application). So with this background we were filled with anticipation in seeing the new R8 in the flesh, most especially as the launch was on the hallowed turf of the new Kyalami Race Circuit in Johannesburg.

Up close and personal, the new Audi is evolutionary rather than a complete rethink of the R8. This makes sense as

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and does that sprint in 3.2 seconds (a la Lamborghini). These represent a massive increase in power over the old models. Both derivatives have the 7-speed S-Tronic transmission with extremely quick changes, again a massive improvement over the old car. With several driving modes for comfort and sport with separate toggles for various performance settings, the R8 can adapt to most road conditions and handles them pretty well. Both models are fitted with a signature Quattro mechanism that actually performs really well with limited understeer than one would expect from an all-wheel drive.

I was also truly impressed with the interior. Although minimalist in design, it is no longer a modified TT but its own identity of a driver focused cockpit with Audi’s virtual cockpit displays that are adaptable to displaying information formatted to the driver’s wishes. The interior comprises quality materials that are commensurate with the rest of the look and feel of the vehicle.

I must admit, the only time I had with the car was around the newly renovated

(and extended) Kyalami Race Circuit with no everyday driving. For that limited interaction though, I was genuinely impressed with performance, handling and looks and it seamlessly transforms to an everyday vehicle with “slightly more” practicality than normal supercars. The R8 V10 retails in South Africa at R2,6 million and the R8 V10 plus sells for just under R3m.

The R8’s only real competitor, when one contemplates the pricing is the 911 Turbo S which would perform as well, with even more “everyday practicality”, if there is any such thing in the super car world. Since inception, 345 R8s have been sold in South Africa and several more Porsches, so if it is rarity that you crave then the R8 would be the better option or if you are willing to shell out 25% more then to go for the McLaren 570s to get a more focused supercar with some everyday capability.

If I was in the market for a sports car in the vicinity of R3 million rand, then the R8 presents a viable option with looks and performance to match cars much more expensive than that.

AUDI SPORT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Audi has finally caught up with the other German marques in South Africa with the advent of their Audi Sport sub-brand embedded within specific dealerships in the country.

The R and RS models would fall within the Audi Sport sub-brand with specially trained support and sales staff focused purely on these vehicle derivatives. Audi Sport plans to achieve global annual sales of 32 000 units by 2020 (almost doubling their current sales volume), this would be achieve through the introduction of new models as well as providing a 360 degree sales, support and service offering through selected dealers. Four new models will be added in the coming year.

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To at least show some compliance with emissions regulations the vehicle are fitted with “coasting” technology which switches off a bank of cylinders under low loads and with start / stop functions for stationary at traffic lights etc. Audi claims a 13 percent reduction in fuel consumption when compared to the older model.

Back onto the two derivatives, the R8 V10 pushes out 397 kW and is capable of a 0-100 kph in 3.5 seconds while the R8 V10 Plus pushes 449 kW

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that align with the various sci-fi movies that Audi appears to place product placement, such as the Marvel ones with cutting edge designs that exude futuristic images.

It’s under the skin that most of the changes have been effected. The R8 now only comes in two versions of the 5.2 litre V10, having dropped the old V8 from the range. They have also, surprisingly, stuck with the naturally aspirated engines which to me is an aural delight in this day of turbo and superchargers.

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Vivien Natasen drives the RWD Huracan

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think Lamborghini’s mistake is to market the Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) as the ‘entrylevel’ vehicle in the fold.

After having driven the vehicle over a weekend, I am totally sold as this vehicle has won me over. Don’t get me wrong, the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) in spyder form is still the one I desire in my garage, though as a motoring junkie, this vehicle has hit a sweet sport that the bigger (more expensive)

brother doesn’t quite hit.

To get to the rear wheel configuration, Lamborghini simply removed the front differential and various elements that were needed for it, adjusted power and remapped the vehicle – simple to imagine and achieve technically, though I don’t think even they expected to end up with a vehicle with this performance, dynamics and feel when compared with the AWD. The usual under steer that pervades AWD configurations is nonexistent and with the weight of the AWD

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The only complaint is that the window winder switches work opposite to what I expected.

We had the RWD out on the roads in Cape Town and it was truly a pleasure to drive. It is after all a Lamborghini and wherever in the world that I have driven one it brings as much excitement, pleasure and enjoyment to those inside the vehicle as those outside. We were forever stopped by people to take pictures and to ask about the car.

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to get the power down efficiently on the road, however, again, when compared to the AWD 610-4 the car just handles better. The transmission is a 7-speed dual-clutch system with smooth yet lightning-quick changes translated from the paddles to the gearbox.

The cockpit and interior are identical to its other Huracan siblings and nothing has been compromised on that front in producing the ‘entry level’ Lamborghini. The controls and switches are futuristic yet still practical.

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mechanism stripped out the vehicle feels more nimble and focused. The car is almost 40 kilograms lighter with adjustments to engine and transmission to deal with the different configuration and with a 40/60 weight bias front to rear (57:43 on the AWD). With different cambered settings than the AWD it allows the vehicle better turn-in and leaves the driver feeling a lot more enthralled in the handling as compared to the AWD. The RWD has 580 HP, presumably

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elegance

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The latest iteration of the Mercedes E Class has been unveiled and Vivien Natasen casts his impressions.

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and innovations, as is customary for any new E Class. Some of these include wide-screen cockpit with high-resolution double display, touch controls for controlling the entire infotainment system using finger swipes, comprehensive smartphone integration: digital vehicle key, wireless charging, capacitive aerial coupling, support of smartphone-based infotainment systems (Apple's CarPlay® and Google's Android Auto™) Mercedes boasts that the drag coefficient (Cd as low as 0.23) of this new model along with the other improvements in design and build makes this the quietest vehicle in its segment.

They also claim that this vehicle has vastly improved interior dimensions with larger entry and egress for occupants.

There is a plethora of engine derivatives available on the new E Class, however, the real flagship of the AMG recently announced globally is still to be landed on our shores. Latest releases show that the AMG will only be available in all wheel drive (AWD) globally as currently 90% of these orders have included that option in recent years. For now, the only models available are the E200, E220d and E350d priced from just over R700 000 to around a million, before one gets entangled in the options list.

One the road the handling and dynamics feel better and significantly quieter than the outgoing model and it does have a more luxurious feel to it. The E Class is bound to retain its status as a stalwart of the marque. Mercedes chose not to interfere too much with a proven recipe, which is a gamble in a market and time where people’s attention spans are limited and there is a genuine desire to be seen to be different.

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he jury is still out on whether the new E class from Mercedes Benz has done enough to stand out from its other three-pointed-star brethren. Some critics have been quite vocal about the strategy of the vehicle being too closely aligned with the S and C Class siblings that it is becoming boring. However, on the other hand, the Mercedes designers may have latched onto a recipe of styling, technology and handling that is working and the philosophy may be that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Let’s look into the new E class and make up our own minds.

Now in its tenth generation, the blunt lines of the outgoing model have been made into the smooth flowing lines drawn from the S Class presenting an elegant, refined exterior. Its wheelbase length has grown by 65 millimetres over the outgoing model, and its overall length by 43 millimetres. The resulting increase in space is to the benefit of all passengers in the form of better legroom and poise. Personally, I love the lines though I somewhat agree that something is missing in differentiating the car from the C class and S class. In passing, the car does not stand out enough, be it from the front or the rear from the other models.

On its own, however, the car is beautiful as it represents the DNA of Mercedes Benz.

The new E is jam-packed with features

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BMW has pinned its colours to the mast and made its commitment to electric hybrid technology. Chris Buchanan drove the new X5 hybrid and the sublime i8.

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t’s hard to imagine the performance of a supercar emanating from a 1500cc motor or the grunt of a modern luxury SUV delivered via a 2.0 litre powerplant. That’s technology for you and in the motoring world, technology is the tool being used to pave the way for less reliance on fossil fuel and developing the fuel of the future that will power the 70 million cars sold worldwide in the years to come.

The discussion among motoring media at the launch of the BMW X5 xDrive40e focussed on viable alternatives

and it seems the electric hybrid is taking the lead with a number of manufacturers pursuing the technology as high profile motorsport – Formula One and Le Mans – lend credibility to the combination.

BMW gave us the i3 and i8 last year as their entry foray into electric and electric hybrid technologies. It was the turn of their highly successful suburban SUV, the X5, to put hybrid technology into the mainstream, everyday ambit as a viable alternative to the status quo of a big, thirsty people carrier.

To be honest, the car felt and performed in exactly the same way a well powered X5 would – good acceleration,

the country. It will take about two hours to fully charge the battery pack so while a coffee and a chat with a friend in a centre will do the trick, it’s imperative that you have the BMW i Wallbox at your home and as of July this year the, i solar carport will be available – produced

by Sunworks and able to supply the i Wallbox with 3.6kW of solar power at peak times on a sunny day.

The launch day gave us the opportunity, for those who weren’t at the official launch last year, to drive the i8 which, as I mentioned at the start of this article, was sublime, given the 1500cc motor and its electric hybrid technology.

My driving partner, who is a seasoned motoring journalist of 15 years, said he would buy the i8 over and above most supercars because of the technology in the vehicle and the sheer performance.

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easy driving through congestion, quiet as a dormouse and as solid as it’s been for the 15 years it’s been on our roads.

The giveaway is in the chosen modes of driving and a few extra dials that tell you how your battery is doing and how much kinetic energy you’re putting back into the system.

The integrated system allows for electric only in heavy traffic, petrol only when belting down a freeway and a combination of both through the urban cycle. Braking, use of the petrol engine through acceleration etc, charge the battery pack while on the go and then there’s the charging stations that are being rolled out at certain centres around

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Our conditioning when we think luxury performance coupes is in need of a shake up and Lexus is doing just that. by: Carly bailey Natasen

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eople are brand loyal - you are born into a specific sports team (whether it is rugby, football or racing) and you have to stay loyal to your team until the day you die. It is the same when you sit in a boardroom with colleagues, there is a clear divide between the Mac and PC users. The same applies to cars. You grew up with a specific vehicle brand and it was your pride and joy to wash your dad’s car every Sunday morning. Today though we are spoilt with choice, even within a specific brand, with so many models and variety, it is sometimes hard to keep up. I absolutely adore my comfort zones – I still have my first bank account that I opened in second grade.

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That is why I was eager to try something different when I had the opportunity to take the new Lexus RC 200t for a day. The RC 200t is a brand new model for the RC family.

Lexus does not play in the volume game and in the local line up is set to deliver an accomplished grand touring experience. It is refreshing to be in a car that you do not see around every corner – it makes you feel like you are part of a well-kept secret. The Lexus RC 200t is an entry level car for the young businessman who would like an alternative choice to step into the world of sports cars. It gives them the accessibility point of entry into their next lifestyle tier, without feeling

pressured to buy the sports car poster that was stuck above their bed growing up.

Lexus can be such a contradiction, when I think Japanese marques, I think everything should be tiny and squashed, yet with Lexus it is the complete opposite. The interior does so much justice to the term GT – the car is built around the comfort and space of the occupants and a proper GT should take you the distance in great style and comfort. I found the Lexus Remote Touch Interface very easy to use. Even though I am stubborn lady when it comes to changing the technology around me (I am an Apple user and swear I could never switch

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It is refreshing to be in a car that you do not see around every corner – it makes you feel like you are part of a wellkept secret.

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over to an Android device), I felt comfortable with the many options Lexus has to offer. All these features come as standard (heated seats, steering interface, cruise control, smart Entry, to mention a few) which makes the Lexus a very upmarket luxurious drive that is generously stocked.

The new turbocharged engine delivers 180kW of power and 350Nm of torque. The driver can choose between Eco and Normal drive and for the heavier foot the Sport Mode can be selected. It is surprising how quiet this turbo-petrol engine is, with the help of an electric air bypass valve and a resonator in the intake system, which adds to the fact that it is a relaxed cruise for a peaceful journey.

Being part of the responsible Toyota family, Lexus has its duty towards the environment, compared to other cars in the same category. This 2.0-litre coupe can operate on both the fuel-saving Atkinson cycle and the conventional Otto cycle. The Atkinson cycle was first seen in hybrid electric vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, however, some non-hybrid automobiles now feature engines that can run in the Atkinsoncycle as a part-time operating regime.

Toyota has done an amazing job carving out a name in South Africa that is synonymous to value for money and reliability. Knowing that Lexus is part of the family gives any driver peace of mind that they can take this GT on the open road, cover the distance and turn a few heads.

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last word

no man is anorisland, should they be?

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oo many people tell me that my greatest weakness is to be too trusting, living with my heart on my sleeve, which leaves me open to risk in business and personal life. Thankfully, I didn’t marry a devious woman, so on that part I’m ok.

However, as I grow and the company grows, more and more unscrupulous beings emerge out of the woodwork.

Don’t get me wrong, I have decent mechanisms to detect and prevent most instances, but there are a few artful dodgers, the guys whom movies are based on, who have a knack or flair for being able to play to emotions or egos and get past the “crap detectors” (as Hemingway would put it).

There are friends whom you may not speak to in ages, yet when you see or speak to them again, it’s like you saw them yesterday. Those are not the ones I’m referring to. The ones that you should be aware of are the ones you let into your innermost thoughts, feelings, experiences and lessons, who later use them to your detriment.

I am one of the lucky few that gets to work, play and rest seamlessly and have the benefit of a balance between routine and spontaneity that many people struggle to get to in their whole lives. Couple that with a great marriage

with a woman who loves me, the future is bright and getting brighter, despite the troubled markets and conflicts that pervade the world today. Out of that comes a lot of not just jealously but also of people trying to take advantage.

It might sound clichéd, but it generally holds true that successful people will always find friends, it’s in troubled times that one finds out who the real friends are.

One of the most important quotes I have taken from Paolo Coelho’s Manual of the Warrior of Light is that a warrior should never broadcast his weakness, but his lessons. So my message to those out there who are of ill intent, I am on to you.

My friend, mentor and life coach, Dr John Demartini, is always at pains to say that there is no such thing as loyalty. Perceived loyalty only exists when goals are aligned. Right now with the world in the mess it is in today, there are a lot more people trying to just survive and will do anything to do so, and sometimes desperation can make people do weird things. So keep your crap detectors on as the ride is only going to get rougher. Keep the circle around you close and tight and filter out those beings who are no longer aligned with whom you are and where you are going. You need not be an island, but it’s time to cull some of the population!

Vivien Natasen

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Aston Martin Cape Town: V&A Waterfront Cnr Dock Rd & Breakwater Blvd, Cape Town Andrew Meyer 021 425 2007 082 905 5520 andrew@astonmartin.co.za

Edge offers available through ALPHERA Financial Services a division of BMW Financial Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, an Authorised Financial Services and Registered Credit Provider NCRCP2341.

Total cost includes initiation and monthly service fees (R57 p/m) and excludes license and registration. Residual applies subject to deal structure. Offer valid until 30 June 2016 and subject to stock availability.

Instalment may vary if price differs from the example displayed in this advert. Model shown with optional extras not included in pricing. Terms & conditions apply. Offer available with fixed or linked interest rates.

For more information visit www.alphera.co.za *Advertised instalment is based on the prime lending rate of 10.25%, should the rate change during the period of the offer it will have an impact on the monthly instalment.

INSIGNIA ADVERTISING | O11 783 5534

www.daytona.co.za

R E C O R D I N G O LYM P I C D R E A M S S I N C E 1 9 3 2 An Olympic medal is the ultimate sporting dream. A lifetime of dedication can be transformed into gold in less than a heartbeat. This summer in Rio, OMEGA’s team of timekeepers will measure the fractions of a second that determine the medal hopes of the world’s best athletes, including Chad Le Clos. We will be beside every pitch, pool and track to record their achievements as they aim to fulfill their dreams.