Why do you like Franschhoek?

FWVTA Congratulates Franschhoek's Winning Wines

Veritas Awards 2010

• Double Gold
  Glenwood Vigneron's Selection Chardonnay 2009
• Gold
  Boschendal 1685 Chardonnay 2009
  Dieu Donné Merlot 2008
  Graham Beck Bowed Head Chenin Blanc 2009
  Graham Beck Lonehill Chardonnay 2008
  Graham Beck Pheasants' Run Sauvignon Blanc 2010
  Graham Beck Pheasants' Run Sauvignon Blanc 2009
  Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2006
  La Petite Ferme Merlot 2008
  Môreson Pinotage 2008
  Môreson Solitaire N/V
  Vrede en Lust Marguerite Chardonnay 2009

Austrian International Wine Awards 2010

• Gold Medal: Grande Provence Sauvignon Blanc 2010, Grande Provence Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and Grande Provence Shiraz 2007.
• Silver Medal: Grande Provence Chardonnay 2009.

Mundus Vini International Wine Awards (Germany)

• Gold Medal: Grande Provence Sauvignon Blanc 2010

July Question of The Month - Jenny replies

Jenny Prinsloo, CEO of FWVTA, says:

FWVTA : What’s it all about?

• Besides being the official destination marketing organization for the Franschhoek Valley, FWVTA is involved with an increased number of festivals and events, safety and security issues, working towards creating a sustainable environment in the Valley, and practicing responsible tourism.
• We have increased the number of Franschhoek festivals to attract more visitors to the Valley particularly over the less busy winter months and slower seasons. Our festivals have appeal over a wide target market including food and wine, sports and the outdoors, classical music and literature, and arts and crafts. Last year and this year we have achieved huge media coverage from festivals and foreign journalists that we hosted. This has kept the Franschhoek Valley “in lights” throughout the year.
• Through the Director of Community Safety at the Stellenbosch Municipality, we facilitated the 10 police patrols on duty 24 hours in the Main Road in Franschhoek, from the start of the summer season until the present. We are currently in discussions with the Director on the erection of security cameras. Two cameras have been earmarked by the Municipality to date, one for Groendal and one for the Franschhoek Main Road. We are investigating options to erect three cameras in the Main Road.
• As part of responsible tourism, FWVTA has a community development programme in place which includes projects such as the Umdilaya waiter service training, the Youth Ambassadors top achiever project, the Franschhoek Literary Festival social development programme, the community Bastille Festival programme, the Streetsmart project benefiting street children, the schools and teachers excursion programme, and the MTB Grand Prix and development cycling project. A list of local community businesses and suppliers has been compiled.
• FWVTA launched its sustainable environment programme with Earth Hour in March, where all the restaurants in the Franschhoek Main Road switched off their lights on 28 March, in a worldwide initiative to create awareness about climate change. We are working on various “greening” projects, tree planting, composting, recycling at festivals, and carbon measurement analysis in our wine cellars. Documentation on Franschhoek’s BWI, IPW, ISO9000 and other compliance initiatives will appear shortly on our website.

What’s in it for FWVTA Members? Membership benefits include:

• Presentations and networking sessions every second month on value-add topics e.g. MATCH; fraud prevention in your business; the relevance and importance of digital marketing; the benefits of “green” grading for accommodation establishments; how the Chamber of Commerce can help small business during the economic downturn etc.
• Marketing opportunity to take an exhibition stand at Franschhoek Festivals organised by FWVTA
• Marketing opportunity to be represented at tourism trade shows and roadshows
• Access to the services provided by the Chamber of Commerce, Stellenbosch chapter, via FWVTA’s membership of the Chamber
• Representation on SA Wine Routes and WOSA; co-ordination of cellar door service training and wine courses for cellar staff
• Free directory listings in all official FWVTA promotional publications
• Free descriptive listing, including photo gallery, on the FWVTA website
• Free advertisements on the new Classifieds section of the FWVTA website
• Free telephonic advice from our Human Resource Consultant e.g. hiring, contracts, maternity leave, etc as well as discounted personal consultations
• 20% discount on BnBSure policies from Incompass Insurance
• 10% discount on advertising in the Franschhoek A-Z directory
• 5% discount on glassware orders over R500 from Chrystal Direct
• All FWVTA members are automatically also members of Cape Town Tourism. This includes representation on their website, through their offices and also on their digital kiosk system.
• Use of the FWVTA logo on publicity material – subject to approval of FWVTA
• Access to stocks of maps and promotional materials at the FWVTA office or at the Info Centre
• Marketing opportunity to display brochures at the FWVTA office and the Info Centre
• Access to members email addresses database
• FWVTA is recruiting new members so that more retail businesses, emerging businesses, professional practices, accommodation establishments, restaurants, Vignerons, farmers, industries, learning institutions, conference venues, wellness centres and other organizations may participate in our marketing initiatives on behalf of the Valley. We are implementing a new digital marketing and PR campaign in the new financial year 2009-2010. We will be contacting potential members soon, and would also welcome potential members contacting us on tel 021 8762861, or visiting us at address 1st Floor, 62 Huguenot Road, next to the Pharmacy.

Read more of the answers in July's The Month