According to Silvana Bottega, CEO of the Southern Africa Luxury Association...
According to Silvana Bottega, CEO of the Southern Africa Luxury Association…
Champagne glasses are ready to be charged with Cap Classique and the eyes of South Africans are sparkling with the excitement of the coming World Cup. Whilst the mood may be slightly dampened by lower visitor numbers than initially expected, the numbers should still exceed anything the country has ever known in terms of tourist footfall for a single event.
The luxury segment, nearly out of breath in South Africa during the credit crisis, seems resuscitated by the hope of a fresh source of revenue and is proactively rising to the occasion with private events and corporate activities to capture the celebratory zeitgeist that may loosen purse strings and inspire some impulse purchases.
Normally sleepy during the winter months, Cape Town is alive with collaborations, openings and other activities. Fashion is at the forefront. Shanghai Tang has launched through a trunk show at the Everard Read Gallery in Cape Town, and Jimmy Choo recently unveiled a new line at destination store The Hall Collection, where ladies who lunch were pampered with pedis while they purchased, meanwhile the team at the boutique Nina Roche is bringing in Prada and Miu Miu shoes. The feet of the wealthy are feeling considerably better heeled with these dénouements.
Delaire Graff has soft-launched its new hotel in the vineyards, the Taj is open for decadent dining in the city and quintessential celebrity coastal havens like Mwanzoleo, Ellerman Villa and 50 Victoria continue to offer celebrities a taste of Cap D’Antibes lifestyle on the Atlantic seaboard.
In our family vineyards, we are soon to release into private circulation the next series of The Idiom Collection’s 900 Series: the limited release of up to three barrels that, having been set aside by my father Alberto, warrants special appreciation due to their intensity. These collectibles are generally held back on reserve for discriminating wine-buyers and en primeur sales have begun with our loyal clients, as well as private bankers and wealth managers, before being released to the external buyers. Having long kept Idiom for local sales, my brother is just back from an exploratory trip to Russia, New York and Toronto, where our wines were well received by prospective agents in our first real foray into selling our stock internationally.
We are excited for what the coming months will hold…
Silvana Bottega
CEO, South African Luxury Association
