Latest news with #SouthernRight
The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
River meets sea: 5 estuary towns in SA with that soft-water calm
South Africa's estuary towns are more than pretty, they're ecological powerhouses. The rivers here filter water, protect against storms, and cradle marine life at its most vulnerable stages. Something rare happens: salt meets fresh, tides dance with currents, and landscapes settle into a kind of effortless grace. Here are five of the best to visit in South Africa… Kenton-on-Sea, Eastern Cape. Image: canva Tucked between Port Alfred and Port Elizabeth, Kenton-on-Sea is framed by two rivers and wide beaches. Its estuaries are rich with life: canoe through narrow channels at high tide or spot kingfishers in the mangroves. The Bushmans River, one of South Africa's longest navigable rivers, is slow-moving and serene, perfect for long boat rides and lazy fishing days. The town itself is small, safe, and made for barefoot living. Witsand, Western Cape. Image: canva Witsand sits quietly at the mouth of the Breede River, a sanctuary for families, fishermen, and Southern Right whales. In winter, the bay fills with whales calving in the shallows, while summer brings warm days on calm waters ideal for kite surfing or kayaking upriver. The estuary in this town is wide and shallow, gentle enough for kids, rich enough for birders. It's a place for long exhalations and zero pretension. St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal. Image: canva St Lucia is wild in the best way. It's the gateway to iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where hippos graze on the edge of town and crocodiles float like logs. The estuary stretches over 80 km and pulses with life, reedbeds, fish eagles, and rare swamp forests. It's not the usual beach town: it's more primal, more alive. You come here to slow down, but you also come here to remember nature's raw power. Nature's Valley. Image: wikimedia commons Nature's Valley barely counts as a town, and that's part of the magic. Tucked inside the Tsitsikamma section of South Africa's Garden Route National Park, it's a ribbon of homes between forest, lagoon, and sea. The Groot River estuary is calm and glassy, perfect for paddling or drifting. Hikes lead to waterfalls, beaches curve empty for miles, and at night, you'll hear frogs instead of traffic. This place isn't curated, it's untouched. Kosi Bay. Image: wikimedia commons Right near the Mozambique border, South Africa's Kosi Bay is a remote masterpiece. It's not just one estuary, it's a system of lakes, channels, and tidal mouths forming a kind of natural maze. Traditional fish traps built by the Thonga people still stand in the water, undisturbed for centuries. Snorkel in the estuary's shallows and you'll find tropical fish inches from your mask. This is the wild edge of the country, and one of the last true frontiers. Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Herald Sun
09-05-2025
- Health
- Herald Sun
Fleurieu Peninsula locals fear Southern Right, Humpback whales at risk of algae
Fresh fears that algae-affected whales will attract 'flocks' of white sharks to beaches have put fishermen and local whale watchers on edge in the Fleurieu Peninsula. The toxic algae bloom — believed to be caused by the toxic phytoplankton karenia — is implicated in the death of many marine species. However, the scent of distressed whales and their calves suffering from respiratory illness because of the algae is just what sharks are looking for, one fisherman believes. Go Get 'Em Fishing Charters owner Tom Di Vittorio spends much of his time in waters around Victor Harbor and said 'if there's a problem' with the whales, if they're 'distressed and still' then 'there will be sharks'. 'We know very well we've had whales in before and we've had white pointers coming with them, and they haven't just been dead whales,' he said. 'If the whales are still and there's a problem, that's when there will be sharks coming in, and those are very valid concerns.' In July, 2001, a Southern Right whale carcass at Cape Jervis attracted 'flocks of sharks', and Mr Di Vittorio, along with Victor Harbor fisherman Rod Ness, fear something similar is on the horizon. Mr Ness said the Southern Right and Humpbacks whales migrate to the region in late May to raise their calves before heading back to Antarctica, and if one died it would be a 'feeding frenzy'. 'If you get a dead whale that washes in on the beach, you're going to have every white pointer in the district there eating it,' he said. 'If you put that into one of our major surf beaches, it is going to be a problem.' Marine biologist Dr Mike Bossley said he was 'cautiously optimistic' that no whales would die to the toxic algae, but if they did sharks wouldn't be the only worry for beachgoers. 'If a whale does die and wash up it is always a concern for the public if it attracts sharks,' he said. 'But it's also a concern for the public contracting any disease or illness from the carcass.' Despite Dr Bossley's optimism, he said 'similar algal blooms' around the world had resulted in marine mammal death, 'so it's not out of the question'. Elizabeth Steel-Collins, a member of the Encounter Whales conservation group, said the biggest fear for the region was 'the unknown'. 'What we're seeing is unprecedented,' she said. 'This particular algae is not known to be toxic (poisonous) to mammals, or to people, but as an irritant, it can provoke allergy reactions involving the respiratory system, as well as skin and other mucus membranes like eyes. 'As whales are mammals, and immersed in this algal 'soup' it's still a hazard and major concern going into whale breeding season, which will be any day now. 'The underwater world has been affected by the algae bloom, and this includes the whales' breeding habitat. 'Will it affect the respiratory systems or skin of the whales? We just don't know. We'll have to wait, and it'll be the whales that tell us.' South Australians have been wading through the sludge of the 'algal soup' for nearly two months, the bloom regularly attributed to dead sea life washing up on beaches from Aldinga to Henley Beach, and even on the Yorke Peninsula, since it was first discovered. Recently, it has forced six oyster farmers at Stansbury to temporarily halt operations for fears of potential contamination. Though Dr Bossley said the algae had been known to kill sharks, a PIRSA spokeswoman said it was still investigating if the bloom was the cause of a 2.7m great white shark to strand itself on Henley Beach on Monday. Outside of the fishing industry, some tourism operators in the Fleurieu Peninsula have been left high and dry. Victor Harbor's beloved horse drawn tram to was forced to close for three weeks after both staff and horses battled with respiratory issues from the toxic algae. They have only just resumed their popular trips to Granite Island, but only at a fraction of their usual rate. General Manager Meg Whibley said the popular tourist attraction was $100k out of pocket from the temporary closure. 'Depending on the wind, sometimes we can still feel the effects of it, so we just have to do half days' she said. 'The horses will get runny eyes or noses, and as soon as that happens, we call it and get them out of there as quickly as we can. 'As much as we get council funding, we are 78 per cent own source revenue, so when we don't get that extra $100k it's a big deal.' PIRSA did not respond to questions about how the algae bloom could impact whales. Originally published as Fishers fear 'flocks' of white pointers will target distressed, breeding whales caught in toxic algae
Forbes
18-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Better Bred Sauvignon Blancs Now Veer Away From The Cloying New Zealand Model
An illustration of the different blocks of Sauvignon Blanc at Larkmead Vineyards in Napa Valley The world of wine lovers may be split into those who love certain aspects of Sauvignon Blanc and those who find the wines too floral and herbaceous to enjoy the way one might drier Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or Riesling. In France Sauvignon Blanc––let's call it 'SB'––has a heralded place in its viticulture as the basis for Bordeaux wines like Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé and, most notably, Sauternes and Barsac. What alerted many international consumers to SB, while turning many others off the varietal, was the immensely popular Cloudy Bay version from New Zealand, which appealed to those who like their wine to taste like pungent, grassy fruit punch. In fact, it really put New Zealand on the map as a wine producing nation, and its success caused a tsunami of mediocre SBs to flood the market as a predominant style that for the past two decades has been much copied in California and internationally. According to Wine Business Monthly, SB Blanc was the only varietal of the top 10 wines sold by retailers to show growth in both sales value and volume last year. Fortunately smaller, more focused vineyards in California and other countries have diverged from that cloying style, and I'm finding much better, more refreshing SBs than ever. Surprisingly, some of them are now priced above $50, which had never before been the case. Arkenstone Estate Blanc 2022 was priced at $125, and it's already sold out. Here are some I've enjoyed this year from the 2023 and 2024 vintages. A Sauvignon Blanc from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa Southern Right South Africa 2024 ($16). Founded in 1994, Southern Right is a small winery that specializes in Pinotage and SB made . just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. in the cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, within the Walker Bay appellation. Founder and winemaker Hamilton Russell aims to bring out unique South African flavors, and it is very well-priced for this clean, fresh style. The Sattlerhof Winery 2023 ($25). This Austrian winery has existed since the late 1880s in the village of Gamlitz, and was given its current name by Wilhelm Sattler Senior and his wife Aloisia and his two brothers Willi and Hanes in the 1960s. The vineyard covers 99 acres of organically farmed vines, including 'grand crus' Kranachberg and Pfarrweingarten. Known for its longevity, this is a Sauvignon Blanc with 13% alcohol that ages well to develop more character. Priest Ranch's Sauvignon Blanc iz made at an unusually high alcohol level for the varietal. Priest Ranch 2023 ($28). Priest Ranch in Napa Valley dates to 1869, established by Gold Rush prospector James Joshua Priest. This SB comes from the Somerson Estate in Napa Valley, and shows a considerable hike in alcohol at 14.3%, and it thereby gains body. It was sulfured to prevent Malolactic fermentation, then aged on the lees and stirred twice a week before being bottled. The winery's 244 acres allow for multiple block blending that adds nuance. Stewart Napa Valley 2023 ($36). The grapes come 100% from the Money Lane Vineyard in the Oakville AVA. The vintage was a cool one, allowing the grapes to mature slowly in autumn to balance sweet and acid components. It is well fruited and at 12.9% alcohol easy to drink as an aperitif and cheeses. Brassfield Estate 2023 ($22). While there is definite fruit on the palate, there is also a crisp acidity that keeps it from being overripe. The vineyard, owned by Jerry Brassfield, is in Lake County, California, on the High Valley AVA known as 'High Serenity Ranch,' where temperature swings of 40 degrees are common. The wine is aged six months and lightly fined and filtered. Appass Appassionata is made by its German owner in a more restrained European style. ionata Über Estate 2022 ($40). ($40). German winemaker Ernst 'Erni' Loosen's has made this SB his 'passion project,' from Oregon's Chehalem Mountains in the Willamette Valley. Given his heritage, Loosens aimed for a more refined European style of SB. He and head winemaker Tim Malone craft the wine to be long-lived, and I think this will be considerably more interesting and balanced in a year or two. Still, now it is one of my favorites. Larkmead Lillie 2022 ($75). With 115 contiguous acres of vineyard, spread across the Napa Valley, Larkmead had been devoted to Bordeaux varietals, floor, redeveloped since 1995 with a single exception. Mornings enjoy a cool, rolling fog that comes from the Chalk Hill Gap in Knights Valley, and evenings cool down drastically. According to vineyard manager Nabor Camerina, he compares Lillie to a Chardonnay: 'The nose may be aromatically in tune with its variety, but the palate possesses the weight and gravitas of a Chardonnay.' J. de Villebois 2023 ($23). Typical of the restraint the better French SBs show, this example comes from a family winery owned by Joost and Miguela de Willebois, located in the Loire Valley with a Touraine appellation. The alcohol is a sensible 12.5% for a SB, and the acidity is very refreshing and the minerality delicious throughout a citrus-dominated palate. They began making SB in 2004 and it is now their flagship wine, along with making Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre of high quality. Andica 2024 ($13). A very well priced Chilean SB made by the major winery Miguel Torres in the Curicó Valley. It's got pleasing heft in its 13.5% alcohol, and was aged in stainless steel until bottle last June. Its pale green-gold color is like polished brass, and the herbs are in tandem with the aromas and acids to make it an excellent wine with shellfish. Double Diamond 2023 ($55). Napa's Double Diamond is well known for its red wines, but this is their first white, in its second year of release. The grapes come from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville and Wappo Hill (Stags Leap District), which gives them intensity and concentration of flavor and aromas. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown blends 80% SB with 20% Semillon (as is often the case in France), spending ten months in both steel and oak barrels, to emerge at a big 14.5% alcohol. This Sauvignon Blanc was made to age for a few years to meld flavors. Ink Grade 2022 ($75). Produced by Matt Taylor from older vines, this is a very expensive example made from grapes in Napa's Howell Mountain that are pressed longer than usual 'to build structure and expose a minor note of bitterness in the finish.' He also recommends a double or triple decanting right now to sew together its virtues, but that he believes 'it will open on its own in 2026.' As such it is a fine SB that will go especially well with poultry as well as seafood in rich sauces.
