LEXPERT MAGAZINE
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018 73
TRAVEL
Perfect the Art of
Wonder in South Africa
Explore the nature, wine and art of Africa's southernmost nation
plier's invoice to the LCBO. You can waive the need
for a lab analysis, though by so doing you absolve the
LCBO of any liability concerning the condition of
the wine."
However, says Trenholme, if this wine-loving law-
yer decided he wanted to get into a hobby business of
importing the wine, he would have to first determine
if the winery already had an importing agent.
He would then have to present the liquor board
with a letter of agreement between himself and the
winery "that they have contracted you as their im-
porting agent in Ontario or any other province. You
would then obtain a licence from the appropriate
provincial authority [in Ontario, $35 for a two-year
renewable licence] to represent the winery and then
you could make offers to the liquor control board of
this wine."
Pricing your wine: e ex-cellar price quoted by
the winery is subject to freight and duty. To this fig-
ure the LCBO adds its 75.5-per-cent markup, plus a
handling fee of $14.50; then, an 80-cent-per-bottle
environmental fee, a glass levy of five cents per bottle,
and finally HST. If you take the supplier's quote and
multiply by 200 per cent, you'll get close to the figure
you wish to charge per bottle.
"You could be looking at LCBO orders of any-
where from 300 cases to 1,000 cases, depending on
the wine and the availability from the supplier," says
Trenholme. "Let's say the cantina had an allocation
of 50 cases and Vintages rejected it because it wasn't
sufficient stock for them to merchandise. You would
have to canvas friends and restaurants and get a com-
mitment to buy. en you put the order in and the
liquor board will facilitate the order through Spe-
cialty Services."
Agents work on commission, Trenholme notes, so
there's one built into the price at which the supplier
sells the product to the liquor board, generally 10 to
15 per cent on top of the supplier's net export price,
with "some promotional allowance" possibly added.
Ordering 50 cases means one would have to pre-
sell it. "You've ordered five cases initially, so take
one case and invite all the partners in the firm to
come into the boardroom and taste the wine and
then convince them to buy a case or two. Get them
to sign some forms, pay the deposit and take all that
paperwork to the LCBO or SAQ and they'll com-
municate with the supplier."
On the upside, as a registered agent you can write
off some of your international travel and wines that
you buy. e people who own wineries are, in gen-
eral, very hospitable and very generous. So, you'd be
entering an amazing world.
ARE YOUR BOARDROOM DEBATES lacking pizazz? Your cross-exami-
nations missing their punch? Why not swap the five Ws of interrogation for the
three Ws of South African relaxation? e country famous for jaw-dropping
wildlife, iconic heroes and incredible views has plenty to offer travelers looking
for some R & R. Need a reason to go now? Here are three.
>
Wine: Head to the western cape to sample the earthy, South African-
created Pinotage. Mix your winetasting with powerful history with a stop in
Stellenbosch; the city that once set the model for apartheid is now at the heart
of initiatives that give back to neighbouring townships. Sleep at the Mont Ro-
chelle; this Richard Branson-owned hotel and vineyard in Franschoek places
you in perfect proximity to the town and its cra vendors. For a more low-key
sampling, head for the township shebeens, or little local bars. In Atteridgeville
township you'll hear locals singing the praises of Pheli Wines founder Moya-
habo Anna Seemola, one of the first black female winemakers in the coun-
try. www.virginlimitededition.com; www.pheliwines.com
>
Wilds: Safari is the main reason people head for this region. If you're look-
ing to see the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants and Cape buf-
falo), Kruger National Park is likely on your list. But if you're aer a more inti-
mate experience, consider a trip to the eastern cape. At Kariega Game Reserve
(pictured) you'll find big game making their way across more than 10,000
hectares of pristine wilderness. Sipping your morning coffee while watching gi-
raffe roam will soothe your soul. When you're done for the day, curl up in one
of nine tented rooms at the luxurious Settlers Dri Lodge. www.kariega.co.za
>
Wow: e end of apartheid reintroduced South Africa's creative arts scene
to the world. e newest museum making waves around the world is the Zeitz
Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. e innovative muse-
um, housed in a former grain silo, pushes the envelope. Prefer something more
grassroots? Take the Past Experiences Graffiti walking tour in Johannesburg.
Created by Jo Buitendach in partnership with the communities she visits,
you'll get a community-minded view of the history, art and architecture
of this vibrant city. www.pastexperiences.co.cza ; https://zeitzmocaa.museum
| DETOURS |
Heather Greenwood Davis is a lawyer and contributing
editor to National Geographic Traveler.
Tony Aspler is the author of 17 books on wine,
including his latest, Canadian Wineries.
PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY
OF
KARIEGA
