For a brief, shining moment at the end of April, London was the centre of the global social network as "waity Katie" caught her "Big Willie".
But the Financial Time's Lex column was on the money when attributing a financial script to the nuptials. "The marriage of William Wales and Catherine Middleton may be remembered not so much as a magical fairytale but as a hard-edged business case study" planned and flawlessly executed by Middleton Inc.

Sodra Suid-Afrikaaners hul wyne en wynstreke plaaslik goed ken, steek hulle voelers uit na wat mens by ander lande se wyne kan leer. Nonnie Dedekind het gesels met Wayne Visser, wyninvoerder end eienaar van Great Domaines in Johannesburg, en Derek Klipin, ook van Great Domaines, wat wyn invoer wat andersins nooit hier beskikbaar sou wees nie.

As the temperature dives, we light the fire, make something deliciously comforting for dinner, and switch from light, crisp summer whites to full-bodied, robust wines. We chatted to a few local wine fundis to find out what they'll be drinking.

Michel Morand, CEO Auberge Michel
My absolute favourite wine this winter is Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France. I love the wines from the Rhone valley - they have a great complexity and age very well.

Winnie's Poo
The latest vintages of Pol Roger champagne(shampoo in luvvie-speak) were recently released.

It's always a good idea to be wary of campagne salesmen. After all, this was the profession of Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi foreign minister who ended up hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg trials. But lunch with Laurent d'Harcourt, export director of Pol Roger Champagne at Westcliff, was a date not to be missed - both for the formidable fizz and the fact that Sven Niederbremer is back in the Westcliff kitchen.

Over the years, Pol Roger champagnes have developed a reputation of noble distinction. Established in 1849, they were the label of choice to Sir Winston Churchill, and currently enjoy the favour of the British Royal Family.

In the recent introduction of Pol Roger champagnes to the South African market, true connoisseurs can celebrate the art of fine living with materpieces from their portfolio of vintage and non-vintage champagnes.