ISSUE ST

Transcription

1 ISSUE LUXURY Country Life Magazine 31ST

2 EXCLUSIVE FREEHOLD APARTMENTS BY THE RIVER SPREE IN BERLIN Energy performance certificate: end energy consumption kwh/(m²a), energy source: district heating, year of construction: 2014, energy efficiency class B. An extraordinary residential complex has been built right on the banks of the River Spree in Berlin Mitte: BE MITTE is offering prestigious freehold apartments directly opposite the Jannowitzbrücke suburban rail station in the heart of the German capital, with exquisite views as far as the TV tower. Thanks to its central location, the new building project ticks all the boxes: whether it s Alexanderplatz, Museum Island or the Gendarmenmarkt BE MITTE is only a stone s throw from the highlights of central Berlin. Suburban and underground rail services are easy to reach by foot, while two popular local recreational areas, Märkisches Ufer and Köllnischer Park, are in the neighbourhood too. Situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac, BE MITTE s 123 apartments and quiet inner courtyards fit in stylishly with the renovated historic buildings that define the neighbourhood. The location is popular, and as a result demand is high. There are currently only a few apartments still available. With 4 rooms and living areas ranging from 99 m² to 134 m², the apartments are ready to receive tenants and provide extensive living and dining areas with open-plan kitchens, spacious bedrooms and not one but two open-air havens a loggia and balcony or two roof terraces in the part of the building on the River Spree, with a captivating view that reaches from the water to the TV tower. Sales are commission-free, direct from the property developers

3 EDITORIAL Dear Readers, Nowhere else is Polo on Snow celebrated with so much style and elegance as in St. Moritz and Kitzbühel. Wrapped in elegant winter coats, perfectly catered for with champagne and exquisite canapes, watching the hustle and bustle in the snow arena from the seated safety of the gallery inspires each year anew. Next to the impressions from the tournaments in St. Moritz and Kitzbühel, we had a look behind the scenes and show the work of the specialists for the construction of the snow arenas in this edition. Unnoticed by the public, they invest countless hours before the polo players and their top athletes on four hooves deliver heated fights for the trophies of the two world-leading snow polo events on the ice-cold grounds. From the snow in Europe, we dare to jump to the Emirates and to be specific to the McLaren Silver Cup, passing briefly in review the final of the Argentine Open and move on to the USA, the Ylvisaker Cup, the Miami Beach Polo and the Joe Barry Memorial Cup. Photo: Kathrin Gralla Top chefs refer to them as the strongest legitimate athlete in fine dining: truffles. Our brief truffle guide introduces you to the secrets of this exceptional delicacy. Italy is home to the famous white Alba truffles, Spain and France are considered strongholds for black truffles, however, in South Africa, a pioneer is successfully cultivating Périgord truffles too. We visited Volker Miros and his Woodford Truffle Lodge on the outskirts of the Karoo. The innovative farmer has developed a method that enables truffles to grow in the Cape. After the export business has started successfully, Woodford Truffles has now launched a flagship project that opens the way to farmers in South Africa into the lucrative truffle business. We are delighted announce the new Platinum Partner of the Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Zeitz MOCAA Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. More about the new exhibition of Penny Siopis at the Zeitz MOCAA in our art section. Birgit Hügli-Herrmann Publisher & Owner LUXURY Christoph Hügli Chief Executive Officer Country Life Magazine I hope you enjoy the new edition of our Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine. Yours, Birgit Hügli-Herrmann Our Platinum Partner 3 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

4 CONTENTS Polo 34 th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz...6 No way lead past Rommy Gianni and his Cartier Team at the world s best Snow Polo tournament Baku Moritz Polo Award An award to recognise outstanding achievements in polo 16 th Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup Kitzbühel The host Team Bendura Bank takes home the trophy Preparation of the snow polo arenas in St. Moritz and Kitzbühel Fighting with and against nature for the safe grip of the horses th Argentine Open in Palermo La Dolfina wins its 11 th Palermo title its fifth victory in a row The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation and the King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament Benefits for Thailand s elephants once a year gentle giants are the heroes on the polo ground Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series In the last seconds Pablo Mac Donough saved the McLaren Cup for Zedan Ezra Global Tour 2018 hosted at the Rugby & Polo Club in Warwickshire, UK Attracting the young generation towards polo 22 Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach Valiente etches their name on the Ylvisaker Cup Beach Polo World Cup in Miami Impressions of the world s largest Beach Polo tournament 2018 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club Modere misses the mark as Tonkawa takes the title Cars Classic Cars Review Arizona auctions Good demand and high bids at the beginning of the year in the USA Cover picture: Kathrin Gralla/ 4

5 CONTENTS Gourmet Truffles only the Real thing is a superfood Why the Queen of Alba prefers a bed of creamed spinach and fried egg Woodford Truffles SA The heart of the young and aspiring commercial production of Périgord truffles in South Africa 38 Uruguay and its wine regions Explore the picturesque wine routes at the River of painted birds Lifestyle Leadership for Conservation in Africa relies on own methods of on-site help LCA is catalyst between the benefactors and the beneficiaries Art 44 Museum Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town This is a True Story Penny Siopis films brought together for the first time in Africa Hugh Masekela Gallery...61 The newly named Hugh Masekela permanent gallery is now officially open to the public Travel Safari of a lifetime in Namibia Combination of BMW X5 horsepower and pony power Riding with the giraffes 54 The Dubai Frame world s largest picture frame The new face of Dubai 58 5 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

6 POLO 34 th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz No way lead past Rommy Gianni and his Cartier Team at the world s best Snow Polo tournament The champions: Team Cartier (from left to right) Juan Cruz Greguoli, Rommy Gianni, Dario Musso and Chris Hyde Juan Bollini (Team Badrutt s Palace) and Chris Hyde (Team Cartier) 6

7 POLO Photos: Kathrin Gralla/Toni Ramirez Polo World Cup on Snow St. Moritz By Birgit Hügli-Herrmann The final of the 34 th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz ended with the third consecutive win for Cartier captain Rommy Gianni and a monumental seventh win for Chris Hyde. Once again, 15,000 spectators experienced three amazing polo days with hard-fought matches on a high sporting level, luxury and a hospitality at its best in the sunny heart of the Engadin. A victory in St. Moritz is the knighthood for every polo player. Therefore, every year the elite of the polo players have a rendezvous in the Engadin. Cartier with Dario Musso, Chris Hyde, Rommy Gianni and Juan Cruz Greguoli got off to a great start, but Hissam Ali Hyder and his team fought brilliantly up to goals at the end of the third chukka. For tension in the final fourth chukka was taken care of. Here Chris Hyde unfolded all his skills and brought Cartier with a dream goal with in front. Despite heroic efforts, Maserati failed to catch up in the remaining 1.41 minutes. Cartier s Red Devils won The Cartier Trophy and with it the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2018 the third consecutive win for captain Rommy Gianni and a monumental seventh win for Chris Hyde. Laurence Bourgeois, Cartier Managing Director (Switzerland) 7 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

8 POLO Juan Cruz Greguoli Morgan van Overbroek, Sébastien Le Page, owner Polo Park and Country Club Zurich and Reto Gaudenzi, CEO Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Lala Laplacette In the match for third place, the Teams Azerbaijan Land of Fire and Badrutt s Palace met again. The day before, Azerbaijan s newcomers won against last year s finalist Badrutt s Palace with 9-4 goals. By halftime the scoreboard read 3-2 in Azerbaijan s favor and the goal scoring bonanza didn t stop there. Despite efforts from top goal scorer Melissa Ganzi and her team, the players from Azerbaijan had the luck on their side and by the beginning of the final chukka it looked like it was all over. But, showing true resilience Badrutt s Palace came back fighting, with a goal in the final moments, however it just wasn t enough, and Azerbaijan rode away the winners 5-4. Adrian Laplacette Jr. (Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire) in a fight with Gerardo Mazzini (Team Maserati) Nicholas Colquhoun-Denvers, president Federation of International Polo, with Kristina and Piero Dillier (member FIP Executive Committee)

9 POLO The final: Hard fight for the ball between Juan Cruz Greguoli (Team Cartier) and Gerardo Mazzini (Team Maserati) Dario Musso was awarded as Most Valuable Player whilst the Best Playing Pony rug was presented to Zedan, played by Musso. Unsurprisingly, the Best Playing Patron was presented to the Cartier captain Rommy Gianni. Melissa Ganzi, captain Badrutt s Palace Team The voice of polo Jan-Erik Franck with the December edition of the Polo Luxury and Country Life Magazine 9 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

10 POLO Baku Moritz Polo Award 2018 An award to recognise outstanding achievements in polo Luis Garrahan and Maria Lia Garrahan with Bahruz Nabiyev, Secretary General of the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic The idea of bringing together St. Moritz and Baku during the Arena World Cup goes back to General Elchin Guliyev, President of the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic and Chief of Azerbaijan State Border Service, and Reto Gaudenzi, President of World Polo, who felt that the thread of polo that both cities shared was worth honouring. The perfect occasion was to be the 2016 Arena World Cup in Baku. Yves Gardiol, CEO of the Badrutt s Palace Hotel, joined in the collaboration, and ever since, the Baku Moritz Night has been celebrated; in Baku in the summer and in St. Moritz in the winter during the Snow Polo World Cup. Each evening is undoubtedly the social highlight of the respective event. 10

11 POLO Historians trace back the origins of the sport to the ancient states situated on the territory of modern Azerbaijan. According to some historians, the game of Chovqan, the precursor to modern polo, was played in Azerbaijan as long as 3,000 years ago. St. Moritz, on the other hand, is the cradle of the variant played on ice snow polo, which was invented right here in In keeping with the tradition of the Silk Road, an ancient route starting from ancient China which traversed Asia and Europe. Today s polo plays an important role for tourism in both Baku and St. Moritz economically and for the sport. Photos: Toni Ramirez for Polo World Cup on Snow St. Moritz The publisher and owner of Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine, Birgit Hügli-Herrmann, approached Reto Gaudenzi with the idea of creating an award to recognise outstanding achievements in polo from the best coverage of the sport in the media to individuals, groups, organisations or institutions which have contributed significantly to advancing polo worldwide; and so the Baku Moritz Polo Award was born. The prize will be presented annually, alternating between the two locations of St. Moritz and Baku. The Committee that will decide on the recipient of the award consists of: Elchin Guliyev, President of the Equestrian Federation of Azerbaijan Republic; Dr. Piero Dillier, Vice President of FIP, the world governing body of polo; Reto Gaudenzi, the founder of Snow Polo and President of World Polo GmbH; Birgit Hügli-Herrmann, owner and publisher of Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine, as well as Yves Gardiol, CEO of Badrutt s Palace Hotel. The first Baku Moritz Polo Award goes to Maria Lia and Luis Garrahan and Dr. Adrian Laplacette. Maria Lia and Luis Garrahan are the publishers and editors of Polo International. They get the award for their exceptional coverage. In the opinion of the panel of judges, Polo International has been the world s leading polo trade magazine for decades! Dr. Adrian Laplacette played polo all over the world, his peak had a handicap of +6. He won the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz four times. Dr. Laplacette trained generations of polo players from all over the globe at the Alegria Polo Farm. He was the coach for the Swiss National Polo Team who won a bronze medal at the European Championship. Dr. Adrian Laplacette was the first coach of the Azerbeijan Polo Team. Together with his brother Raul he is the motor of the impressive development that the polo sport has taken in Azerbaijan. Dr. Adrian Laplacette with General Elchin Guliyev, Chief of Azerbaijan State Border Service 11 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

12 12 The champions 2018 Team Bendura Bank with Tito Gaudenzi, Melissa Ganzi and Alejandro Novillo Astrada with Dr. Andreas Insam, CEO Bendura Bank

13 POLO 16 th Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup Kitzbühel The host Team Bendura Bank takes home the trophy The Snow Polo World Cup in Kitzbühel was entirely to the taste of the title sponsor Bendura Bank. After very exciting preliminary games their team came up in the final against Team Engel & Völkers, against who they d lost two days prior. Following two expertly gained penalties from Bendura Bank captain Melissa Ganzi, Novillo Astrada optimized the play to their advantage, reaching a narrow lead at half-time. The third chukka saw even more power from the Bendura Bank side, as they extended their lead, but Engel & Völkers weren t done yet, answering Bendura Bank s goals and even taking the lead by a half goal, as the chukka closed. Novillo Astrada answered his captain s calls to dominate the final play, with a truly exceptional play, scoring three goals in as many minutes. The final play of the afternoon was a thing of beauty, as Ganzi hit the ball Final between Bendura Bank and Engel & Völkers Philipp Sommer (Team Corum) and Adrian Laplacette Jr. (Team Engel & Völkers) The top scorer of the tournament, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, fresh from a resounding win in the match against Maserati came out fighting together with event organizer Tito Gaudenzi and Melissa Ganzi, ably supporting his play. The Engel & Völkers player had their work cut out, as the match became an Adrian Laplacette vs. Novillo Astrada Argentine extravaganza and as the play progressed it became evident who the leading team would be. Novillo Astrada, later named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, was on fire, taking part in every play. up field to a tentatively waiting Novillo Astrada, strongly defended by Adrian Laplacette for Engel & Völkers, the crowd held their breath. Expertly twisting his pony to take full control of the ball, Novillo Astrada delicately placed the ball through the posts from under his pony s neck, winning the 16 th Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup Final with a final score of Photos: Snow Polo World Cup Kitzbühel 13 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

14 POLO Corum vs. Maserati Best Playing Pony In the match for third place the defending champion Corum fought against Maserati. At half-time, Corum narrowly had the lead 5.5-5, making use of the all-important ½ goal handicap advantage. Maserati were plagued with injuries, with both Thomas Winter and Caspar Crasemann taking moments out of the play to recover. Corum made the most of these windows, racking up goals with a determined play. At the final bell, despite a flurry of last minute activity from the Maserati, Corum took the Kitzbühel Country Club Cup crown with a close scoreline. The local Polo Club Kitzbühel Team took the victory in the match for the fifth place with against Team Bernd Gruber. Ranking Tito Gaudenzi (Team Bendura Bank) and Adrian Laplacette Jr. (Team Engel & Völkers) Bendura Bank (+12) Melissa Ganzi (+1) USA Alejandro Novillo Astrada (+8) USA Tito Gaudenzi (+3) CH Engel & Völkers (+11) Kutlay Yaprak (0) IRE Augustin Kronhaus (+4) ARG Adrian Laplacette Jr. (+7) ARG Corum (+9) Philip Sommer (+2) GER Lukas Sdrenka (+3) GER Patrick Maleitzke (+4) GER Maserati (+10) Marc Aberle (+1) GER Caspar Crasemann (+4) GER Thomas Winter (+5) GER Polo Club Kitzbühel (+13) Sebastian Schneberger (+2) GER Hector Monserrat (+4) ARG Valentin Novillo Astrada (+7) ARG Bernd Gruber (+9) Steffi von Pock (+1) GER Marty van Scherpenzeel (+2) NL Eduardo Anca (+6) ARG 14

15

16 POLO Preparation of the snow polo arenas in St. Moritz and Kitzbühel Fighting with and against nature for the safe grip of the horses The winter sun seems picturesque, the snow glistens in the arena. Dressed glamorously, the high-society resides in the tribunes cheering with a glass of fine champagne, while the top-class polo teams at the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz and in Kitzbühel deliver thrilling duels. However, before the more than fantastic athletes on four hooves and their riders at the two world s most prestigious snow polo tournaments can fight for victory, specialists are in demand whose work is done in secret. The snow arena measures 220 x 140 meters and is conjured by Dario Pedrolini and his team on the frozen lake in St. Moritz. The arena in Kitzbühel is only half as big, but the challenge is no less demanding for Christian Steinbach and his team. In both places, know-how, organizational work, but also flexibility is required from the specialists to manage the struggle with and against nature. And so much was anticipated, as the playing fields in both places were once again in excellent condition. In St. Moritz, the thickness of the ice surface and its load-bearing capacity is the basic requirement for the construction of the arena. While in the last three years, for lack of snow, the playing field had to be built with about 5,000 cubic meters of artificial snow, the large quantities of snow and relatively warm temperatures on the days before the event challenged the specialists quite a bit. In Kitzbühel it snowed heavily this year too. Here the company Steinbach Alpin is responsible for the preparation of the snow arena. In a first step, the team of chef Gitti Weber condenses the humid underground with the help of the Steinbach Alpin a self-developed injection spray bar. The device, which was developed and patented by Christian Steinmann, has also been used for years in the preparation of ski slopes for World Cup races and at Olympic Winter Games. This is because natural snow is much less dense than artificial snow and therefore must be much more compact. This year we started to condense the floor of the arena early before the event daily due to the heavy snowfall. It took a lot of time, but nature dictates the work plan, explains Dario Pedrolini, adding: We fight with and against nature and always have the goal in mind to create a playing surface, which on the one hand is fast and yet always offers enough grip for the horse hooves. At stops and fast turns a horse can bring up to 3.5 tons of pressure with a hoof on the ground, so the snow cover must withstand a lot. Security is the top priority in our work. Steinbach Alpin

17 POLO Gitti Weber explained his function to us: First we measure the moisture in the subsoil and based on this data we calculate how much water per second is shot into the ground by means of the injection spray bar. With the injection spray bar, we spray pure water in a zigzag pattern under the snow cover. The duration of the treatment and the water pressure decide how hard the playing field becomes. The surface of the arena remains largely dry because the water is injected about 30 cm below the snow surface. In contrast to surface irrigation, the playing surface hardens with the spray bar system from bottom to top. No additional treatment is required before or after the spray bar use. The playing surface, which is treated with the injection spray bar, is very resistant to the strain of horses hooves and the effects of temperature. St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow 17

18 POLO Players of the winning team La Dolfina: Juan M. Nero, Pablo Mac Donough, Pelon Stirling and Adolfo Cambiaso 124 th Argentine Open in Palermo La Dolfina wins its 11 th Palermo title its fifth victory in a row The final at the Cathedral of Polo in Palermo which presented the defending champions La Dolfina against Ellerstina was trilling all the way to the last seconds of the final. La Dolfina won the match by goals. Super star Adolfo Cambiaso who played in the final his 100 th Argentine Open Match actualized his 14 th Palermo title. It was the 11 th final-triumph for La Dolfina. By David D Hondt 18

19 POLO The fourth consecutive meeting in the Open final started off with Ellerstina being fast out of the blocks and led 3-1 (2 x Polito Pieres, 1 x Gonzalito Pieres, 1 x Adolfo Cambiaso) after the first chukka but La Dolfina came back in the second (goals from Cambiaso and Mac Donough & Polito) be 4-3 down. By the end of the third, La Dolfina led 5-4 through two Cambiaso goals to no response from Ellerstina. However, two quick Polito Pieres goals at the start of the fourth had Ellerstina back in the lead temporarily until two penalties by Cambiaso and Juan M. Nero switched the lead again with La Dolfina leading 7-6 at half time. Both teams had similar shots at Goal to goals scored ratio and both scored all their penalties (La Dolfina 4 and Ellerstina 1) with La Dolfina winning throw-ins 9-4. Team Ellerstina vs. Land Rover 19 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

20 POLO The final teams La Dolfina (+40) Adolfo Cambiaso (+10) (8 goals / 6 penalties) Pelon Stirling (+10) Pablo Mac Donough (+10) (goals 2) Juan M. Nero (+10) (4 goals / 2 penalties) Ellerstina (+39) Polito Pieres (+9) (goals 8 / 1 penalty) Gonzalito Pieres (+10) (1 goal) Facundo Pieres (+10) (3 penalties) Nicolás Pieres (+10) (1 goal) 20

21 POLO In the first half, we saw an evenly balanced match. Polito Pieres scored twice at and by halfway through the fifth Ellerstina were back in the lead until Cambiaso scored La Dolfina s fifth penalty to level at 8 apiece. Two more penalties put La Dolfina 10-8 up in the sixth, then Facundo Pieres scored a penalty (10-9) but Pablo Mac Donough scored a field goal to go 11-9 up at the end of the sixth. Cambiaso scored another penalty then Juanma scored a field goal to give La Dolfina a four-goal lead Nicolás Pieres scored a field goal (13-10) shortly before the end of the penultimate chukka. At this stage in the match La Dolfina had scored 9 of their 10 penalties and Ellerstina had scored 2 from 2 penalties. Ellerstina were not down and out, with two more Facundo Pieres penalties (his 60-yarder levelled the score) bracketing a Polito Pieres field goal the scores were level at and the match moved into overtime. La Dolfina took advantage of an air shot (a glory shot attempt) by Polito Pieres to regain possession and Cambiaso launched a long pass which was picked up by Juan M. Nero who scored the winning goal taking La Dolfina to a win, their fourth consecutive win against Ellerstina. An exciting and close match but I can t help feeling that the large number of goals from penalties that La Dolfina scored took away from the spectacle. Having said that, they showed yet again that they know how to win and one of the reasons was possession of the ball. La Dolfina won 18 throw ins to Ellerstina s 7. But I am sure: Ellerstina will be back next year. SAFARI OF A LIFETIME NAMIBA 1-11 SEPT 2018 Embark on the Safari of a Lifetime to exotic Namibia! Experience the perfect combination of horse riding, game viewing, cultural encounters & off-road adventures. Ride with a herd of wild giraffes and canter up high into the Otjihavera mountains. Visit the world famous Sossusvlei and meet the local Bushman. Explore Etosha National Park and come eye to eye with the legendary Big Five. Conquer the Namib Desert in your 4x4 and stay in luxurious Safari lodges across this stunning country. Take million-dollar shots and gather unforgettable memories on this unique horse lovers tour. Photos: AAP / Mathias Callejo Due to high demand, only limited slots are available. Secure your space by contacting: info@sonnenkind.com Awards Top Scorer of the tournament: Polito Pieres (38 goals) Fomento Equino Cup to the Best Mounted of the final: Adolfo Cambiaso Best mounted of the tournament: Juan Martín Nero Tito Lezcano Trophy: Juan M. Aneas and Gustavo Gómez Fair Play Award: Pablo Mac Donough Fair Play of the final by the Players Association: Gonzalito Pieres Best Playing Pony by Lady Susan Townley: Dolfina Clone 09 Cuartetera played by Adolfo Cambiaso Best Playing Pony by the Breeders Association: Dolfina Clone 09 Cuartetera 21

22 POLO The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation and the King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament Benefits for Thailand s elephants once a year gentle giants are the heroes on the polo ground The King s Cup Opening Elephant Parade Established in 2006, the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) was set up to improve the plight of Thailand s elephants. Since then its scope has increased to include welfare projects that incorporate wider philanthropic and cultural objectives across broader Southeast Asia. Since the foundation s inception more than 40 elephants have been rescued from Thailand s city streets, accompanied by their entire mahout family. Recognising the cultural significance of mahouts whilst staying committed to the ideals of creating elephant friendly circumstances, a broader community development programme for mahouts and their families has been implemented. Through this programme English lessons are provided for mahouts and their wives, education programmes offered for their children and a silk making enterprise for the mahout s wives has been established, with all profits from sales going back directly to the wives. 22

23 POLO Elephants are very talented in polo. Visitors of the King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament in Bangkok will be able to see for themselves since many years. The 16 th competition will celebrate from 8 th to 11 th March in Bangkok. The King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament hots spectators, players from across Asia and all corners of the globe to join and celebrating Thailand s national animal. The King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament with its gentle giants is a highlight of the society annual and it serves a good purpose for Thailand s elephants. dipego/fotolia.com Mahout having a moment with his elephant Every elephant attending the King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament has a unique microchip number which is required by law which means the Thai authorities know she was not taken from the wild. All the elephants used are members of the Zoological Parks Organisation (ZPO) under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King s Elephant Kingdom project and they have all been submitted to DNA tests in order to enroll. The elephants receive no specific training to play polo. The ZPO s Elephant Kingdom have selected elephants that like to run around and enjoy themselves in their friendship groups to participate in the tournament and consequently tend to easily pick up the game. The elephants should not get tired so they only play for 28 minutes each day compared with working 10 hours a night on the streets or 10 to 12 hours a day in a trekking camp as they would have done before enrolling in Elephant Kingdom. Nowadays, despite Elephant Kingdom s best efforts these elephants tend to spend 24 hours a day on short chains at home often isolated from their elephant friends, Elephant Polo helps demonstrate to their mahouts and owners that appropriate limited exercise and elephant interaction is good for the elephants and can be achieved safely without the use of traditional coercive tools. 23 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

24 POLO The King s Cup elephant buffet Little elephant at Chang Noi Day (Children s Day) GTAEF a voice for the elephants In addition to performing street rescues the GTAEF cooperates with the Thai government and other organisations in projects including supporting scientific research and clinics using vehicles to government elephant hospitals in Lampang & Krabi; sending their team of expert vets to assist elephants throughout Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos; developing scientific positive reinforcement training techniques for elephants; reducing human elephant conflict in Thai national parks and building the world s first and only research facility dedicated to researching elephant intelligence and behavior. Working with local partner Wildlife Alliance, GTAEF, along with their parent company Minor International, have successfully funded and implemented the protection of 18,000 hectares of standing forest in Cambodia s elephants as assistant therapists for children living with autism; donating equipment and Cardamom Mountains, the only remaining link between elephant territories to the north and south of the country. Since protection, the wildlife has become visible and wild elephants have started using the forest again. The GTAEF has had unprecedented success in creating positive outcomes for both wild and captive elephants, helping provide a voice for these incredible creatures. The story behind the game What started out as a whimsical conversation between two quirky sport lovers and philanthropists in the late 1990 s has evolved into one of the biggest annual charity events in Thailand. The King s Cup Elephant Polo tournament was first launched in the royal seaside town of Hua Hin by Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa in Since the first tournament Anantara has rescued over 50 street elephants, 30 of which, now enjoy a comfortable lifestyle at Anantara Golden Triangle s onsite Elephant Camp. However, the annual event allows a further 20 young elephants to be taken off the streets for the duration of the tournament, providing them with the best food possible, as well as the only proper veterinary check and vitamins they receive all year. Street life can be brutal for an elephant, walking through crowded tourist areas and busy roads for ten hours a night, forced to rest during the day on small green spaces within the cities, often without shade and water. The King s Cup schedule is deliberately designed to give these elephants rest and relaxation on a scale they are never afforded in their normal lives. Elephants are a proud cultural symbol of Thailand s history. Nothing but the utmost respect is given to these pachyderms and all proceeds from the tournament are used to ensure a comfortable lifestyle, sustenance, medical treatment and employment, as well as mahout training. Elephants enjoy running around and playing games and the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation has several areas for the elephants to free roam and the young ones to play, which they ll do for hours at a time. High energy food is a rare treat for these elephants but is essential for all athletes at the tournament the vets and elephant nutritionists have designed a special diet for them with suppliers of the best fodder from around the country in addition to being provided with veterinary and vitamin supplements. Photos: Mark Thomson The tournament s largest expense is maintaining and pampering the elephants this is on top of the money raised for charity during the event and at the gala dinners which is used for more strategic projects that benefit all of Southeast Asia s elephants, captive and wild, including improving the facilities and vet care at these elephants home in Elephant Kingdom. Descriptions of some of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation s recent projects can be found in their tent on site. Each elephant receives a veterinary check by the Zoological Parks Organisation under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King s vets before she is declared it to play each day those that fail don t lose their bonuses, they just get prescribed rest and elephant interaction something often not possible throughout the rest of the year. 24

25 HAUTE COUTURE IN WOOD EMME PASSION JOINING DREAMS AND LIVING Röthlisberger AG ~ CH-3535 Schüpbach

26 POLO Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series In the last seconds Pablo Mac Donough saved the McLaren Cup for Zedan Zedan Polo Team is the champion of the McLaren Cup, the first trophy of the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series 2018, 18 goal handicap competition, after defeating Bin Drai Polo in the final by 9 goals to 8.5 at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club. Team Zedan: Champions of the McLaren Cup Photos: Gonzalo Etcheverry 26

27 POLO Habtoor raised the Hildon Cup Before the final of the McLaren Cup, Habtoor Polo Team defeated UAE Polo by 11 goals to 8 to win the Hildon Cup. Bautista Urbina (Habtoor) and Polito Pieres (UAE) were the top scorers of the match with 5 goals each. Team Al Habtoor: Winners of the Hildon Cup Raúl Laplacette (Team Bin Drai) was awarded as Most Valuable Player of the final of the McLaren Cup Cruzeiro played by Raúl Laplacette was awarded as the Best Playing Pony It was an exciting final day with a perfect ending for a great tournament. Zedan achieved another trophy, and it s the fourth title in a row in the Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series, after winning the Gold Cup in 2015 and 2017 and the Silver Cup in 2016 and Pablo Mac Donough, ten-goaler and La Dolfina superstar, once again was the hero after scoring a 30- yard penalty in the last action of the final to give Zedan the victory. A worked-up triumph against Bin Drai who fought really hard and had their chances to win the game. The talent of Mac Donough to twist a match that with 38 seconds to go was almost lost and to score the winning goal from the 30 yards made the difference. A big applause for Bin Drai who fought to the last second and played a great match. With 5 goals Raúl Laplacette, the top player of Team Bin Drai, was awarded as the Most Valuable Player and top scorer of the final and also his horse Cruzeiro was awarded as the Best Playing Pony. 27 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

28 photography by: Justin Patrick The FUNCTIONAL boot bag Live design by Rarity

29 POLO Photos: Calcutta Polo Club The winners of the Ezra Cup 2018: Team Bristol ACI with Michael Popp, Robin Ormerod and Magnus Gilje Ezra Global Tour 2018 hosted at the Rugby & Polo Club in Warwickshire, UK Attracting the young generation towards polo Ezra Cup, the first ever polo trophy in the world, is named after David Elias Ezra, a leading Jewish business tycoon in Calcutta who patronized the sport in the city. The first Ezra Cup was held in When the trophy turned 135, the Calcutta Polo Club decided to take the trophy, to top-five polo centres at different continents of the globe. This will give polo enthusiasts in each segment an opportunity to come, watch and be a part of Ezra Global Tour. Post the successful launch of Ezra Global Tour in Singapore 2017, the second chapter of Ezra was organized in the United Kingdom. This time Ezra was a part of SUPA i.e. Schools & Universities Polo Association, UK. SUPA was established to promote polo among the schools and universities. Calcutta Polo Club with its royal heritage stands as an embodiment of grace and panache. It is the oldest polo club in the world and its motto is to craft bespoke content to spread the love for polo. The different initiatives are aimed at attracting the young generation towards this royal game to keep the heritage alive. Making Ezra Global Tour is one of those initiatives to spread the love of polo amongst the polo fraternity outside the country. Final of the Ezra Cup 2018 between Team Bristol University and Team Bristol ACI The finalists of SUPA Open competed for the Ezra Cup. The match was held in February at the Rugby & Polo Club at the Onley Grounds Farm in Warwickshire, UK. It was played between the teams Bristol University and Bristol ACI. Team Bristol ACI with the players Michael Popp, Robin Ormerod and Magnus Gilje won Ezra 2018 after a close encounter. This was the first time that the Ezra traveled to the British Kingdom. It was a treat for the polo fraternity around the globe. To witness the oldest polo trophy in the country that made the game popular was a wonderful experience for the polo enthusiasts in UK. Calcutta Polo Club signs off the Ezra Global Tour, 2018 with a promise to make it larger in the coming years and keep the heritage alive. 29 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

30 POLO Eager to pull out the ultimate upset of the Ylvisaker Cup tournament, finalist GSA challenged Valiente for the prestigious title on February 25, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Previously losing by one goal in their first tournament match up, GSA s valiant effort for redemption ultimately came up short, Valiente outscoring their opponent 8-6. Photos: David Lominska Riddled by penalties, play slowed in the second half as a determined GSA fought to shut down Valiente s set plays. Opening the fourth with an undefended Penalty 2 conversion from the spot, Cambiaso dominated the fourth and fifth, scoring four consecutive goals, including three off the penalty line. Not to be underestimated, Henry Porter continued to confidently pursue players well above his handicap. Gonzalez received a yellow flag in the fifth and immediately took out his frustration by working the ball down field past Santi Torres to score GSA s first goal since the third. Ylvisaker Cup at the International Polo Club Palm Beach Valiente etches their name on the Ylvisaker Cup Valiente s Santi Torres and GSA s Mariano Gonzalez By United States Polo Association Anticipating strong, fast polo, GSA s Mariano Gonzalez took the ball straight to goal within the first minute of play, Valiente nimbly responding with two of their own. Competitive throughout the first half, both teams courageously battled for the edge that would put them ahead. Two unanswered goals gave GSA the lead after the second. Recognizing an opening in the third, Adolfo Cambiaso picked up a loose ball scored an easy goal. A final goal by Matias Magrini ended the half 4-3 in favor of GSA, with each teammate contributing one a piece Ylvisaker Cup winners Team Valiente with Bautista Panelo, Bob Jornayvaz, Santi Torres, Adolfo Cambiaso 30

31 POLO Heading into the final chukker 7-5, Valiente was unstoppable and sealed the win with a final pass up to Torres who put the ball between the goal posts. Relentless until the end, GSA displayed strategic player positioning and managed to pick up the last goal by Dylan Rossiter, ending the game with a win for Valiente 8-6. Reflecting on his first high-goal tournament, Bautista Panelo was happy with the day s outcome. I have worked with Valiente since 2014, and work with the horses, said Panelo. Chance and Aerea, my fourth and fifth chukkers were bred from La Dolfina. I trained them, and so my happiness is doubled getting to play horses that I have trained. I never imagined that I would be here playing. They told me in December that I was on the team, so this is kind of new for me, this professional life. I am trying to stay humble and stick with Valiente, and if they need me for another tournament I ll be ready. Scoring six of Valiente s eight goals, Adolfo Cambiaso was named Most Valuable Player. Bob never won this tournament, so we are happy to win, said Cambiaso. We had an okay game, I think we played better in the semifinals. I was lucky to convert my penalties in the second half and that s what put us back in the game. Best Playing Pony honors were awarded, for the second time in the tournament, to Macarena, a six-year-old grey American Thoroughbred played by GSA s Mariano Gonzalez in the first and fifth chukkers. Adolfo Cambiaso was awarded as Most Valuable Player I Photo: Alex Pacheco Best Playing Pony honors were awarded, for the second time in the tournament, to Macarena, played by GSA s Mariano Gonzalez in the first and fifth chukkers Valiente s Bautista Panelo GSA s Dylan Rossiter and Valiente s Adolfo Cambiaso 31 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

32 POLO Beach Polo World Cup in Miami Impressions of the world s largest Beach Polo tournament Six teams compromised of some of the world s top players, including Nic Roldan, Ricardo Mansur, Rommy Gianny and Juan Bollini, competed throughout the Beach Polo World Cup weekend in Miami. The La Martina Team featuring Riley Ganzi, Juan Bollini and Jesse Bray won the tournament. Nic Roldan of the Macallan Team was named Most Valuable Player. Prize giving ceremony of Team David Yurman 32

33 POLO Kevin O Leary, Tito Gaudenzi and Daymond John 33 Photos: Miami Beach Polo World Cup Polo Luxur y & Countr y Life Magazine Issue

34 POLO This is my first season with Tonkawa, it has always been a dream of mine to play with one of these top teams and I was super excited. Sapo is an amazing player and great to be around because he gives us all confidence. Tonkawa s Sterling Giannico Eager to get on the board, Sterling Giannico nailed a fast backshot to goal, capitalizing on Modere s broken play at the goal mouth and scoring first for Tonkawa. As the first half progressed, it was clear that Tonkawa was working as a well-orchestrated team, shutting down their biggest offensive threat in Hilario Ulloa at every opportunity. Goals continued to elude Modere as several missed shots went wide both on the field and from the penalty line, ending the second 5-1 in favor of Tonkawa. Determined to get Tonkawa s early lead under control, the third chukker saw aggressive plays Tonkawa s Sapo Caset 2018 Joe Barry Memorial Cup winners: Team Tonkawa (left to right) Julian de Lusarreta, Sapo Caset, Sterling Giannico and Jeff Hildebrand 2018 Joe Barry Memorial Cup at Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club Modere misses the mark as Tonkawa takes the title Going head-to-head in a passionate final which would decide the winner of the 2018 Joe Barry Memorial Cup, undefeated Teams Tonkawa and Modere met, to settle the score at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Although Modere played with renewed energy and strategy in the second half, Tonkawa s unity proved insurmountable and they rode away with the title By United States Polo Association 34

35 POLO In a final that became a battle between the two 10-goal captains, Caset led his team to victory and simultaneously achieved the first high-goal tournament win of the season. Modere was really tough. We controlled the first half, but I think they had a really strong fourth chukker and they came back into the game, Caset said. At that point, it was anyone s game, it was really tight and they fought hard; Hilario is really tough. In the last chukker we got the advantage and were able to keep it. Best Playing Pony Lavinia Castellana owned and played by Hilario Ulloa, award presented by Tarrah Marks Zedower, Sales Manager of Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach by both teams continue, leading to the third yellow card of the day against Hilario Ulloa. Fighting every stride for their second goal, Ulloa finally caught a lucky break and ran to goal while teammate Jared Zenni held off two strong defenders. Tripling the scoreboard at halftime 6-2, Tonkawa would see a different Modere return to challenge them in true second half style. Finding their footing in the second half, Modere kicked their game into high gear with four additional goals in the fourth. Slowly creeping up the scoreboard, Ulloa converted two penalty shots in the fifth for the ultimate comeback, tying the score 8-all. Matching Lusarreta s attempt to break the tie, Modere leveled the scoreboard again 9-all heading into the final chukker. Ultimately the green machine powered by Caset could not be stopped, scoring eight out of Tonkawa s 12 total goals, just above his goals per game (GPG) tournament average of 6.5. Modere s Hilario Ulloa and Tonkawa s Sapo Caset Most Valuable Player Sapo Caset pictured with Brenda Lynn of the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame In memoriam Joe Barry The Joe Barry Memorial Cup, started in 2005, honors the great polo legend Joe Barry, who passed away in Appropriately, Tonkawa s home base is in Houston, Texas, and with Barry originally from Texas, the title will return to his home state. In honor of her late husband, Sharon Barry presented awards at the tournament final. Most Valuable Player was awarded to Tonkawa s team captain Sapo Caset. Best Playing Pony honors went to Lavinia Castellana, Ulloa s six-year-old homebred mare whom he rode in the second and sixth chukker. Photos: David Lominska 35 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

36 CARS Classic Cars Review Arizona auctions Good demand and high bids at the beginning of the year in the USA By Filippo Pignatti Morano The Scottsdale Week is the reference, for market movements in the new year. Bonhams, Gooding and RM / Sotheby s together auctioned more than 300 cars in Arizona, therfore a detailed analysis it s worthwhile. The Arizona auctions have all concluded, with preliminary totals coming to $223.7 million. That number sure grew, as postsale deals have been accomplished. Gooding and Company totaled $49 million over its two-day Scottsdale sale, with a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale bringing high-sale honors at just under $8.1 million. RM Sotheby s sale at the Arizona Biltmore saw 112 cars sell for a final total of $36.5 million. The highest sales price was achived from a 1966 Shelby Cobra Semi Competition roadster that made $2.9 million. Bonhams Scottsdale auction totaled $25.2 million, and a 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder was the star of the show, bringing $5.2 million. Barrett-Jackson saw 1721 cars cross the auction block at WestWorld for a final total of $113 million. I think it s worth to highlight the charity aspect of Barrett-Jackson Totals $100 million in Charity Donations. This year s Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction offered ten lots for charity, and when the dust settled, those lots brought a combined $6.21 million. That total pushed Barrett-Jackson s overall charity total past the $100 million mark. Top charity lots this year included the first new-gen Ford GT, sold at $2.5 million, and a 2018 Chevrolet Corvette Carbon 65 Edition, which brought $1.4 million. 36

37 CARS Another record was a noteworthy 1973 Porsche 911 T Targa sold at a stunning $313,000 with Gooding Copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company I Photo by Mathieu Heurtault The first big auction week of 2018 shows that the market seems to be developing fine. One of the next important auction rounds is held in Paris in connection with Retromobile, the most popular car show in Europe, for sure another reference for the classic car market movements. Stock markets around the world have been drastically falling the first week of February 2018, the week of the Paris auction. Driven by fears coming from the States, major indexes in New York, Tokyo and London have suffered steep losses spiked to its highest level in more than two years. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have also had a dramatic correction. Therefore I think that the classic and modern super cars, tangible and emotional assets, will gain more appreaction for non gamblers as a medium/long term investment, with less volatility and not correlated to the financial markets. But not only classic and modern super cars are a reasonable investment, also art, gold, watches, real estates you should not be disregarded. Photo: barrett-jackson.com Record bid for a Porsche 550A Spyder That an interesting racing history is still a guarantor for a high price, was evident with the 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder. With class wins and success at Le Mans or the Nürburgring, the early mid-engined sports car was presented as one of the most important Porsche racers in history and the bidders showed great interest from the very beginning. Bidding started at $3 million and within seconds, $4.1 million were reached. The next jump already led to $4.25 million, then the auctioneer counted the car for the first time. But two bidders kept on fighting until the end and raised the highest bid to $4.7 million, which meant a purchase price of $5.17 million. For sure a price record for a four-cylinder Porsche Porsche 550A Spyder Photos: bonhams.com Filippo Pignatti Morano Classic and supercar collector, market analyst on tangible and emotional assets 37 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

38 GOURMET fotolia.com Truffles only the Real thing is a superfood Why the Queen of Alba prefers a bed of creamed spinach and fried egg By Birgit Hügli-Herrmann 38

39 GOURMET Bos Food Bos Food According to Ralf Bos, what makes the appeal of truffles perhaps the most expensive food is not the price. Otherwise saffron, gold leaf or beluga caviar would be similarly mystified. But they won t. When Beluga becomes more expensive, it simply sells less, full stop. It s something else. I can imagine that it has something to do with the scale. The one who was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy a dish with class ten truffles will never forget this. Especially if it was the first truffle dish of his life. The so infected connoisseurs are called truffle junkies. These truffle junkies drive or fly several times each season for a plate of pasta to Alba or Savignio. Always looking for the same kick they experienced the first time. There are many legends around truffles, but only two varieties the white truffles from Piedmont and the black Périgord truffles among the 300 known truffle varieties make the hearts of true gourmets beat faster. When it comes to discovering and experiencing truffles and the associated pleasure, one cannot get past these two varieties, says Ralf Bos, Germany s largest truffle trader. Known for 25 years in the business and in the scene as the truffle pope, Ralf Bos supports us as an expert, as we delve into the mysterious world of truffles while disclosing some of the secrets of the queen of delicacies and have a look at the international truffle market and its development. 39 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

40 GOURMET The village of Serralunga d Alba It is not a secret that if you want to enjoy truffles, you must be ready to dig deep into your pocket. Black Périgord truffles cost between 1,500 and 2,000 per kilo. White Alba truffles, on the other hand, cost between 3,000 and 5,000 per kilo. The actual price is always depending on supply and demand was a rather bad truffle year and therefore you had to be willing to put between 6,000 8,000 for a kilo on the table. Even in ancient times, the truffle was appreciated, as evidenced by De re Coquinaria, the oldest preserved cookbook of Roman antiquity. Today, professional chefs describe truffles as the strongest legitimate tuner in the upscale gastronomy. Commonly used are the names Alba for the white truffle and Périgord for the black winter truffle. These names date back to the time when the regions of Alba and Périgord were the centres of the white and black truffle trade. This is still true for the white truffle. 40 kursiv.com fotolia.com

41 GOURMET In the season thousands of truffle fans from all over the world pilgrimage to Alba. The reason for this is that the best white truffles in Piedmont are still found in the area around Alba. The white truffle also grows on many ridges in Italy, in neighbouring Istria and also in Croatia. The season of the Périgord truffle begins in Europe in December and ends in March. Winter is in Australia from June to August, which is also the time when the winter truffles are found. In the late 1990s, the company The Truffle & Wine in Western Australia began to cultivate truffles in the heart of the Manjimup. The climatic conditions in the wine region are similar to those in France, the soil is a bit too sour compared to the Périgord and Provence. The Australians rectify this with the addition of lime. At the beginning, they planted 13,000 oak and hazelnut trees vaccinated with mycelium in rows analogous to France and installed huge irrigation systems. After five to six years, the first truffles were found and to this day the harvest is getting better every year. A fact that encouraged less fortunate people in Australia to invest in the truffle business. More than 12 years after the launch of The Truffle & Wine, there were already more than 200 farmers in Australia who cultivated truffles on their land. The Truffle & Wine also continues to expand its truffle fields, with the ambitious long-term goal of becoming the world s largest producer of Périgord truffles. The gourmets will be pleased because the truffle from the area around Manjimup are first quality and so it is not surprising that the annual Manjimup truffle festival The Truffle Kerfuffle already enjoys cult status. The appearance of the Australian winter truffle marked the beginning of a new development on the international truffle market. Since the Australian winter falls on the months June, July and August, the truffle grows Down Under during the time when there are no truffles in Europe. The number of truffles found in Australia has long been so great that new sales markets had to be developed. The gourmets in Asia and the Emirates didn t have to be asked twice. Bos Food The season in Italy starts on the 1 st of October and ends on the 31 st of December. Before and after the season the trade in white truffles is prohibited. In Périgord, on the other hand, only a few percent of the winter truffles are found today. The world s largest producer of Périgord truffles is Spain with 60 tons, followed by France with 20 tons per year. In Italy, 10 tons are found, and the same amount is exported by Australia, but in view of its huge, but still young truffle fields, Down Under is looking forward to becoming a global player in winter truffles in the not too distant future. The best winter truffles come from Western Australia. fotolia.com 41 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

42 GOURMET Fragrance and smell The white Alba truffle unfolds its aroma to 80% in fragrance and only 20% in taste. The exact opposite is true for the winter truffle (black Périgord truffle). As dominant and unmistakable as the white truffle is in its smell, the taste will present a delicate flavour. You will taste the white truffle, but more like a gentle breeze, says truffle expert Ralf Bos. He describes the black winter truffle as follows: It smells seductive and lovely, a little sweet and a bit earthy, but light years away from the dominant presence of the white truffle. While it is still reserved in the scent, the taste is very different. Black truffle has not the slightest trace of bitterness, instead, it enchants with a cornucopia full of beguiling aromas. Some like it hot Truffles should definitely be enjoyed fresh. When it is dug up, it holds all its aroma for three days. After that, it loses 10% of its flavour every day. The white truffle should not be overheated. It develops its aroma best at degrees and only for a short time. Therefore, it is best used cold on hot food, then it unfolds its beguiling smell. Since the taste of the white truffle is not particularly strong, it should not be combined with spicy dishes. Egg dishes are excellent, but also pasta with cream sauce and risotto. For Ralf Bos, on the other hand, there is nothing better than making the white Alba truffle a bed of creamed spinach (with a lot of cream, as he emphasizes), to lay a fried egg on it and then slice the white truffle over it. The combination of cream, egg and truffle is unbeatable, which is the maximum enjoyment that can be obtained from white truffles. For the black winter truffle, Ralf Bos recommends poultry or stew dishes because the Périgord truffle passes its aroma upon heating to the other ingredients. It truffles the food, as one says in the jargon. For the ultimate taste kick, Ralf Bos recommends the variation of garnishing the with truffle prepared food (pasta or mashed potatoes) with thinly sliced black truffles. This is truly the royal road of taste, reveals Ralf Bos with a wink. Slicing or cutting truffles? Again, expert Bos has a clear opinion: Slicing, with a planer that can truly cut very thin. The Large Shaver by Microplane works best. You should only grate the truffle if you want to pile a small hill of truffles on a single piece, such as a ravioli. When asked how much of the truffle should be added in his opinion, Ralf Bos laughs mischievous and says: My thumb rule is that the food that is supposed to be truffled must no longer be visible amongst the truffles. Only those who follow this rule and use the correct truffle will discover the magic of the truffle. For a starter with white truffles, four to five grams are often enough. For a pasta dish as a main course, it should be 15 grams and more. fotolia.com You cannot cultivate truffles The demand is high and therefore there are in the meantime truffle farms all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and also South Africa, which cultivate truffle fields in such a way that all conditions for a successful establishment of the truffle are given. If all climatic and soil chemical conditions are met, the success rate is nevertheless only about 15% percent, and this is only true for black truffles. You cannot cultivate white Alba truffles; this delicacy is gifted only by Mother Nature. The weather has a great influence on the truffle quantity and quality. Good and bad truffle years have always existed. Ralf Bos considers it too simple to blame climate change for this and provides a plausible explanation for his point of view. Otherwise the good truffle areas would have had to move north, which they did not do. 42

43 GOURMET Bos Food fotolia.com Ralf Bos Founder and owner of Bos Food, Germany s largest truffle trader Hardship was the basis for the leap to the top of the world for truffle producers In the absence of sufficient food, at the time of Franco, peasants created huge potato fields on a mountain range in the Spanish Pyrenees. These were accessible only with donkey carts. When dictator Franco died in 1975, many inhabitants of the Pyrenees emigrated to the cities, hoping for work in the cities. By contrast, those who remained behind started to plant oak and hazelnut trees on the now fallow potato fields. This was the cornerstone that would make Spain the most productive land for winter truffles. Today, around 60% of European winter truffles come from Spain. The Spaniards were knowledgeable in planting, but not marketing. And when the truffle harvests reached attractive trade volumes and the roads to the truffle fields were made accessible for off-road vehicles, the French, who had already shown the Spaniards how to put the mycelium in the oak and hazelnut seedlings, once again helped their neighbours. They took over the marketing and imported large quantities of Périgord truffles from Spain ever since. That is why only one in four truffles traded in France today actually originates from France. 43 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

44 GOURMET Woodford Truffles SA The heart of the young and aspiring commercial production of Périgord truffles in South Africa We are on our way to Volker Miros, a German-born farmer who has succeeded in cultivating Périgord truffles of outstanding quality on the edge of the Karoo in South Africa. By Christoph Hügli and Birgit Hügli-Herrmann From the West Coast, we go up country towards Malmesbury, Riebeek- Kasteel, cross the Tulbagh pass and from there to Ceres, a centre of South African fruit production. Further north in the direction of Koue Bokkeveld, the landscape becomes rough and we are happy to have a comfortable 4x4 with our BMW X5, which easily carries us over the natural tracks. Around us, only wild original nature and then we seem to be standing in the middle of nowhere in front of a big gate. We ring, and it does not take long for it to open. We follow the road and after a good kilometre further, we arrive at the Truffle Lodge, where we are greeted warmly by Volker Miros and his son Paul. Paul (left) and Volker Miros, founder and owner of Woodford Truffles SA, with Christoph Hügli and Birgit Hügli-Herrmann, owner of Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine, together with Logotto Patchi in front of the Woodford Truffle Lodge 44

45 GOURMET After a cool refreshment at the cosy Truffle Lodge, Volker and Paul Miros lead us to large greenhouses. There, we learn Woodford Truffles nurses 40,000 oak seedlings every year. At the sight of this substantial number of seedlings, we ask the question: How do you breed truffles? Volker Miros seems to have been waiting for this and laughs. You cannot breed truffles, you have to cultivate them. How this works, we see in the lab and marvel a second time when we learn that Woodford Truffles imports every year 50 kilos of the best Périgord truffles from Europe. This is the basis we start to work with, explains Volker Miros. In a first step, we test DNA from each truffle to make sure it meets our quality specifications. By Christoph Hügli and Birgit Hügli-Herrmann 45 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

46 GOURMET The Woodford nursery is capable of producing over 40,000 truffle trees annually What happens afterwards with the oak seedlings that are grown in sterile soil is secret. Paul tells us only so much: We inoculate the oak seedlings with the substance extracted from the imported truffles, which provokes in the trees the desire for a symbiotic relationship that is the basis for the creation of truffles. In order to know whether the vaccination was successful, the saplings now have to spend another 18 months in the nursery, are repotted several times during this time until they are finally ready to be planted. Volker Miros with Prof. Alexandra Zambonelli discussing seeding techniques in the nursery The oak seedlings are grown in sterile soil 46

47 GOURMET Before we visit the truffle fields in the evening, Volker and Paul invite us to the Truffle Lodge for lunch and while we are excellently catered for, we learn more about the beginnings of Woodford Truffles and the already successful affiliate program with which the landowners and farmers of Volker Miros cultivate truffles on their land and thus open up a new, financially very attractive source of income. But before we get to this impressive project, we can t help but ask, how Volker Miros had the seemingly crazy idea to cultivate truffles in the Cape. His grandfather had aroused his passion for mushrooms, with whom he often gathered mushrooms in the woods around Stuttgart at an early age. His favourite mushrooms were porcini mushrooms, whose aroma had sparked an indelible excitement in him that was so profound that for years he tried to raise porcini mushrooms unsuccessfully in South Africa. I never succeeded, but I am a farmer with body and soul and so failure was not an option, but a challenge for me, laughs Volker Miros. with Renata Coetzeé, he learned about the culinary tradition of the Khoi-Khoi, who search for white Kalahari truffles and use them as an important protein source. When wild truffles were first found on the chalk cliffs of the Southern Cape and scientists proved that it was possible to grow truffles in South Africa, Volker Miros saw his new vocation. He wanted to be the first to cultivate truffles in South Africa. In 2005, Miros began implementing his vision. Together with his son Paul, he flew several times to Europe to learn from truffle experts in Spain, Italy and France. Over the years, father and son developed and refined the spore mix in their own laboratory based on imported Périgord truffles to inoculate oak seedlings. In 2009, Volker Miros then planted the first truffle plantation on his Goedgedacht farm at 1100 meters above sea level in the Cederberg. Then it was time to be patient and cultivate the plantations. After all, it takes four to seven years for the trees to produce the first truffles. Meanwhile, the yield is 50 to 90 kilos of truffle per hectare, which is in huge demand by the chefs of the top restaurants as well as foreign buyers due to the excellent quality. To find the black gold on his plantations, Volker Miros needs fourlegged support. Bonnie, Clyde and Sibby are the names of the three sniffer dogs specifically trained for truffle hunting, which are systematically searching the fields leading by coach Trevor Norris. As a successful food photographer among the best in his trade and while researching the book Koekumakranka that he co-authored 47 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

48 GOURMET One field of the Woodford truffle plantation Since there was no truffle season in January, Trevor impressively demonstrated the work with the dogs with the help of previously hidden dummies. We are thrilled with how much vigour the dogs attend to their task. In June, when the truffle season starts in South Africa, we will return to Volker and Paul Miros and watch the actual truffle search of Bonnie, Clyde and Sibby life and in colour. This is also the time when Paul Miro s youngest sniffer dog Patchi, a six-month-old Lagotto-male will take his first steps as a truffle-seeking dog. Dog trainer Trevor Norris working with one of the truffle dogs 48

49 GOURMET Paul Miros and Prof. Alexandra Zambonelli from Italy in the labor. The International Consultants annual visits continue to bring fresh ideas and updated methodologies. Continued identification and thorough infestation of mycorrhizal inoculations, ensure viability of the trees. Truffles are DNA tested to ensure only Périgord truffle is used in the innoculation process. Truffles South African s farmers in transition The goal of Volker Miros is to establish a truffle production for agriculture in South Africa. We want selected farmers whose farms that have a similar climatic level as ours to benefit from our know-how and offer them the opportunity to tap into a lucrative new source of income. The technology developed by us for the production of truffle trees is new and has great advantages over currently used technology. Our sterile environment and DNA certification ensure top-quality truffles and high profits. Necessary for the entry is an area of at least 5 hectares, there is no top limit. By signing the partnership agreement, Woodford Truffles SA is making a substantial commitment. In addition to the truffle trees, Woodford Truffles SA guarantees comprehensive advice and support during every 30 years of truffle cultivation. Starting with the establishment of plantations on an annual scientific soil analysis to international marketing. The offer is sought-after, as the high demand for partnerships shows impressively. The technology developed and used by Woodford Truffles to produce truffle trees is novel and has huge advantages over generally used technology. The sterile environments and DNA certification ensure superior saplings with thorough mycorrhizal colonisation and thus ultimately higher profit margins. High inoculation levels guarantee colonisation, health and vigour before the truffle trees are supplied to the plantation location. We use large container cultivation ensuring good root development. Photos: Woodford Truffles SA

50 GOURMET By David D Hondt Uruguay attracts a wide variety of travelers. A favorite among South Americans, Uruguayan cities and beach towns are best known for their casual atmosphere and laidback style. This is part of Uruguay s charm. It remains under the radar for most North Americans but this secret won t stay that way for long. Uruguay offers a unique Latin American-European culture with strong Italian and Spanish influences. It has a mild climate and the lowest level of corruption and poverty in South America. People are friendly and open. Because of progressive social programs and stable democracy, it is known as the Switzerland of the Americas and is considered one of the best expat places to live. It is a small country, about the size of Washington State, with a population of just 3.5 million people. 1.4 million live in Montevideo, Uruguay s seaside capital city and major port. Photo: fotolia.com 50

51 GOURMET Uruguay and its wine regions Explore the picturesque wine routes at the River of painted birds Nestled between Argentina and Brazil and surrounded on two sides by the Rio de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean, Uruguay s miles of gorgeous beaches, colonial cities, vast stretches of rolling countryside and diverse winegrowing regions make it one of the hidden gems of South America. Uruguay is an extraordinary country that should be on everyone s short list of travel destinations. Uruguay means River of painted birds referring to its many rivers including the Rio de la Plata, the widest river in the world and to its 475 species of birds. It is considered one of the most environmentally sustainable countries in the world ranking third on the Environmental Sustainability Index after Norway and Finland in It has the purest water on the continent and its 12 million cattle are grass-fed. Cows outnumber people almost four to one. Uruguay s high-quality beef is its main export and can be found on many a Michelin star restaurant menu. The nation s most valuable natural resource and the foundation of its economy is its land. Eighty-five percent is dedicated to ranching, farming and tourism. Viticulture represents fourteen percent of agricultural production. Differing from Argentina and Chile, Uruguay is a country of small-scale, familyowned wineries with a European winemaking tradition. There are some 250 wineries producing approximately 10 million cases annually. By comparison, Chile s Concho y Toro winery produces more wine than all of Uruguay. Many Uruguayan bodegas are owned and operated as family businesses, some dating back generations. Low yields are favored, harvesting is done by hand and wines reflect both the terroir and the style and personality of the individual winemaker. Photos: Eric Wolfinger 51 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

52 GOURMET Uruguay lies in a temperate zone and is the only Latin American country completely outside the tropics. It sits between the 30 th and 35 th parallels in line with some of the best winegrowing regions of Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Its temperate coastal Atlantic climate produces growing conditions often compared to Bordeaux s. Located 30 miles north of Montevideo, the Historically, wine production arrived in Uruguay via the Spanish in the early 1600 s however, Uruguay s wine industry began in the 1870 s when Tannat, originating from the Madiran region of France, was introduced by Basque immigrants. Adapting perfectly to the climate and soil, Tannat has become Uruguay s signature varietal, producing rich, full-bodied red wines with dark fruit and spice aromas and Tannat provides complexity and backbone and is often blended. It is food friendly and traditionally paired with beef and lamb in Uruguay as well as pastas and strong cheeses. Named for its high tannin content, Tannat has been found to be the healthiest of red wines due to its high antioxidant and resveratrol levels which can aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Canelones region is home to the majority of the country s vineyards and is considered the premier winegrowing region in Uruguay. The clay-rich calcareous soils combined with the warm growing season produce wines with well-balanced levels of alcohol and acidity. Other winegrowing regions include Colonia, Maldonado, Salto and Rivera all with a diversity of terroirs and winemaking styles. flavors. Tannat wines have great structure and aging ability and those made in France generally have to be cellared before they are ready. However, because of the warmer climate and winemaking techniques such as cold soaking and cool maceration regimes, Tannat wines made in Uruguay are softer and more approachable than their French counterparts. Having a flagship varietal is an asset and winemakers are using this grape as their passport to distinction. There are a variety of other wines produced in Uruguay including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Sauvignon Blanc, Albariño, Viognier and many others. Wines styles range, lying somewhere between the old and new world. Uruguayan wine culture is attuned to the sensorial experience of engaging with the unique terroir of each region and the unique winemaking style of each producer. Uruguay s boutique wine industry offers an abundance of tourism options. Its picturesque wine regions are all within short distances and can be easily explored and navigated. 52

53 GOURMET Los Caminos del Vino or The Wine Roads is a wine trail including 15 wineries who have opened their doors to the public offering guided tours, tastings and events to delight the senses and share the rich diversity of winemaking in Uruguay. Each of the wineries invites you to engage with the winemakers, taste the diverse terroir of the many winegrowing regions throughout the country and become 12 facts and figures about Uruguay Uruguay is a democratic constitutional republic and sovereign state in the Southeastern region of South America. With an area of approximately 176,000 square kilometers Uruguay is geographically the second-smallest nation in South America after Suriname. Uruguay s president Tabaré Vázquez (since March 2015) serves as both head of state and head of government. The name Uruguay comes from the Uruguay river which means River of the painted birds in the Guarani language. The river starts in Brazil and ends in the Rio de la Plata basin which forms the water border between Uruguay and Argentina. Uruguay was inhabited by the Charrúa people for approximately 4,000 years before the Portuguese established Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest European settlements in the region, in The capital city Montevideo was founded as a military stronghold by the Spanish in the early 18 th century, signifying the competing claims over the region. Over half of the country s 3.4 million people live in the metropolitan area of its capital and largest city, Montevideo. acquainted with the outstanding and awardwinning wines produced in Uruguay. The Wine Roads host several annual events that take place throughout the year celebrating Uruguay s cultural heritage. These events are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a variety of festivities offered by each winery. Uruguay won its independence between 1811 and 1828 following a four-way struggle between Spain, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil. Uruguay is the only country in Latin America which is entirely outside of the tropics. In 2009, Uruguay became the first country in the world to provide every schoolchild with a free laptop and wifi access. In 2013, Uruguay was named The Economist s Country of the Year. Photo: fotolia.com Uruguay has a literacy rate of 98.1% for adults, one of the highest in the world. 53 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

54 LIFESTYLE LCA Leadership for Conservation in Africa relies on own methods of on-site help LCA is catalyst between the benefactors and the beneficiaries By Christoph Hügli and Birgit Hügli-Herrmann Fotolia 54

55 LIFESTYLE Board members of the LCA have manifold contacts to major international companies. The LCA uses this network, in addition to its own financial support and its role as mediator, to bring governments and companies willing to invest in the countries, together. The Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) was initiated in August 2006 by the South African National Parks (SANParks), Gold Fields Limited and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It has since been actively involved in 16 African countries. The LCA recognizes that the local communities bordering on parks and reserves are crucial stakeholders to ensure the long-term protection and survival of such ecosystems. Chris Marais: In nine out of ten, government officials, most of them development ministers, come to the LCA and ask for support, making it clear from the beginning that we will not come away with a bag of money. The LCA promotes the principle of conservation commerce and commercialization in general. LCA don t owns projects and we don t take the control. Conservation itself always needs a long-term vision and therefore a planning way into the future. LCA will develop a unique project adapted to the country situation. In the next step we bring in specialists of different areas, mainly infrastructure and scientific. Together with the government and the investing companies, including the specialists and national organizations we develop a frame and make a business plan. The problem is, if you go to parks in Africa, they are all in On the other hand, these communities, who normally live in very remote rural areas, are very often the poorest of the poor. There is huge pressure and high expectations on the custodians of parks and reserves to contribute significantly towards the livelihood strategies of the local communities, while such parks can hardly sustain themselves. Special efforts are therefore made by the National LCA Chapters to involve the local communities, but also to influence socio-economic development within the bufferzones of these parks and to find ways to enhance the livelihood of these communities. The LCA currently has chapters in The Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Central African Republic, Ghana and Burkina Faso. Through the Edu-Conservation projects they also work to establish a formal educational curriculum that aims to equip the younger generation to better influence the actions of society, businesses and government to benefit conservation. While most aid organizations working in Africa donate money and try to directly influence local project leaders, Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) is taking a different path. Chris Marais, CEO of Leadership for Conservation in Africa, describes the work of the organization in a few words with: LCA positively influence, accelerate and bring about the protection of rain forests and selected ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The LCA uses a business approach to initiate conservation-led socio-economic development in Africa. LCA is a catalyst between the benefactors and the beneficiaries. What exactly lies behind this statement and how the LCA works on-site in its numerous projects, Chris Marais gave us a glimpse into how the LCA, based on the Niokolo-Koba project in Senegal, is operating in projects. the hands of governments, but most of them are not managed well. Often the right hand doesn t know what the left hand is doing, and the corruption is a problem too. The issue in all African countries is the frequently rotation of ministers. If that is the case, one has to expect that all agreements and undertakings will be cancelled by the new minister and that even legally valid contracts will become obsolete. Frequently, the new ministers are pursuing projects to strengthen their own position or to advance their political career. This complicates the work on the ground, suddenly people are removed from their offices and minions of the new minister are used in their place. Then there are a few steps to go back and renegotiate. It takes time, patience and a long breath. 55 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

56 LIFESTYLE No particular species of anti-poaching in general is really on the LCA-agenda. Normally conservation national government organizations do the protection of the parks and with that comes anti-poaching as one of the core functions. General Johan Jooste coordinates all the anti-poaching work for South African National Parks and SANParks CEO serves on the LCA board. LCA doesn t have a specific anti-poaching strategy and is presently trying to find a way to help the government. Photos: Leadership for Conservation in Africa (LCA) 56

57 LIFESTYLE Facts and figures about Niokolo-Koba National Park The Niokolo-Koba National Park is located in south-eastern Senegal on the border with Guinea at 15 to 300 m above sea level. The park is 9,130 square kilometres and since 1981 recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of a planned dam and the prevailing poaching he was included in 2007 in the Red List of Endangered World Heritage sites. Landscapes are the Gambia River and its tributary Niokolo-Koba. The vegetation consists mainly of Guinea and Sudan savanna, to the east the vegetation becomes increasingly drier. On the riverbanks are extensive gallery forests. The highest point is Mont Assirik. During the single rainy season from June to October 1,000 to 1,100 mm of rain fall. In addition to seasonally flooded grass savannahs and swamps, there are also drier forests and bamboo in the gallery forest. There were more than 1,500 plant species in the park counted. Niokolo-Koba was known for its abundant wildlife and is still the last, albeit unsafe, homeland for some West African species. Between 1990 and 2007, the number of large mammals decreased from around 45,000 to less than 1,000, which represents a loss of 98%. There are 84 species of mammals, 330 species of birds, approximately 60 types of reptiles and amphibians, as well as 60 species of fish. The most significant is the last wild population of the Western Giant Elk, current population less than 200. Threatened by extinction are the West African Lion and the African Wild Dog, unsure of the situation for the leopard. About 150 West African chimpanzees still live in the gallery forests. Other monkey species are the Guinea baboon, the western green monkey cat and the hussar monkey and Temminck stubby monkey. Dramatic population declines suffered all ungulates, the horse antelope from more than 6,000 in 1990 to currently about 700, the Hartebeest from 5,000 to 150, the Kob antelope from 24,000 to currently about 100, water buck from more than 3,000 to 10! as well as the African buffalo from 8,000 to less than 500. Extinct are the westernmost population of the Northern Giraffe and the elephant. In 2006, 10 reed elephants lived in Niokolo-Koba after the original population became the victim of poaching. LCA Supporters and Associates Supporting Foundations Sabine Plattner African Charities Hasso Plattner Foundation The Howard G. Buffet Foundation Founding Patrons SANParks Gold Field Limited IUCN Associates Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Congo African Parks Network (APN) Congo PAMS Foundation Congo Conservation Company Patrons Standard Bank SAP Software Solutions Veolia Water (Europe) Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Petmin Limited Only when the rules of all involved parties are accepted, you will have stability in the project. Until we get to that all-important point, Chris Marais is the motor of all LCA-Projects. He is involved in all negotiations and sees solutions that are acceptable to all parties. That is why he is nicknamed Mr. Pusher. Chris Marais uses the example of the Niokolo-Koba National Park to explain to us how the process is unfolding: The Niokolo-Koba National Park in Senegal is a very special project. Permission was granted by H. E. President Macky Sall to the LCA to investigate ways to manage Niokolo-Koba as a PPP and find ways to commercialise park activities. Leadership for Conservation in Africa has long been committed to protecting and preserving the Niokolo-Koba National Park. While most aid organisations working in Africa seek to donate money and directly influence project leaders locally, the LCA works as a catalyst between benefactors (international donors) and beneficiaries (for example Senegal with its Niokolo-Koba) in implementing conservation-commerce and Public Private Partnerships (PPP) to empower the beneficiaries. The LCA donates funds and reduces its own role to that of a single seat on the PPP board working with government officials and national organizations on projects. Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

58 ART Museum Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town This is a True Story Penny Siopis films brought together for the first time in Africa Until 15 th July 2018 the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town will be showing the new exhibition by Penny Siopis in its Centre for the Moving Image. This is a True Story : Six Films ( ) will showcase twenty years of film-making by the artist. The films make use of found and historical 8 mm and 16 mm film footage, drawing from official documents, newspaper clippings and personalised accounts of history to create an overlooked historiography. The exhibition evokes ideas of truth as a merging of experience, fact, fiction, imagination and the fragility of memory. Each intimate chamber in the Centre projects a first-person narrative of an individual caught up in larger social and political forces. Each story has an elemental quality that speaks beyond its origins, says Precious Mhone, Torben Wind Assistant Curator of the Moving Image, Centre for the Moving Image, Zeitz MOCAA. The individuals stories become connected through a shared sense of real and imagined displacement in Southern Africa, echoed in this physical space. The text in the films becomes the voice in the head created by the artist and re-created by the spectator in every instance of reading, looking and listening. Mark Coetzee, Executive Director and Chief Curator, Zeitz MOCAA, says: To have the opportunity to exhibit two decades of her film works is a significant moment not only for the artist but also for Zeitz MOCAA and its Centre for the Moving Image. My Lovely Day (1997) combines spliced sequences of 8 mm home movies that my mother shot in the 1950s and 1960s in South Africa to tell a story of displacement and migration. While the narrative voice is that of my maternal grandmother speaking of her literal and emotional journeys to Greece, England and South Africa in the early part of the 20 th century, and to some extent overlooking the apartheid moment from which she speaks, the film has wider resonance as an allegory of globalization and exile. The sound comprises traditional Greek music and an old 78 rpm record made in 1955 of my mother singing This is my lovely day. The uneven quality of the found footage dramatizes the nature of the film as artifact and resonates with the fragmentary quality of memory. Penny Siopis: In Obscure White Messenger (2010) I use anonymous home-movie footage to tell the story of Dimitrios Tsafendas, who assassinated the South African prime minister and architect of apartheid, HF Verwoerd, in 1966; the work takes its title from a reference to Tsafendas from Nelson Mandela s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. What drove Tsafendas, a man of mixed race, an illegal migrant working as a parliamentary messenger at the time, to commit this act? The work explores the intermingling of madness and political motive evident in transcripts of interviews with Tsafendas. Throughout the film there is the question of who the illegitimate Tsafendas is, and where he belongs; of what it means to be stateless in a world in which citizenship all too often establishes and legitimates what it means to be fully human. 58

59 ART In Communion (2011) the story is about an Irish nun, Sister Aidan, who was also a medical doctor, Elsie Quinlan. She was murdered by a crowd of angry people in the Eastern Cape, who were protesting against apartheid laws during the Defiance Campaign in 1952 in South Africa. Many of the people in the crowd knew and loved Sister Aidan, but she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. In newspaper reports and scholarly articles, questions emerged about common cause and culpability which of the crowd committed the murder? Pathologists could not determine how she died, because parts of her body were missing, allegedly eaten. The film situates Sister Aidan s voice (read as subtitles) in the first person: she narrates her own death, as if from the grave. Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

60 ART Photos: Zeitz MOCAA The Master is Drowning (2012) extends the use of found film beyond home movies to fragments of historical documentary, combining private and public film sequences to create a story that is both fictive and real. The narrative unfolds chronologically, culminating in the attempted assassination of the South African prime minister, HF Verwoerd, by David Beresford Pratt, a white liberal businessman and farmer. The attempt occurred in 1960 on the eve of the inauguration of the apartheid South African Republic and is depicted through the inclusion of actual news footage from the time. Pratt went to the annual Agricultural Show in Johannesburg and shot Verwoerd twice in the face at point-blank range following his opening address. Miraculously, Verwoerd survived, and in the ensuing court process Pratt, who suffered from epilepsy, was declared unsound of mind. The words in the film are Pratt s, from transcripts of his trial and newspapers of the time. In The New Parthenon (2016) a man meditates on his past, interwoven as it is with the history of modern Greece: World War II, civil war, the cold war, globalization, migration and Greece s ongoing political tensions with the West. The man could be my father. But like a dream that condenses and displaces experience and information, his life merges with the lives of other Greek men of his milieu. Set within an architecture of ruins, the spectral presences within the film are witnesses to both past traumas of history and present-day horrors unfolding at sea. Shaped from a variety of anonymous 8 mm home movies, some found in flea markets in Athens, the material quality of the celluloid the effects of its ageing, dust spots and sprocket marks reflects the film s own history. The music is composed by Mikis Theodorakis from a poem by Iakovos Kambanellis, a survivor of Mauthausen concentration camp, about the love between two prisoners of the camp. Welcome Visitors! (2017) is based on the story of the jazz tune Skokiaan composed in 1947 by the Zimbabwean musician August Musarurwa. The tune became an international hit and was famously covered by Louis Armstrong in Mixing archival material from Armstrong s tour of Southern Africa in 1960 with anonyous home-movie footage of travel, the film associates the migration of the melody with Zulu imagery, real and imagined, and the connections between Southern Africa and the American South that it uncovers. The piece is structured by three versions of the tune: a contemporary jazz cover by South African Kevin Davidson, which opens and closes the film; Musarurwa s original recording, in which he plays the saxophone; and Louis Armstrong s instrumental and vocal cover, nicknamed Happy Africa. The film was commissioned as part of an installation for Prospect 4, the latest New Orleans triennial which is titled The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp. 60

61 ART Zeitz MOCAA approached Design Indaba founder Ravi Naidoo, who provided the catalyst for the repurposing of the silo building into a world-class museum that houses contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora, with the idea of naming a gallery after Ravi Naidoo. Instead of accepting, Naidoo geneously asked whether the honour could be bestowed on venerable Design Indaba Conference speaker alumnus and South African jazz legend, Hugh Masekela, who sadly passed away at his Johannesburg home on 23 January A renowned musician across the globe, Masekela was lauded as the father of South African jazz. I believe it is fitting that a cultural icon such as Hugh Masekela is honoured by yet another cultural icon such as Zeitz MOCAA, explains Naidoo. Hugh Masekela was a giant within the art and culture space, says David Green, V&A Waterfront CEO and co-founder of Zeitz MOCAA, and he was described as one of the finest and most distinctive trumpet players in the world. Hugh s songs and music told the world who people from Africa are and it is entirely fitting that this, the museum whose main purpose is to tell African stories through African art, should name the gallery after Hugh Masekela. The newly named Hugh Masekela permanent gallery is now officially open to the public Facts and figures about Penny Siopis Penny Siopis was born in Vryburg, Northern Cape, South Africa. She currently lives and works in Cape Town. Penny Siopis work is in dialogue with material culture and the thematics of history, migration and memory. She has engaged the materiality of her media, be it slow drying paint or viscous glue that turns opaque, found film footage carrying snippets of people s lives in its cracks or flea market finds with their traces of time flowing into the past. Siopis works in painting, film/video, photography and installation. In the past, her work critically engaged the genres of still life and history painting. Locating her practice within a post-colonial context the artist continues to reflect on the complex intersections of collective and individual history and the construction of memory. Working with white wood glue and multi-coloured inks, where their flows on her canvases are directed by gravity and the nature of the materials as much as by the artist s own hand, she opens her process up not just for scrutiny but for deep engagement with the audience and with the political and social ecology of the world around her. Siopis has exhibited widely in South Africa and internationally. She has taken part in biennales of Venice (2013 and 2003), Sydney (2010), Taipei (2016), Kwangju (1995), Havana (1997 and 1994), Guangzhou (1997) and Johannesburg (1997 and 1995). International solo exhibitions include Incarnations, Institute of Contemporary Art Indian Ocean, Mauritius, Penny Siopis: Films, Erg Galerie, Brussels, Obscure White Messenger, Brandts Museum, Odense, Denmark and Three Essays on Shame, at the Freud Museum, London. Penny Siopis has won numerous awards, including the inaugural atelier award for residency at the Cité des Arts in Paris. 61 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

62 TRAVEL Safari of a lifetime in Namibia Combination of BMW X5 horsepower and pony power Riding with the giraffes Riding horses is great. Being in Namibia is great. But riding horses in Namibia alongside a herd of wild giraffes is simply out of this world! Professor Ossi Köchli, leading Swiss gynaecologist and keen polo player, puts into words what everyone feels after our first Safari Ride. We are totally overwhelmed by how close we were able to get to these remarkably elegant creatures. The encounter sure constitutes one of those rare moments in life that will forever be imprinted in our hearts. Welcome to Africa! Welcome to the Safari of a lifetime! By Sonja Piontek The specially curated Safari of a lifetime is a beautiful combination of horse riding, off-road driving, cultural encounters and the most beautiful parts of Namibia a mind-blowing experience with just the right amount of African extravagance for our group of horse lovers and polo players from Switzerland, Germany and Singapore. Our eight-day tour starts at Okapuka Horse Safaris, undoubtedly one of the best stables in this part of the world offering over 30 of the finest and besttrained Arabian horses you can wish for. The Scandinavian owner Ingeborg Hernes first came to Namibia 20 odd years ago. Like so many, she immediate felt in love with this vast country, the abundance of game and the relaxed people and soon made Namibia her home. Ingeborg set up this unique equestrian enterprise situated on the hectares big farm of Okapuka Ranch, 30 minutes from the capital Windhoek. Today Okapuka Horse Safaris offers a variety of exciting activities for experienced riders. 62

63 TRAVEL The time we spend at Okapuka is filled with laughter, awe inspiring safari rides amongst hundreds of wild game (oryx, impala, giraffe, kudu, springbock, zebra just to name a few), adrenaline pumping gallops high into the mountains, extraordinary meals at the private hunting cabin, in the bush or under the stars as well as quiet moments in the Savannah gazing at the powerful African sunset whilst holding a chilled glass of fine Chardonnay in one hand and the reign of our peacefully grazing horses in the other hand. It s quite different to polo but an amazing experience I would have never wanted to miss, says Hana from the Singapore Polo Club. After those memorable days at Okapuka, our journey takes us north to Erindi not only the country s largest private game reserve, but the most luxurious game-viewing lodge in Namibia. We certainly won t disagree! As we lean back on the lodge s private viewing deck we are overwhelmed by the crocodiles, hippos, elephant bull, zebras, antelopes, hyenas all within a mere meters from where we sit! To complete our game viewing experience, we take a guided safari drive at sunset and one very early the next day. Yes it feels too early as we get up and yes it is freezing cold but oh my god is it worth it: only a few meters away from our lenses are a family of lions, three elephants, a herd of giraffes, some rather shy zebras, vultures, hippos, foxes, hyena and many different types of antelope. 63 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

64 TRAVEL Whilst Erindi was all about game, our next lodge is all about a very unique off-road experience and stunning sceneries. We even drive our BMW X5 onto one of the big rock formations the Erongo Mountains are so famous for. Whilst climbing up the massive piece of rock sometimes with only two wheels on the ground! Hana exclaims: This is the most extreme but also the most fun driving I have ever done. I think this is the most beautiful country I have ever been to, adds acclaimed Singaporean anaesthetist Dr. June Rin. I couldn t agree more and take another zillion photos of the impressive rock boulders, the cars climbing up that barren piece of rock and the breath-taking view. After another stunning sunset we make our way to dinner. Tonight, we will be served Braai (BBQ) under the stars quite an exceptional treat. We are thankful for another stunning day and well aware that we would not have been able to arrange any of this on our own. Before we head on, we visit the local Bushman people in their settlement and learn all about their culture, their bizarre language using clicks and their century old traditions. It is very interesting to hear about such a different way of life. I try to remember some of their names, but have to admit that I find them quite unpronounceable. Next stop on our tour is Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast. As this trip is all about unique experiences we will not take the public road, though. Instead, we spend the next two hours driving through the dry, sandy riverbed and canyon-like scenery of the Swakop River what a blast! What an amazing experience! What a moment to remember for the rest of our lives! 64

65 TRAVEL If you think driving onto a massive piece of rock or through a 20 km dry river bed was extreme, wait for this: we now take the cars straight into the never-ending dunes of the legendary Namib Desert. I would have never expected to get a luxury SUV up and down the massive dunes, let alone with so much ease!, Alan comments. Again, we are surprised of the capabilities of the X5, as well as our own guts! Driving in the dunes, surrounded by nothing other than sand, sand and more sand is an amazing but party challenging experience. Some of those dunes are rather high and steep after all! But wait, there is more to come. Before heading back to Okapuka, we get to visit the gem of Namibia the famous Sossusvlei. The impressive salt/clay pan with its dry trees is situated in amongst red sand dunes in the southern part of the Namib Desert and stuns visitors from near and far alike. A place that certainly earns all our respect. Our last day has come so we head back to Okapuka for one final savannah ride. Whilst we take our horses out into the bush and watch the many wild animals meander past, we reflect on how special the Safari of a lifetime has been. June from Singapore repeats that Namibia was the most beautiful country she had ever seen. Andy from China comments that this was the best trip he had ever taken. Ossi is still overwhelmed by the opportunity of riding head to head with the giraffes while Hana reckons that the Safari of a lifetime was nothing short of highlight after highlight after highlight. All in all, this specially designed tour for horse lovers was a truly unique experience. One to remember and one to repeat! We start the next morning with quite a different program and take a private boat out onto the Atlantic Ocean to see dolphins, flamingos, pelicans (that land on our boat!) and seals (that even jump into our boat to steal some fish whilst we can take proper close up shots). This maritime excursion ends with a totally unexpected Champagne and Oyster reception on a remote strip of beach along the wild Atlantic coast that s how we like it! Photos: Sonja Piontek 65 Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Issue

66 TRAVEL IMPRINT The Dubai Frame world s largest picture frame The new face of Dubai Higher, bigger, more exclusive this is the motto in Dubai. The metropolis on the Persian Gulf is known for architectural superlatives. In 2010, the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world at 828 meters, made headlines. With the 150-meter-high Dubai Frame the largest picture frame in the world the luxury metropolis has become an extraordinary building richer. Depending on your perspective, you can see through the (or from) the walk-through frame to the old or alternatively to the new city of Dubai. On the one hand the traditional Dubai presents itself with the old quarters Umm Harare, Al Karama and Deira and on the other hand Emirates Towers, Burj Khalifa and other pompous skyscrapers and extravagant shopping malls of modern Dubai. And so, it is not surprising that on the ground floor of the Dubai Frame, a museum documents the transformation of Dubai from an insignificant fishing village to one of the most important luxury cities in the world. With its gold-tone stainless steel shell, the building, which stands near the Star Gate in Zabeel Park, attracts the view from afar. The two 150-meter-high towers of the Dubai Frame are connected by a 100-meter-long bridge, from where visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view. The 160-million-dollar Dubai Frame was designed and produced by Mexican architect Fernando Donis. The Exterior design of Dubai Frame was inspired by the logo of Expo Photos: fotolia.com Visit our internet portal Impressum Imprint Verlag Publisher: Media Professional GmbH, Rinderberg 11, CH-6166 Hasle / LU, Herausgeberin & Inhaberin Publisher & Owner: Birgit Hügli-Herrmann, CEO: Christoph Hügli, Redaktion Editorial: Birgit Hügli-Herrmann (Leitung Editor-in-Chief ), Christoph Hügli, Helena Kröber, Lillian Waltisberg, Mitwirkende Gastautoren an dieser Ausgabe Guest authors in this issue: David D Hondt, Filippo Pignatti Morano, Sonja Piontek, United States Polo Association, Anzeigen Adverts: office@polo-luxury.ch, Grafik und Lithos Graphics and lithographs: André Gaille, Werbung I Grafik, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, Layout, Lektorat und Schlussredaktion Layout, proofreading and final editing: Astrid Bachmann, sprachlich-visuelle Kommunikation, CH-8200 Schaffhausen, astrid.bachmann@shinternet.ch LUXURY Country Life Magazine HEADQUARTER Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine c/o Media Professional GmbH Rinderberg 11 CH-6166 Hasle / LU Switzerland Phone: office@polo-luxury.com Office Polo Luxury South Africa Office Polo Luxury South Africa Postal address Physical address Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine c/o Albion AG Inc 225 Penguin Close PO Box 609 Grotto Bay Resort Melkbosstrand 7437 South Africa South Africa Phone: office@polo-luxury.com Nächstes Erscheinungsdatum des Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine AUSGABE 02/2018 ist im Juni Wiedergabe von Artikeln und Bildern aus dem Magazin oder der Internetplattform, auch auszugsweise oder in Ausschnitten, nur mit schriftlicher Genehmigung des Verlags gestattet. Für unverlangte Zusendungen wird jede Haftung abgelehnt. Date of next issue of the Polo Luxury & Country Life Magazine ISSUE 02/2018 is in June Articles and images from the magazine or the internet platform, including excerpts or in sections, may only be reproduced with the written permission of the publisher. No liability can be accepted for unsolicited submissions. 66

67

68 TAKE A SPORTING VIEW OF YOUR INVESTMENT OPTIONS. If you re playing to win, you re going to need a good game plan. As Europe s leading independent precious metals retailer, we offer a wide range of investment products to support your strategy. But sometimes winning is a matter of the heart, which is why Degussa also designs emotional products. Each makes a unique gift, so treat yourself and your significant other. We would be delighted to present these treasures to you in our Zurich and Geneva showrooms, or you can order online at your convenience. If you wish, you can store your valuables securely with us in your personal safe-deposit box. DEGUSSA- GOLDHANDEL.CH Showrooms: Bleicherweg Zurich Phone: Quai du Mont-Blanc Geneva Phone: Zurich I Geneva I Frankfurt I Madrid I London