Dear friends

Now that the hustle and bustle of harvest is over and the activities in the cellar are slowing down with all the wines of 2016 lying safely on their fine lees, I am finding the time to reflect a bit of the vintage.

First of all, what an intense one for so many reasons! From the heatwave to the early start and speed that the grapes came in, all keeping us on our toes from the word go. There were no breaks until all the grapes were in safe and sound which is great, as stops in-between the harvest is never a good thing.

These elements have left us with some amazing wines with beautiful aromas and length of flavour, something which lies close to our hearts. This has been possible due to great team-work, something which Haute Cabrière thrives on and respects like our wine growing philosophy.

It was definitely not the easiest blocks to plant with all the rocks and slope angles however promises to yield excellent quality in about 5 years’ time. But for now they are growing beautifully and extending their roots deep into the side of the mountain.

We have always respected nature and her beauty and for this reason we made a big step into our responsibility to the environment and our surroundings by investing a 50MW solar system placed on the roof of the Clos Cabrière cellar.

In rounding off my first newsletter I would like to take the opportunity to let all know how proud I am of my parents, of what they have achieved in building up this amazing Haute Cabrière. Also, to you all – thank you for supporting the dream which is so much alive and kicking.

Even as we enter a slower part of the year, were the vines start to change colour and the sunset becomes lazier, and some staff take well deserved leave, there will always be a friendly face to welcome you to enjoy a true Haute Cabrière experience.

So if you have not been to the farm recently or tasted any of the wines, it is now a perfect opportunity to pop around and come live the Haute Cabrière experience.

Warm regards,

Cellar Master

Looking back over the last few months, one event stands out. Achim was honoured with the Frans Malan Legacy trophy for his pioneering work in the Cap Classique history of the Cape winelands. Achim did, indeed, follow the lead of Frans Malan and produced a Cap Classique as far back as 1980 while cellarmaster at Boschendal. The inspiration was ignited by a young man from the Champagne, Jean-Louis Denois, who knocked on Achim’s door during the harvest, looking for work and a place to stay while escaping the Winter in France. This exciting collaboration over two vintages instigated the acquisition of the smallholding Cabrière in Franschhoek in 1982. Here Achim re-planted 20 hectares of neglected vineyards to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the two classic grape varieties of the Champagne region, so that the quality process for his very own Cap Classique could start in the vineyards with the traditional cultivars. For his insistence on having the classic cultivars as foundation for his Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique, Achim, we feel, truly deserves this trophy. It inspired the propagation of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by a generation of Cap Classique producers as the foundation for their new creations.

As an experiment, Achim kept a pallet of 480 bottles of Pierre Jourdan Brut maturing ‘on the lees’, meaning ‘with the yeast remaining in the bottle’, in our cellar since 2003 to be disgorged 12 years later. We are proud to introduce you to this well matured, complex Pierre Jourdan Brut, enlivened by a very fine mousse at the time when Achim enjoys being honoured as a pioneer of the Cap Classique chapter. This special edition has Achim’s signature written on the bottle and a neck-brochure gives the history of Pierre Jourdan’s evolvement over the last three decades. As bottles are limited and in demand, we would like to bring this special edition to your attention.

Focusing on the Pierre Jourdan range, the holiday season saw the re-introduction of Pierre Jourdan Blanc de Blancs, also having been allowed a long maturation period that is essential for an outstanding Cap Classique. The Blanc de Blancs is proving to be a favourite with many of our visitors, be they our valued locals or visitors from overseas. We are proud to notice, a favourite of the discerning French who visit the valley of the Huguenots!

The range of Pierre Jourdan would not be presented properly unless Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose completed the picture. With its delicate pink hue and fruity, long and lingering aftertaste, this Pierre Jourdan is a perennial favourite with the ladies and, being dry, happily shared by their partners. With Valentine’s being the day of celebration in February, please make your choice of Pierre Jourdan to be sure of a special rendezvous with your loved one!

Looking forward, the exciting news is that we began picking the first grapes of the harvest 2016. The South Easter has been howling for weeks, which keeps the berries small and the fruit concentrated and will, as has been predicted, reduce the volume of our harvest and in general. By the grace of God we have been spared the devastating fires that have hit the Cape winelands and destroyed some vineyards in the Elgin and Stellenbosch region. Two fast-spreading fires on the mountain ranges behind our village during the past weeks were extinguished within a day thanks to incessant work by firefighters, farmers and their teams and assisted by helicopters. The light rain in the night from 24 – 25 January brought much hoped for relief as it washed the dust and ash off of the vines at this crucial time.

Every year we have to pick fast so as to pick ripe but not overripe grapes, the juice of which will be the base wine at only 10% alcohol for the 2016 Pierre Jourdan range. The focus of the six weeks lying ahead will be on precise vineyard and cellar work, ensuring the fast cooling down of grapes, crushing, pressing, correct skin-contact-time for the Pinot Noir classic red wine, blending and early tasting by the team. Valuable input from Achim is still appreciated by the team, after all, his involvement in the Cape wine history now spans over half a century, Achim having started his apprentice in 1965! Takuan, representing the young von Arnim generation, is competent and trusted to ensure that the individuality of each wine is preserved, following our philosophy that it takes four equally important elements to create a great wine: SUN, SOIL, VINE AND MAN.

Takuan likes to emphasize that the labour in our vineyards and cellar is rewarded once we hold a glass of lovely wine in our hands. Furthermore, we all agree, that the best glass of wine tastes even better when matched with the right food and enjoyed in good company. This is the philosophy behind the restaurant at Haute Cabrière. During the quiet Winter months changes happened quietly in the kitchen. Chef Ryan Shell decided it was time to move on and Dennis Strydom stepped into his shoes. We are delighted to share with you that this change can only be described as a positive one as we are told by happy diners.

The New Year’s Eve party at the restaurant was great fun with great food, ample Pierre Jourdan Magnums, a very capable DJ and dancing under a huge Bedouin tent as all guests preferred to be outside on that perfect summer night. Achim and his party only left at 2 am. We look forward to meeting you soon at our cellar, probably sitting outside enjoying glorious wines and vistas, or, preferring the cool and in need of a plate of excellent food, inside the spacious, vaulted restaurant. To add to your rewarding experience, a decision was taken that no mark-up would be added to the price of a bottle of Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique or Haute Cabrière wines in our restaurant, their prices being the same as purchasing a bottle for home consumption.

Last but not least, a focus on the Haute Cabrière team of workers and their highlights. Adrian Snyers passed Matric in 2015, having been a pupil at Franschhoek High School, a Model C school, and having attended the Haute Cabrière Educational Centre for the last 5 years. Well done Adrian!!

A big thank you to Lawrence and Vilicity, who took in a nephew who had no home and to Rose, who made him part of her family as friend of her son. Above all, praise must go to our inspirational, loving and encouraging head of the Centre, Ismi van Niekerk, who gave Adrian the special attention he needed. Maybe somebody out there has a job for Adrian, a great rugby player – meaning a team-player, as the next big challenge is now to get a foothold for future independence.

Cheers to you, our loyal supporters and our best wishes for the year ahead!