Franschhoek
South Africa
Text & Storytelling
Haute Cabrière stellt seit 1982 Weine aus dem Franschhoek-Tal her. Von Anfang an hat sich die Familie von Arnim darauf konzentriert, die Tiefe und Vielseitigkeit von Pinot Noir und Chardonnay zu erforschen: zwei Rebsorten, die bis heute im Zentrum ihrer Philosophie stehen.
Achim von Arnim war ein Pionier des südafrikanischen Cap Classique und der Erste, der einen Stillwein aus traditionellen Champagner-Rebsorten kreierte. Seine Vision führte zur ikonischen Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée. Zum 30. Jubiläum haben wir eine Pressemitteilung verfasst, die die Entwicklung der Cuvée durch die Hände von drei Winzern nachzeichnet.
Haut Cab Chard Pinot Noir 30th press release
A fated origin
Sometimes the world’s greatest inventions are destined. Bringing his love for Champagne to Franschhoek, founder Achim von Arnim knew that his Chardonnay and Pinot Noir needed to be low in alcohol to achieve the stunning quality required for his Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique – easy to achieve in Champagne, the coolest and most northern wine region in France. Less so in the hot Cape. While 1994 ushered in a new democracy for South Africa, it also brought an extraordinarily hot growing season. The unpredictable weather caused the grapes’ sugar to skyrocket, and, with it, the alcohol levels. All seemed lost. Yet, when Achim faced his last tank, he was struck by how lovely the young wine was: “It was backed by intensity and mystic, with a slightly pink colour from the Pinot Noir,” Achim remembers. “Nature had actually given me a gift.” Needing every drop of wine to keep his dream alive, challenge gave way to invention. South Africa’s – and the world’s – first ever Chardonnay Pinot Noir still blend was bottled under the newly designed Haute Cabrière label.
From the moment it hit the shelves, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir experienced an instant love affair with the public. It was different, easily drinkable, yet uncompromisingly elegant. Since then, it’s passed through the custodianship of three winemakers, each leaving their own deft mark on the blend. A South African icon, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir is made for life's moments.
In celebration of this blend’s 30th anniversary, Haute Cabrière are releasing the Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir. An in-depth and reimagined take, this amphora-aged field blend showcases the true expression of the Franschhoek valley. Only available at the cellar door, this is a small-batch limited release sure to become a collector’s item.
30 years on, it’s still the people’s wine
Today, Haute Cabrière strive to give drinkers the same excitement Achim created back then in every bottle. The more dominant Chardonnay adds freshness, acidity and citrus notes, while Pinot Noir gives the wine power and palate weight with red-fruited complexity. “To me, it’s a magic wine,” says Achim.
“I love how it evolves over time,” adds current winemaker Tim Hoek. “As the years pass, the Chardonnay becomes more prominent. I believe the biggest surprise for most people is how well a 5-year-old Chardonnay Pinot Noir drinks.”
Key to its success is its versatility. At only 12% abv, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir goes well with almost every dish, from spicy chicken and tomato bredie to umfino. Bridging cultures and tastes, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir has been shared around local tables for generations. “It’s a wine that brings people together and allows them to have fun,” says Takuan von Arnim. “It’s a wine that allows you to be you.”
Three decades, three winemakers
“Wine is in essence a distilled story of life, of every vintner's and cellarmaster's dreams and capabilities,” says Achim. His dedicated hands-on approach saw this pioneering wine become one of the strongest blends in the country. Working from a single Excel spreadsheet, he’d begin each vintage anew, crafting over 50 potential blends until he found the right combination to meet his iconic standard.
Inheriting the responsibility of the blend from his father was not something Takuan, Haute Cabrière’s second-generation winemaker, took lightly. “A blend of Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a holy thing,” he says. Having spent 10 years co-blending with his father, Takuan began a more streamlined approach by identifying the best vineyard sites as a basis for each vintage, coaxing out the golden thread. With a light fingerprint, he reduced the Pinot Noir component for a fresher style, while still paying respect to the Burgundian cultivars at every turn.
Joining as winemaker in 2014, Tim Hoek introduced extended lees ageing, giving the wine more texture and stability, allowing it to be released with lower residual sugar because of an already existing natural softness.
The Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir
“I wanted to showcase the magic of Chardonnay Pinot Noir, the amazing old vineyards we have on our property, as well as the terroir of the Franschhoek valley to the best of my ability,” says Tim. “The Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir was my answer.”
Harvested from a Pinot Noir vineyard planted in 1991 and a Chardonnay from 1983, whole bunch co-pressed and filled in brand new terracotta amphora for six months, this wine will be Haute Cabrière’s first field blend and its first amphora-aged blend, too. “It’s deconstructing and reconstructing Chardonnay Pinot Noir in a higher form,” says Takuan.
Small-batch produced and with artwork inspired by Achim’s original 1994 label, this limited anniversary edition will only be available at cellar door for R120 per bottle.
Achim von Arnim war ein Pionier des südafrikanischen Cap Classique und der Erste, der einen Stillwein aus traditionellen Champagner-Rebsorten kreierte. Seine Vision führte zur ikonischen Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée. Zum 30. Jubiläum haben wir eine Pressemitteilung verfasst, die die Entwicklung der Cuvée durch die Hände von drei Winzern nachzeichnet.
Haut Cab Chard Pinot Noir 30th press release
A fated origin
Sometimes the world’s greatest inventions are destined. Bringing his love for Champagne to Franschhoek, founder Achim von Arnim knew that his Chardonnay and Pinot Noir needed to be low in alcohol to achieve the stunning quality required for his Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique – easy to achieve in Champagne, the coolest and most northern wine region in France. Less so in the hot Cape. While 1994 ushered in a new democracy for South Africa, it also brought an extraordinarily hot growing season. The unpredictable weather caused the grapes’ sugar to skyrocket, and, with it, the alcohol levels. All seemed lost. Yet, when Achim faced his last tank, he was struck by how lovely the young wine was: “It was backed by intensity and mystic, with a slightly pink colour from the Pinot Noir,” Achim remembers. “Nature had actually given me a gift.” Needing every drop of wine to keep his dream alive, challenge gave way to invention. South Africa’s – and the world’s – first ever Chardonnay Pinot Noir still blend was bottled under the newly designed Haute Cabrière label.
From the moment it hit the shelves, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir experienced an instant love affair with the public. It was different, easily drinkable, yet uncompromisingly elegant. Since then, it’s passed through the custodianship of three winemakers, each leaving their own deft mark on the blend. A South African icon, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir is made for life's moments.
In celebration of this blend’s 30th anniversary, Haute Cabrière are releasing the Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir. An in-depth and reimagined take, this amphora-aged field blend showcases the true expression of the Franschhoek valley. Only available at the cellar door, this is a small-batch limited release sure to become a collector’s item.
30 years on, it’s still the people’s wine
Today, Haute Cabrière strive to give drinkers the same excitement Achim created back then in every bottle. The more dominant Chardonnay adds freshness, acidity and citrus notes, while Pinot Noir gives the wine power and palate weight with red-fruited complexity. “To me, it’s a magic wine,” says Achim.
“I love how it evolves over time,” adds current winemaker Tim Hoek. “As the years pass, the Chardonnay becomes more prominent. I believe the biggest surprise for most people is how well a 5-year-old Chardonnay Pinot Noir drinks.”
Key to its success is its versatility. At only 12% abv, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir goes well with almost every dish, from spicy chicken and tomato bredie to umfino. Bridging cultures and tastes, the Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir has been shared around local tables for generations. “It’s a wine that brings people together and allows them to have fun,” says Takuan von Arnim. “It’s a wine that allows you to be you.”
Three decades, three winemakers
“Wine is in essence a distilled story of life, of every vintner's and cellarmaster's dreams and capabilities,” says Achim. His dedicated hands-on approach saw this pioneering wine become one of the strongest blends in the country. Working from a single Excel spreadsheet, he’d begin each vintage anew, crafting over 50 potential blends until he found the right combination to meet his iconic standard.
Inheriting the responsibility of the blend from his father was not something Takuan, Haute Cabrière’s second-generation winemaker, took lightly. “A blend of Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a holy thing,” he says. Having spent 10 years co-blending with his father, Takuan began a more streamlined approach by identifying the best vineyard sites as a basis for each vintage, coaxing out the golden thread. With a light fingerprint, he reduced the Pinot Noir component for a fresher style, while still paying respect to the Burgundian cultivars at every turn.
Joining as winemaker in 2014, Tim Hoek introduced extended lees ageing, giving the wine more texture and stability, allowing it to be released with lower residual sugar because of an already existing natural softness.
The Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir
“I wanted to showcase the magic of Chardonnay Pinot Noir, the amazing old vineyards we have on our property, as well as the terroir of the Franschhoek valley to the best of my ability,” says Tim. “The Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir was my answer.”
Harvested from a Pinot Noir vineyard planted in 1991 and a Chardonnay from 1983, whole bunch co-pressed and filled in brand new terracotta amphora for six months, this wine will be Haute Cabrière’s first field blend and its first amphora-aged blend, too. “It’s deconstructing and reconstructing Chardonnay Pinot Noir in a higher form,” says Takuan.
Small-batch produced and with artwork inspired by Achim’s original 1994 label, this limited anniversary edition will only be available at cellar door for R120 per bottle.