Haute Cabriere

The story of Haute Cabriere begins in 1694, when French Huguenot Pierre Jourdan was granted a parcel of land at the head of the Franschhoek Valley. He christened the farm Cabriere, after his hometown in the south of France, and set about planting vines in soil that would prove extraordinarily suited to winemaking. For nearly three centuries the land changed hands and lay relatively quiet, until a German-born winemaker arrived and recognised what the terroir could become.

Achim von Arnim purchased Haute Cabriere in 1982, drawn by the valley's unique combination of altitude, aspect, and decomposed granite soils. He was among the very first producers in South Africa to create Cap Classique -- the country's traditional-method sparkling wine -- and in 1986 released the Pierre Jourdan Brut, the first of its kind in the country. The wine was named after the original Huguenot landowner as an act of respect for the estate's founding heritage.

Von Arnim's innovations did not stop at sparkling wine. He was the first winemaker in South Africa to consider creating a still wine from the traditional champagne varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. That experiment produced the now-iconic Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir, a blend that remains the estate's signature and has become one of the most recognised wines in the Franschhoek Valley. His approach was always to let the terroir speak, working with the hillside vineyards' natural intensity rather than against it.

Achim von Arnim was also famous for the art of sabrage -- opening a bottle of Cap Classique with a French cavalry sabre, a dramatic flourish he brought to the cellar tours and made synonymous with the Haute Cabriere experience. The tradition continues today under the stewardship of his son, Takuan von Arnim, who serves as second-generation Cellar Master. Takuan has expanded the wine range while maintaining his father's commitment to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as the estate's defining grapes.

The Haute Cabriere Cellar Restaurant is built into the mountain itself, offering panoramic views of the Franschhoek Valley from its terrace. The menu is designed to complement the wines, with a two-course option at R320 per person and three courses at R390 per person, served Thursday to Monday from midday. Wine tastings are available daily at R70 per person for a standard tasting, with a cellar tour and tasting at R95 per person.

The Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique range has grown to include the Brut, Brut Reserve, Belle Rose, Blanc de Blancs, and Ratafia, establishing Haute Cabriere as one of the foremost sparkling wine houses in South Africa. The estate's still wines cover the full spectrum of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir expressions, from the accessible Unwooded versions to the oak-aged Reserves and the Arnim Family Reserve blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah.