Perched on the valley slopes of Franschhoek, surrounded by mountains on three sides and blessed with late-morning and lingering evening sunlight, our winemaking philosophy is deeply intertwined with the unique terroir of the region. The slow and balanced ripening of grapes, influenced by the topography, imbues our wines with fruit-forward flavour profiles. Higher-than-average rainfall and cooler temperatures contribute to the refined minerality, enhancing the balanced elegance of our Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs. Together, these elements create the unmistakable fingerprint of Franschhoek wines.

As we look forward to the upcoming vintage of Haute Cabrière wines, the spotlight remains on Chardonnay, celebrated as the ‘winemaker’s grape,’ embodying the essence, character, and diversity of each vintage. Simultaneously, Pinot Noir, known as ‘the heartbreak grape,’ stands as the emblem of resilience, soul, and depth.

The 2024 harvest brings its own set of nuances, building upon the lessons learned from the previous vintage. The early harvest in 2023, spurred by an exceptionally mild winter and further accelerated by heavy rainfall and cooler conditions in December, provided our team at Haute Cabrière with a unique challenge. Picking Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes weeks earlier than our customary timeline, we once again witnessed how the forces of nature define the course of our wines more profoundly than human influence.

This week, we had the privilege of catching up with our revered Cellar Master, Tim Hoek, whose wealth of experience and dedication to the craft continue to shape the trajectory of Haute Cabrière wines. As Tim reflects on the past 10 years, we invite you to savour the anticipation of what the future holds for our vineyards and the legacy of Haute Cabrière.