Head out to Franschhoek this weekend and join us at the 2010 Bastille Festival. The weather is going to be fantastic so you have absolutely NO excuse!

CC attribution Franschhoek Wine Valley on Flickr

We’ve added a few snaps of the snow, on the mountains behind Haute Cabriere, to our fan page. If you’re interested you’ll find them here.

Yes, yes, yes … I know I’ve been quiet but things have been busy! Blending wine and preparing for World Cup takes a lot out of a person.

Considering that things have been so quiet I think that a brief update is a good way to get the ball rolling again.

The Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose has been blended and it’s excellent (not that I’m biased).

The new Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir is back on the classic blend track. What I mean by this is - it took far fewer blends than the 2009 Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir to get it just right.

Before you ask about its release date let me say the following: it will be released later in the year and I’m not going to specify the date. The reason for this is that a lot can go array and this only ever seems to happen when you specify a release date.

See you, back here, tomorrow … fantastic!

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that Cabriere exists on both sides of Franschhoek. So effectively our Franschhoek Wine is grown and made on opposite ends of the valley. Amazing!

We can stand on one side and wave to our fellow team members on the other. Yes, I know, this doesn’t sound all that remarkable until you’ve actually experienced it. So come and visit us! If you ask, at one of the famous Haute Cabriere Saturday Wine Tastings, we’ll be sure to point it out.

But if that’s not possible, because I understand that you could live overseas, you can watch the video I’ve put together.

I’ve been warming up for the Franschhoek Uncorked Strongest Arm Competition. I plan on keeping this title in the family so bring your best game but expected to go home disappointed. But remember even when you lose (because you will lose) all is not totally lost! There will be more than enough amazing franschhoek wine on offer and I know I’ve heard that a bottle of Pierre Jourdan fixes everything.

If you’re interested in what the new Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir tastes like I’ve put together a short tasting video. If it’s not enough head on out and join us for this weekend’s Franschhoek Uncorked festivities. Come on, you know you want to!

So you obviously all know that Cabriere is a wine farm in the Franschhoek Valley. If you don’t know that then you should DEFINITELY come visit us this weekend and partake in the Franschhoek Uncorked festivities.

My minions have finally got the video camera working (well done minions) so below is a great clip about why - at Cabriere - we do what we do so well. Sometimes it’s about sticking to what you’re good at.

I know you’ve missed having my ridiculously handsome face around. But never fear because if you leave me a comment, pop me a tweet, SMS, email or send a morse code message I’ll send you an autographed picture.

Yes, I really am that amazing!

*If you’d like to buy some Haute Cabriere wine or Pierre Jourdan MCC, but are too lazy to leave the comfort of your couch, pop on over to the Cabriere online store. It’s always stocked and we deliver to your door.

We’ve been promising  an update, regarding what’s going to be on on offer at Cabriere during Franschhoek Uncorked, and here it is:

1. Wine Tasting by Helicopter - for those that hate driving and want to experience Franschhoek Uncorked in style. The farms involved in this adventure are us (Haute Cabriere), Rickety Bridge and Boschendal.
2. Pita and Pinot Noir on the Heli pad. Beautiful bedouin tents, delicious Haute Cabriere food and the best South African Pinot Noir (ours).
3. Oh, and of course, our legendary Franschhoek Uncorked Strongest Arm competition. We hope you’ve been training because this year, given the greatly improved Franschhoek Uncorked weather, we’re banking on an incredibly competitive Strongest Arm.  To play you down a shot of Ratafia and throw a tennis ball in the dam - the furthest throw wins. If you’ve never played swing round and we’ll be happy to teach you. Well actually Takuan will be doing the teaching. Catch him earlier, rather than later, he’s less fun earlier but probably a whole lot more helpful!

There will also be a competition regarding the best photo taken at Cabriere over the Franschhoek Uncorked weekend. The prize will be some Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique (Y.U.M) … more details about this Franschhoek Uncorked Cabriere competition will be posted shortly.

Join us over the Franschhoek Uncorked weekend … come on, you know you want to!

Sun + Pierre Jourdan + Friday = Perfection.

Oh and Takuan gets back next week, so you’ll be hearing less from us and more from The Man. Thank goodness!

Ok. We’re off to enjoy our Friday glass of bubbly … you have fun now.

If you’ve ever visited the Cabriere Tasting Room, the Haute Cabriere Restaurant and our underground cellar you’ll know that getting in and out (because it makes use of the same road) can be quite tricky; especially when it’s busy. If you haven’t yet been to Cabriere then you’d better have an amazing excuse. Something involving ninjas!

To deal with the congestion we’ve built a ring road. So now you drive in, park, taste all our Pierre Jourdan Cap Classiques and Haute Cabriere wines, buy at least a case, have some lunch (or dinner), hop back into your car and drive around the cellar. Exciting stuff!

It’s a lot like being wine, only with no animals and lots of wine. So really it’s nothing like being on safari.

We’re all tired of waiting for the rain to stop so, to help melt away those remaining winter blues, we suggest you dose yourself with one champagne glass measure of Pierre Jourdan.

After years of scientific research conducted by Takuan, and some of the other people in the office, we’re happy to announce that Pierre Jourdan makes that dreary winter feeling simply disappear. Apparently it’s a combination of the amazing taste, the bubbles and … oh wait we’ve already mentioned the amazing taste. Yes the Franschhoek Cap Classique - Pierre Jourdan - is at it again. Restoring smiles to the rain soaked Cape one glass at a time.

Thank you Pierre Jourdan, without you our lives would be significantly less fun and perhaps a little more sober. Boo.