I think that my brother Tamo, our Cape Town Haute Cabriere ambassador, summed-up this past Bastille festival best … ”it was wild, it was fun and it was the most celebratory Franschhoek Bastille Festival ever! There were moments when I felt as if I was back in France in Springtime. Add to that the feeling of celebrating Madiba’s birthday and it was an experience impossible to beat!”

CC Attribution Franschhoek Wine Valley on Flickr

In fact over the weakend we enjoyed terrific Pierre Jourdan sales and, as one friend remarked, it looked like every Bastille visitor had a bottle of Pierre Jourdan in her / his hand.

If you were drinking Pierre Jourdan or Haute Cabriere this Bastille thank you for your support. If not, never fear, there is always next year!

We’ve had quite a few international visitors in the Haute Cabriére Tasting Room lately. They are all out to support their respective football teams but in between the matches a number of them have come out to the winelands to taste what we, as a wine producing country, have to offer.

We work really hard at our experience in Haute Cabriére Tasting Room and it’s great to hear back from people who enjoyed that experience. Recently the Haute Cabriére Tasting Room team received a lovely email from Steve (one of our international football supporting visitors). Steve has very kindly given us permission to post his complimentary email here, on our blog. Thanks Steve!

Steve’s email:

“You may remember our visit to you last Thursday. Because there were so many of us it was not possible to thank you personally but may I now do that electronically. I found you to be a thoroughly charming and very knowledgeable guide and when I return, sometime in the future with my wife (as I surely will for I was captivated by your beautiful region ), we shall make a point of visiting Haute Cabriére and maybe cracking a bottle or two.”

If you’re in Cape Town this week, for the very exciting Spain vs Portugal game on Tuesday, why not take some time out and join us in the Franschhoek winelands?

When the Cape Town Stadium officially opened Haute Cabrière was in attendance. Because - as everyone knows - it’s simply not a event without a bottle of Pierre Jourdan, the Haute Cabrière sabre and Achim von Arnim!

Here are some pictures of the snow on the mountains surrounding the Franschhoek Valley.

Well there is snow on the mountains surrounding Franschhoek, excellent Franschhoek wine and Cap Classique tasting in the Haute Cabriere Tasting Room and delicious food being prepared by the Haute Cabriere Restaurant.

We suggest you head out to Franschhoek and make a day of it. We’ll see you tomorrow!

There is the most beautiful snow covering the mountains surrouding Franschhoek! Apparently the maximum temperature we’re likely to see today is 11 degrees. Which is significantly warmer than yesterday when we experienced a maximum temperature of 8 degrees!

image courtesy of abbyladybug (http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbyladybug/449146606/)

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This is excellent weather for our sleeping vines and, I suppose, if you have crackling fire and a bottle of Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir it’s also excellent weather for you! If, however, you don’t have that bottle of Haute Cabriere Pinot Noir you can order it from our online Wine Store. This means that you don’t have to leave the comfort, or warmth, of your home to restock your wine stash.

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you about the wines.

So here is the update:

• The Chardonnay / Pinot Noir Blend looks good as does the Pierre Jourdan Brut.
• The Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose will be bottled in just less than two weeks. I’ll let you know how that goes in another blog post.

Before any of you ask you can look forward to the Chardonnay / Pinot Noir Blend in the latter half of the year. Don’t bother asking for specifics because you won’t get them.

As you probably know I was recently in Europe. I attended the 2010 Prowein and I also spent some time visiting key distributors and stockist of our wines and cap classiques.

It was an incredible trip for two reasons:

1. The demand for our wine internationally is growing steadily. We produce some unique and delicious wines (specifically our Haute Cabriere Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blend and Pierre Jourdan Tranquille) and the market likes unique and delicious. What was really great was experiencing first-hand the increased interest in and demand for the Pierre Jourdan Tranquille.
2. I had the opportunity, on this trip, to connect with the people who are stocking and selling Haute Cabriere throughout Europe.  I’ve discovered that this connection is important because it personalises the brand. This is a vital component of success - people must be able to put a name and face to a specific wine otherwise you’ll disappear into the new world wine sea.

So what this all means is that I will be back in Europe again next year. If I didn’t see you on this trip look me up on my next one!

If you’re heading out to join us for lunch on Mother’s Day (tomorrow) you’re in luck because we will be offering a glass of or Pierre Jourdan Tranquille to all ladies on Mother’s day. Fantastic!

We will also be giving a red rose to anyone who buys a bottle of Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose this Sunday. Yes we know we’re our wine and cap classique is amazing enough without the rose … so the rose just makes it impossible to beat.

See you tomorrow!

Sunday - the 9th of May 2010 - is Mother’s Day and you’d better not forget it!

Lets face it Mums are important, they’re like superheroes without the spandex, and they deserve at least one day a year dedicated to them.

It’s important that Mother’s Day is not a last minute thing, there needs to be a bit of planning. Luckily we’ve made it very easy. You’ll find a plan below that is guaranteed to cement your favourite child status for at least a year.

The Fool Proof Haute Cabriere 2010 Mother’s Day Plan:

Step 1: Call Haute Cabriere and make a lunch booking for Sunday - the number is +27 21 876 3688

Step 2: Drive to Franschhoek (it would be nice if you drove your Mum, but that’s up to you).

Step 3: Spoil your Mum with a delicious lunch at Haute Cabriere. A bottle of Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose would be a very nice touch.

Step 4: Stop in at Wine Tasting, before you head home, to pick up a bottle (or a case) of something special for your Mum.

Step 5: Freely accept love and adoration from your Mum.