The Freshly Ground lead singer recently declared herself a huge fan of Haute Cabrière. We think this is great because, as luck would have it, we are also big fans of Freshly Ground.

They were out to visit us, just before the World Cup, with Top Billing so you might have caught something about it on TV? It was a wonderful day filled with fun, laughter, the very best views in Franschhoek, Pierre Jourdan and - of course - sabrage.

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!

Just a brief note, because I’m still traveling, to let you all know that the quality of our 2010 Pinot Noir grapes was excellent. So good, in fact, that I can’t get them out of my mind.

You know you’re obsessed when you dream about the grapes you harvested over a month ago.

There is a very nice video of the Cabriére Sabrage on the Simon and Baker Travel Review site. You’ll see that in this video the person in charge of this specific display of sabrage is non other that Hildegard von Arnim (Takuan’s mother).

So if you’d like to see how Sabrage is really done, and find out about some of the history surrounding it, pay the Simon and Baker Travel Review site a visit.

Take a trip out to the Franschhoek Valley this December and come and spend some time with us.

Stock up on your bubbly for the festive season and New Year. A case of Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose is the ultimate party accessory and if you can’t get out to Franschhoek you can always order it online from the Cabriere store. Which means you never have to leave the comfort of your own home. Wonderful!

If you’re looking for that something special, for that someone special, why not pick up one of our gift packs. They’re so good looking you won’t even have to wrap them. Plus they’re filled with Pierre Jourdan and Haute Cabriere goodness and, as we’ve seen with our continued success this year, everyone is a fan.

Join us for one of our acclaimed Saturday Tastings - the wine tasting experience that simply puts all others to shame - and follow that with a spot of lunch. Yum!

Haute Cabriere, our Franschhoek Restaurant, is sublime. If you stay for lunch and/or dinner we strongly suggest that you try the mussels and the lamb. They’re both out of this world. Completely mindblowing!

See you Franschhoek, or online, over the next few weeks!

Every Saturday we treat guests to the ultimate in wine theatre. All Saturday Wine Tasting visitors are whisked away on the intimate journey through our history, approach and wine philosophy.

We use our famed French cavalry sabre (it’s very swish) to open bottle after bottle of Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique.

If you’re looking for something new and exciting to do in the winelands then the Haute Cabriere Saturday Tasting experience is definitely for you. Besides it’s not everyday you get to watch someone as dapper as Takuan handle a sabre.

It’s all very dramatic and a whole lot more fun than traditional wine tasting.

This year’s Uncorked - on the 10th and 11th of October - promises to be amazing.

This month we’re going to be unpacking our Franschhoek Uncorked offering. What we can share with you now is that it will definitely involve the best Franschhoek Cap Classique (Pierre Jourdan), Sabrage, our Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend and our straight Pinot Noir.

Delicious! Delicious! Delicious!

I often get asked the same two questions. The first is “takuan will you marry me?” and the second is “why did you become a winemaker?”.

This happens at every wine show, over email, on Twitter and even in the supermarket.

This happens for a number of reasons. Firstly I am, as we all know, ridiculously good looking and potently charming. Potentially the future George Clooney - and who wouldn’t want a piece of that? Secondly there is the whole Cabriere Winemaker. Just mentioning: Haute Cabriere, Pinot Noir, Cap Classique, Sabrage and (of course) Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend gets those marriage proposals and winemaker-motivation questions flowing.

In this short clip I explain why I became a winemaker. Don’t let the good looks distract you, it’s all about focus. Find the ninja within.

Just sharing a picture we dug up.

Takuan’s going to pretend to be embarassed but we all know the truth - he loves this photo.

I’ve redone the Sabrage video - in the last one you couldn’t hear anything over the wind. Which is a good thing to remember. If you’re ever with someone who is boring you to tears just won’t keep quiet bring them up to the Haute Cabrière Tasting Room and Restaurant - you can all taste the Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique and watch their rambling get lost in the wind! No different for them but great for you.

This new video starts with a brief history of Sabrage and then a beautiful woman (who I borrowed from her partner) helps me demonstrate the actual act of Sabrage.

It’s really not as dirty as it sounds.