What a treat to join the Haute Cabrière team last week at their spectacular restaurant to celebrate their iconic Chardonnay Pinot Noir, first blended in their cellar in 1994; the year of South Africa's democracy, both celebrating 3 decades this year. To honour this momentous occasion, the team created a limited-release Chardonnay Pinot Noir field blend, the Haute Cabrière Heritage 30 Reserve. This wine is aged in amphora and blended in the vineyards – and unusual for a white wine, bottled in a 1.5l magnum bottle. Family farms usually struggle to find a balance in ensuring sustainability and longevity, and so it is wonderful to see that Tim Hoek, who joined the farm a few years ago, has really settled in well and great to have him as only the 3rd cellarmaster, following the intrepid founder Achim von Arnim and his son Takuan. Perhaps the field blend has infected the team with them blending in non-family members well. Congrats to the team for their foresight and ingenuity!