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“A blend of Chardonnay Pinot Noir is a sacred thing. It’s a wine that brings people together and encourages you to enjoy the moment."

~ TAKUAN VON ARNIM

First created in 1994 at Haute Cabrière in Franschhoek, South African Chardonnay Pinot Noir celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2024!

You see – sometimes the world’s greatest inventions are destined, and in South Africa, we have a history of meeting challenges with ingenuity that leads to greatness! Such is the story of South Africa’s first Chardonnay Pinot Noir still wine blend. We are honoured to have crafted the OG, the first ever, and still beloved Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir 3 decades ago. This is the story of our iconic pioneering wine blend and a 30th birthday celebration we can all join in on!

Meridian Wine Merchants has been awarded The Advantage Award for Top Liquor Supplier overall in South Africa for 2023. This accolade reflects the company’s outstanding performance and dedication to excellence in premium wine sales, marketing and distribution.

It graces the skies in a unique rocking motion, the eyes on its scarlet facial mask seeking its prey in the valleys, mountains and veld of Southern Africa.

This black, white and grey plumed raptor, with the characteristic short tail and orange-red beak andtalons, is the magnificent Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), the eagle that has been named by BirdLife South Africa as the country’s Bird of the Year for 2024.

And for wine-lovers around the world, the name Bateleur might also find purchase, as this is the name of the premium Chardonnay made by De Wetshof Estate in Robertson, one of South Africa’s pioneering Chardonnay cellars.

This year's harvest marks a number of hugely exciting milestones for us!

Not only are the grapes looking to be of great quality and character, but 2024 is also our Cellar Master's 10th vintage with us. PLUS - this is the 30th vintage of our pioneering Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir blend! The OG, original, and 1st of its kind in South Africa - this wine is synonymous with the South African lifestyle.

Chatting to La Motte cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche, who has been making wine at the estate for 24 years, about the terroir on the farm.

“We don’t have an Afrikaans or English word for it,” says Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche, in reference to the French ‘terroir’ concept. It is the coming together of a few elements: vineyard soil, climate and environment, and giving a finished wine its distinctive character. The role played by the vineyard team is a factor too."

Let’s explore what makes La Motte’s terroir distinctive.

The FACET Foundation, For Africa’s Children Every Time, was established over fifteen years ago by the Owner of Delaire Graff Estate and renowned diamantaire Laurence Graff OBE. Having made countless visits to the region and with long-held ties to Sub-Saharan Africa, Graff was struck by the poverty he encountered but also by the spirit and potential of its children and young people.

This year marks 10 years since FACET started working with the Pebbles Project, its partner charity in South Africa.

When it comes to laidback days out with the family, Leopard’s Leap has fine-tuned the magic recipe. The Franschhoek winery and restaurant appeals to all ages – a wide lawn, where you can spread out blankets or play ball, tables under the trees where in summer a meandering channel of mountain water and fountains invite refreshing play beside the jungle gym, and above that a generously sized pump track. Its lekker food, wine and hospitality saw the winery scooping a win for best Authentic South African Experience in the 2024 Best of Wine Tourism Ambassador Awards.

Our annual Blessing of the Harvest ceremony at La Motte stays such a special opportunity to express our gratitude for another harvest and to celebrate with the team. This year, for me, the blessing also extends to the fact that we are still able to farm and make a contribution. Agriculture is such an important industry in South Africa, but like many of the other businesses and industries with the potential to build our economy, it is often threatened, challenged and prevented from operating at its peak.

The beauty of the winelands delights all who visit the Cape; it’s a beauty distinctive to each area, making it unnecessarily difficult to pick a favourite.

One region remarkable for its isolated beauty is the dramatic and spectacular Cederberg. Covering 66811 ha of mountainous terrain on the West coast, the fynbos-rich Cederberg was proclaimed a Wilderness in 1973. It is a haven for campers, mountain climbers, hikers, rock art and wildlife enthusiasts and anyone who likes to get away from it all.