To answer this statement has taken me about a year. This is a different post, as I hardly step out from behind the editors role and present myself as someone connected to the farm in any more of a sense than someone who helps out where I can. The Armstrong Family (make that extended family incl all staff and some non-connected friends who all profess to being a part of their family) have a way of going about things which has taken me some time to fully comprehend. As someone who helps this amazing family with their web content, it’s taken me quite some time to understand all the differences that go on at this boutique farm of theirs in Franschhoek, a corner of the world they are particularly passionate about.

Something clicked as I was “interviewing” Nikey, the wine maker here on the farm, last week. Listening to him speak about his passion for grapes in various stages made me realise that he is given full artistic freedom to make the wine he wants, as he wants, because there is trust between himself and the family. Nikey spoke about the barrels used, the way some of the varietals rot, the punch downs, the way of keeping grapes crisp and the uses of fermentation techniques to gain every morsel of greatness out of every single grape. A true artists left to paint his own way. Naturally a private man, it was a privilege to be let into his world.

There are many of these “secrets” that we are going to expose in the site over the next few months, as the interview has resulted in a series of fantastic articles for you.

When it comes to creating the best product, I can tell you that no expense is spared and that there is no time limit on this farm for greatness to be achieved. Indeed, wines are kept until they are perfectly drinkable. There are no statements of “will drink superbly in 3 years” on our labels. Our wines all drink perfectly right now.

Hand selected specific barrels, varied by vintage, by varietal and stored in the most perfect conditions to ensure their wines are their favorite wines, as well as yours.

The process of contracted blocks and the personal effort and details that goes into working closely with the contractors really impressed me when I learnt of it. Meticulous care and personal relationships forged over years mean that we get the best product from the best land exactly as we want it.

Those are just some of the ways that Haut Espoir is doing things differently. We do it because we are passionate about process, passionate about wine and passionate about the people who we love who drink our wines. If you know where to look, the subtle differences will become obvious and what you are tasting will make more sense to you. It certainly makes sense to us.

Really, there is so much I could go on and on about, but the fact that the people behind this farm are so personally involved and take every measure possible to create the perfect product is more or less what I wanted to get across today.

– This entry is written by Raoul, the editor of this website.