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PIONEER: South African wine pioneer remembered for innovation, artistry, and a life lived ‘with sparkle’…
By WSAM Reporter
Haute Cabrière has announced the passing of its founder and visionary winemaker, Achim von Arnim, who died peacefully this week at the age of 75, surrounded by his family.
Von Arnim, widely regarded as one of South Africa’s great wine innovators, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy shaped by artistry, a pioneering spirit, and a deep belief that wine is an expression of both land and life. “Wine is memory,” he often said—a philosophy that guided his five-decade career.
His journey in wine began long before establishing the well-loved Franschhoek estate. As a young cellar master at Boschendal, von Arnim produced one of the country’s earliest traditional-method sparkling wines—the second Cap Classique ever made in South Africa, and the first Chardonnay-Pinot Noir Cap Classique blend locally. Even then, he demonstrated what would become his hallmark: the conviction that wine could be an art form.
That pursuit of beauty extended far beyond the vineyard. A man of many passions, von Arnim was known for his poetry, painting, karate practice and his affection for classic Citroëns.
But the turning point of his life came when he found a piece of Franschhoek soil whose character reminded him of the French landscapes he so admired.
With the support of his wife of 56 years, Hildegard, he established Haute Cabrière at the foot of the Middagkrans mountain.
From this soil he created his first wines under the Pierre Jourdan label, honouring the valley’s 17th-century Huguenot heritage. Von Arnim imagined a future in which South African sparkling wines could stand proudly alongside the world’s finest—and he worked tirelessly to make that vision real.
In true von Arnim fashion, one of his most influential creations emerged from adversity. Faced with a difficult harvest in which grapes ripened too quickly for Cap Classique production, he pivoted, crafting the first Haute Cabrière Chardonnay Pinot Noir, an innovative still wine blend that would become a South African icon.
Turning challenge into beauty became a signature of his life and craft.
Beyond his winemaking prowess, von Arnim was celebrated for his charisma and storytelling. Visitors to the estate often recall the mischievous twinkle in his eye, his love of long lunches, and the theatrical flourish of sabrage—moments that captured his belief that life deserved to be celebrated boldly.
Von Arnim’s creative footprint extended into his family life as well. He and Hildegard raised four children—Takuan, Zoë, Tanja and Tamo—who today carry forward his vision. The estate is now led by CEO Tanja von Arnim and Wine Director Takuan von Arnim, while Zoë von Arnim oversees the import of Haute Cabrière wines into Europe.
“Achim and Haute Cabrière’s story is not just about wine,” said Hildegard von Arnim. “It is about people, risk and reward, family, love and the pursuit of something greater than oneself.”
As the wine community mourns his passing, Haute Cabrière said it will continue to honour his philosophy and pioneering spirit.
“Wine is not made—it is lived,” the estate reflected. “And what a life Achim lived”.
