Haut Espoir or “High Hope”, is a family owned vineyard and winery nestled on the majestic mountain slopes that enclose the Franschhoek valley.
Haut Espoir was originally part of the grazing land allocated to the first farm registered in Franschhoek in 1692 to Heinrich Muller. Soon afterwards the French Huguenots started making wine in the valley. In 1999 a subdivision of the Mountain Manor Hotel was purchased by the Armstrong family with a view to retiring to Franschhoek. However a vineyard, winery and farm development programme commenced and what started as "a place to retire" has transformed into a wine estate producing top quality wines.
A special place deserves special care. Haut Espoir is committed to the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative, a partnership between the wine industry and the conservation sector. The aim is to minimise further losses of natural habitat of the Cape Floral Kingdom and contribute to sustainable wine producing practices.
The aim at Haut Espoir is to produce premium wines that reflect the terroir where the grapes are grown, as well as the careful viticultural practices and traditional winemaking techniques used.
Haut Espoir is a 23 hectare farm on the footslopes of the Groot Drakenstein Mountains. The terroir comprises well drained coarse sandy loam derived from granite and Table Mountain sandstone.
The farm has a very high annual rainfall. With the mountain aspect and elevation they are fortunate to have good sunshine and sufficient coolness for optimal ripening of their grapes. Haut Espoir vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Nikey van Zyl
Nikey van Zyl graduated from Elsenberg in 2002. Having lived in Paarl for many years, Nikey decided at an early age he wanted to work in the wine industry. Whilst at Elsenberg he took every opportunity to work at various wine estates. By the time he started at Haut Espoir in 2003 he had worked with Charles Hopkins of Graham Beck for three harvests in Franschhoek, a season at Avondale in Paarl, a year at Dry Creek in Sonoma Valley, a season at Chateau Angelus in St-Emilion and three months visiting wineries and vineyards in New Zealand.
Nikey van Zyl is passionate about winemaking and was fortunate to be involved in the development of the winery at Haut Espoir, choosing the equipment and the making of the first wines.
Nikey’s time is taken up by winemaking, establishing the garden at his new home and, whenever the time permits, he enjoys fishing and trips to the Kalahari.
Audio interview with Nikey van Zyl from Haut Espoir >>
