Achim von Arnim: 1945 – 2025
By Christian Eedes, 10 December 2025
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Achim von Arnim, pioneering Franschhoek winegrower and founder of Haute Cabrière and Pierre Jourdan, died on Monday, 8 December, at the age of 80.
After studying at Geisenheim in Germany, von Arnim became winemaker at Boschendal in the 1970s at just 32, where he developed South Africa’s first Blanc de Noir. Convinced of Franschhoek’s potential for world-class bottle-fermented sparkling wine, he purchased land in the early 1980s that would become Haute Cabrière. His first Cap Classique – a Chardonnay–Pinot Noir blend released as Pierre Jourdan Brut, named for the farm’s original Huguenot owner – was the first in South Africa made from the traditional Champagne varieties. He went on to become a founding member of the Cap Classique Association in 1992.
In retirement, von Arnim remained in Franschhoek, devoted to his art, poetry and karate. He is survived by his wife, Hildegard, their four children – Takuan, Zoe, Tanja and Tamo – and grandchildren.
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You don’t mention that Achim was, in 1982, one of eight founder members of the Cape Independent Winemakers’ Guild. Another of them was Jan Boland Coetzee who died in September. That important contribution to the Cape wine scene also went unmentioned on this website – but more importantly, and rather shockingly to my mind, the CWG made no public tribute, as far as I’m aware, beyond a bare mention buried in the press release about the latest Auction results. I hope I’m wrong and that I just missed it, but in fact the Guild seem to not much care about its past – the founding of their organisation is scarcely mentioned on their website, let alone are the founders honoured there. Jan Coetzee, three months later, is, incidentally, still listed as as an honorary member.