Haut Espoir. Literally translated, it means “high hopes”. And I certainly had high hopes for our Haut Espoir Twitter tasting. Not only has Haute Espoir been one of our longest standing SuperFAN Wine Farms, they are also amazing to work with. We don’t play favourites here at Incogvino, but if we had to, Rob and his team would definitely be contenders. But I digress. I could go on and on about the farm all day, but that will have to wait for another post. Right now, I want to tell you about what went down in Twitter town on Thursday evening.
Haut Espoir

This past Thursday, wine lovers from all over SA joined up virtually – via the Twittersphere (a twitter wine tasting!) – to swirl, sniff, sip, gurgle, gulp and imbibe in a handful of Haut Espoir offerings. The Incogvino SuperFANS were offered their pick of Haut Espoir wines a few weeks ago. Rob and his team put together two fantastic “Fan Boxes” for the SuperFANS to choose from. One was a Shiraz vertical box, with vintages from ’05-’09 (of which ’08 and ’09 are unlabelled and unreleased) and a bottle of Gentle Giant 2009 to round it off. The other box was more a mixed bag: Shiraz 2007, Gentle Giant 2009 (two bottles), Chardonnay 2010, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 and a very special, not-released-commercially, botrytis Semillon Solera white port. Orders were put in and records were broken. Our SuperFANS have always been partial to buying a few bottles of wine when the Fan Boxes come around, but this time they outdid themselves. 73 Fan Boxes were sold. Most of those in the first two days of the offer.
Orders rolled in, invoices were sent off, EFT’s went flying and deliveries were dispatched all over the country. The date was set and the SuperFANS were prepping in all earnestness for #TasteHautEspoir. The Twitter tastings have come a long way and they have become events where wine drinkers gather, prepare special dinners to pair with the wines being tasted and invite friends to join the experience. #TasteHautEspoir was no exception. Here’s what went down, in tweets and images:
Breathing @hautespoir for tonight’s @WeAreIncogvino #TwitterTasting pic.twitter.com/wS1EFvn5n6
— samuraibunny (@samuraibunny) September 4, 2014

All set up and ready for thirsty super fans , #tastehautespoir is almost ready to roll. pic.twitter.com/IBFp9QYytQ
— Rob Armstrong (@rambowine) September 4, 2014

Previously on #TasteHautEspoir … When pepper autocorrects to people, one of the greatest Twitter wine moments pic.twitter.com/v1rI7YLuQl
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) September 4, 2014

@WeAreIncogvino behold the enabler. #TasteHautEspoir pic.twitter.com/GUmcDWkili
— Antony Stiglingh (@AntonyStiglingh) September 4, 2014

#TasteHautEspoir pic.twitter.com/zHgwGTBWiX
— Ross Murray (@RossMurray12) September 4, 2014

Note book of questions ready. Also, I brought out the big glass. #tastehautespoir @WeAreIncogvino pic.twitter.com/x3L1MiHAhs
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) September 4, 2014

#tastehautespoir on your marks…..get set ….. pic.twitter.com/cHufY5vb2E
— Rob Armstrong (@rambowine) September 4, 2014

#tastehautespoir @Tankerhoek ok, Wine ous East London on THE STARTING BLOCKS!
— Rosemary (@rersomewhere) September 4, 2014

Ladies and gentlemen… It’s time for #TasteHautEspoir – your hosts, @andyhadfield & @rambowine! Buckle up! pic.twitter.com/CayRyTRVWG
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) September 4, 2014

It seems like a lot of wine for the 2 of us, but we’ll give it our best shot! @Pauladca #TasteHautEspoir #WineOClock pic.twitter.com/2X67shyksI
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) September 4, 2014

“@WineOuEL: @Tankerhoek wine ous at the ready! pic.twitter.com/rUQ6AyiCgg” 1st timers!!! #TasteHautEspoir
— Tim (@Tankerhoek) September 4, 2014
Our Shiraz 500 litre Barrels sitting nicely #tastehautespoir pic.twitter.com/2n4IvUNqU0
— Rob Armstrong (@rambowine) September 4, 2014

Some more barrels for the superfans #tastehautespoir this is the chard and gg room pic.twitter.com/xV7fJNBVXU
— Rob Armstrong (@rambowine) September 4, 2014

Wine ready and first course ready to go- just waiting on guests #TasteHautEspoir pic.twitter.com/3NSq89yeZh
— Karen H (@CandidKar) September 4, 2014

This. #TasteHautEspoir @WeAreIncogvino @rambowine pic.twitter.com/ngNIPzLyNl
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) September 4, 2014

Our #TasteHautEspoir dinner. Steak done to perfection with mushroom sauce to blow your mind. Thanks @AntonyStiglingh pic.twitter.com/M7S1UUr8Qd
— Marthèlize Tredoux (@Konfytbekkie) September 4, 2014

Bargie’s Rump & Chorizo Trinchado ready to complement the ’07 Shiraz. #TasteHautEspoir Busy cooking & wining eve…. pic.twitter.com/6Fh3LQ4N0F
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) September 4, 2014

So what’s everyone think about the #TasteHautEspoir Gentle Giant ’09?
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) September 4, 2014

@WeAreIncogvino the GG is drinking beautifully. “Christmas Cake in a glass” is @Pauladca‘s angle. Cloves & cherries…. #TasteHautEspoir
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) September 4, 2014

The GG09 is a very clean wine. Great balance, soft finish and just a really fresh feeling left for such a complex wine #TasteHautEspoir
— Marthèlize Tredoux (@Konfytbekkie) September 4, 2014

Gotta say, I am SERIOUSLY impressed with the food you guys have put on. We need to have meet ups. Where you cook. #TasteHautEspoir
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) September 4, 2014

Witness… The REAL Poor Man’s Decanter. Shiraz 08 brewing. Bow, people! #TasteHautEspoir pic.twitter.com/K5zfPaM9fx
— Andy Hadfield (@andyhadfield) September 4, 2014

Tastes awesome with homemade ravioli w chorizo,coriander pesto&mush!Beaut w white pepper taste of 06 #TasteHautEspoir pic.twitter.com/4eqLFKCEVw
— Karen H (@CandidKar) September 4, 2014

Spot the spittoon #tastehautespoir pic.twitter.com/WduDvHATYL
— Wine (@WineOuEL) September 4, 2014

#TasteHautEspoir third course with a spicy prawn soup with the 07 shiraz cant wait pic.twitter.com/oQZvN37Atu
— Robert Obree (@RobertObree) September 4, 2014

The vertical shirazes are going down a treat #tastehautespoir pic.twitter.com/2x1su18j2Z
— Rob Armstrong (@rambowine) September 4, 2014

Righto. Everyone’s been waiting for it… NEXT! Time for the Shiraz 2007 on #TasteHautEspoir
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) September 4, 2014

@rambowine that is impossibly well priced. It is face-smashingly good. At that price my face is prepped for much smashing #tastehautespoir
— Antony Stiglingh (@AntonyStiglingh) September 4, 2014

@Konfytbekkie Also love the fact that they don’t rush their wines to market. Mature, flavour packed & ready to drink. #TasteHautEspoir
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) September 4, 2014

Here at Incogvino JHB HQ, someone just said re #TasteHautEspoir Shiraz 07: Menthol cigarette doing the cha cha on my tongue. Yes. That.
— Incogvino (@WeAreIncogvino) September 4, 2014

With all due respect: this Shiraz 07 kicks the GG09’s butt… Wow. Wow. #TasteHautEspoir
— Xivoni (@xivoni111) September 4, 2014

This Shiraz knows my secrets. Every sip is like a conversation with an old friend. #TasteHautEspoir
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) September 4, 2014

@rambowine that’s daylight (lowers shades)…ROBery. I’m here all night. Norequests. #TasteHautEspoir
— Antony Stiglingh (@AntonyStiglingh) September 4, 2014

This is happening right now. #tastehautespoir pic.twitter.com/90wkp5XXE3
— Lydia Coetzee (@greenlydia) September 4, 2014

@WeAreIncogvino @rambowine Thanx all #SuperFans, been a fun wine engagement! The GG rules the roost! #TasteHautEspoir pic.twitter.com/NAvvujTQdn
— Brian Arentsen (@Bargainstein) September 4, 2014
Haut Espoir is a boutique wine farm in Franschhoek, entirely family run, with the focus on making the best wine possible (and a spot of buchu brandy on the side). They’re also known for their conservation efforts, restoring fynbos on the farm, their BWI accreditation and simply for crafting truly fantastic wines. Even in an industry that is built on passion, you will be hard pressed to find a more passionate team than Rob and his family. For more information, visit their website or follow Rob (@rambowine) or the farm (@hautespoir) on Twitter.
The post #TasteHautEspoir – A Tremendous Twitter Wine Tasting appeared first on Incogvino.