Haute Cabrière played host to the International Wine & Food Society who spent a marvelous week visiting the Cape. Society members from across the world converged on the Cape for the week of 24-28 February to sample the epicurean delights of the region. The group, which consisted of 140 members from 40 member countries, visited several top wine estates as well as the top tourist spots around the Peninsula before venturing out to Franschhoek on the Friday. After a quick stop in the village, they ascended the Pass to Haute Cabrière where they were welcomed with Pierre Jourdan Brut and then invited to tuck into a sumptuous lunch prepared by chef patron Matthew Gordon and fellow Franschhoek chefs Margot Janse, Reuben Riffel and Neil Jewel, each taking charge of a different course.

According the wine writer Melvyn Minnaar, who was invited to attend the event: "the establishment's chef, Matthew Gordon had offered the star dish of this special, show-off event ... Gordon's precisely-tuned salmon trout trio, made from the region delicacy, was bliss..."

The Society was founded by wine negociant, gourmet and writer André Simon in 1933. He lived in Britain but imported champagnes from France and through that developed his love for food and wine. In time he joined his 'swallow' friends who came out to the Cape every summer to escape London's soggy, grey winters. As a food lover he was entertained by Silwood Kitchen and there met Achim's mother, Theodora von Arnim who became a firm friend. Every year when he came out to the Cape the Baroness would produce a wonderful meal, and often Achim was called in to help serve. It was André who introduced Achim to champagne and, proverbially, the rest is history...