Hasher Family Wines

We are delighted to announce our first partnership in South Africa, with the exciting and exceptional Hasher Family Wines, from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

“All eyes should be on this remarkable young woman” – Tamlyn Currin, on winemaker Natasha Williams

In 2021, Belgian couple Frederik Herten and Céline Haspeslagh purchased the 180-hectare estate in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, which is a mixture of vineyards and native fynbos, set aside for biodiversity.

Since taking over the estate, the reputation of the wines has skyrocketed and the accolades have been pouring in – perhaps the highlight of which has been the Estate being crowned International Winery of the Year in both 2025 and 2026 at the London Wine Competition.

Frederik had been bitten by both the wine and the South Africa bug many years ago, after visiting Hermanus as a young boy and subsequently discovering the wines of Ribera del Duero whilst studying in Spain.

Céline’s family home had a few hundred vines, which went towards making wine for friends and family, with everyone joining in the winemaking process.The commitment to regenerative viticulture and conservation has been a key tenet in the philosophy of Hasher. Organic treatments in the vines, the introduction of natural insect predators and permanent cover crops have all had an impact on the vineyards and the wines, whilst the estate’s accreditation in the WWF Conservation Champion programme is a result of 60 hectares of land that have been dedicated to the preservation of flora and fauna.

Of particular note is the wetland area set aside for the ‘micro-frog’, Microbatrachella capensis, which measures just under 2cm in length when fully grown.

In the vineyards, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are king, and since 2023 the winemaking has been undertaken by rising star Natasha Williams. Her time spent working at Bosman Family Vineyards, as well as stints in France and California, has cemented her expertise as one of South Africa’s most exciting young winemakers.

Natasha’s philosophy is very much about letting the vines do the talking and letting the maritime climate express itself in the wines. At Hasher, she is working with some of the oldest vines in Hemel-en-Aarde, so they have plenty to say.

With regards to the range, a fantastic Sauvignon Blanc complements the superb Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. The Hasher Family Wines Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are designed for immediate drinking – approachable yet complex examples of the refined style from Upper Hemel-en-Aarde.

The Sauvignon Blanc shows the ripeness of the African climate but with a line of acidity we would more often find in the Loire – a halfway house between the Old World and the New, stylistically.

In a similar vein, the Cyriel Cabernet Franc is a generous yet sophisticated red, with no new oak used to best express the perfumed and crunchy red fruit.

The jewels in the crown are the Marimist Chardonnay and Ernest Pinot Noir. The former is described by Natasha as a ‘celebration of sea and mist’, hence the name, and sees gentle oak usage to complement the crystalline fruit.

The Ernest Pinot has perhaps become the most famous wine of the estate, winning several awards for its combination of concentrated red fruit and fynbos herbal character.

The decomposed granite soils here, in a cool maritime climate, retain freshness and finesse and provide structure and ageability.

https://hasherfamilywines.co.za/