Bouchard Finlayson

This boutique winery was founded in 1989 by renowned Burgundian winemaker, Paul Bouchard and South African Pinot Noir pioneer, Peter Finlayson. Situated in the cool climate Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in Walker Bay, 110 kilometres south east of Cape Town, the 22 hectares of vineyard are laid out according to Burgundian principles and more than half are planted with Pinot Noir. Vines are densely planted at 9,000 vines per hectare and green harvesting takes place at veraison (change of colour of grape pigmentation) in order to develop flavour concentration. The vineyards have soils of a distinctive clay-rich Bokkeveld shale (gravel and shale) and the nearby, cold ocean provides a cooling effect on the land. The winery is a leader in responsible agriculture and a pioneer for the World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation. In addition to the acclaimed Pinot Noirs, Bouchard Finlayson also produce highly rated Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings.

Hemel-en-Aarde

South Africa

Where tradition meets innovation

Bouchard Finlayson is both a family affair, and a place of collaboration.
A labour of love that sees the marriage of Old World winemaking heritage with
New World innovation.

Wines of distinction

Over more than three decades, Bouchard Finlayson has earned a global reputation for crafting memorable wines that speak to a sense of place.

Founder Peter Finlayson is hailed for pioneering the production of world-class Pinot Noir in South African vineyards, and today our Tête de Cuvée and Galpin Peak rank amongst the finest Pinot Noirs the country has to offer. Alongside this noble Burgundian cultivar, the cellar is known for its award-winning Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the beguiling red blend, Hannibal.

Viticulture

“The meticulous viticulture approach is based on the Burgundian principal of high-density planting with low yields from individual vines. 9000 vines are planted per hectare, one metre apart, in five rows. The sixth row is missing to facilitate maintenance of the vines and to avoid compaction of the soils. High density planting encourages greater surface of leaf exposure and restricts root growth, thereby improving fruit concentration, which is so essential to the making of truly great wines. Green harvesting is done at veraison, usually removing about 35% of the potential crop. Picking is done by hand with up to three separate passes through the vineyards to ensure that only the grapes at optimum ripeness are picked. The cool climate of Walker Bay is perfect for our Pinot Noir and largely influenced by the nearby cold Atlantic Ocean, rendering it one of the coolest wine growing areas in the Cape. The Hemel-en-Aarde valley is surrounded and sheltered by a mountain barrier – formed by the Galpin Peak at 810m and the Tower of Babel at 1200m – trapping the cloud cover and moisture brought in from the sea by the prevailing wind. Summer conditions are consequently warm rather than hot, and winter conditions are mild and frost-free. The sea breezes The soil of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is predominantly a duplex structure of Bokkeveld Shale. The top layer consists of a mixture of clay (15-30%) and gravel (ironstone and granite particles) and the lower layer is clay shale, which secures a source of moisture. Vines are planted on gentle slopes in a north-south direction, which takes advantage of the daily travel of sunlight from east to west and ensures equitable sunlight exposure. Vineyard practices are in keeping with planting and trellising methods of the most respected French wine-producing areas, with vine density exceeding 9000 vines per hectare. More than 50% of the vineyard is dedicated to growing Pinot Noir. Bouchard Finlayson has established a global reputation for its flagship wine, the Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, which has won numerous awards and accolades. Repeated vintages of this path-blazing wine continue to reflect a true celebration of Pinot: consistently endorsing the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as the perfect place to grow this illusive grape. Other cultivars from the farm include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Chenin Blanc and Riesling as well as some newer varieties: Nebbiolo, Barbera and Mourvèdre – unusual in new-world wine growing regions but very well suited to the unique terroir.”

Winemaking

Once each vineyard is picked, cooled, sorted and transferred to various fermentation vessels, fermentation is activated by the addition of a yeast culture. In this case, originating from an organic Stellenbosch vineyard, offering expression and individuality to each parcel. After spending a minimum of two weeks on skins, each batch was pressed and transferred to French oak, 24% of which were new. Following nearly a year in barrel, a final blend was reached via numerous representative tasting samples. This blend was transferred to tank and bottled following a two month resting period.