Bouchard Finlayson Winery

Bouchard Finlayson is a wine estate in the Hemel-en-Aarde region of South Africa. It is known for its Burgundy-styled wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and in particular for its flagship wine, the silky, elegant Galpin Peak Pinot Noir.

The 22 hectares (54 acres) of vineyards surround the winery, with the rest of the Bouchard Finlayson estate devoted to nature conservancy. The soils are clay with a layer of quartz and ironstone over top, retaining enough moisture to hydrate vines without vigour becoming an issue. Vineyard management follows Burgundian methods, with dense planting and crop thinning used to increase concentration in the grapes. Over half the plantings are to Pinot Noir for the Galpin Peak and Tête de Cuvée labels, with Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and a handful of Italian and Rhône varieties for the Sangiovese-based Hannibal wine. A small amount of Riesling is also planted for the Blanc de Mer white wine.

All processes from growing to bottling and labelling take place at the Bouchard Finlayson estate. Wines are fermented in stainless steel and in cement, and the maturation cellar, where the red wines are aged in French oak, is built into the hillside. The distinctive thatched winery featured on the label is designed in the traditional Cape Dutch style.

Bouchard Finlayson was founded in 1979 by Peter Finlayson, who remains as winemaker, and Paul Bouchard of Burgundy. It was only the second estate to be set up in Hemel-en-Aarde; Finlayson had previously made the wine at the first, Hamilton Russell. Today, Bouchard Finlayson's total annual production is around 15,000 cases.