The Bouchard Finlayson estate has existed for over thirty years and produces some of South Africa's finest wines. The estate is named after two people who live on opposite sides of the world and who were brought together by fate. The famous Burgundy estate Bouchard et Fils joined forces with the South African oenologist Peter Finlayson in 1989, the talented pair founded a unique vineyard in South Africa. Peter Finlayson had previously worked for Bouchard Père et Fils and was able to discover and acquire French viticultural methods. This collaboration preserves Burgundian know-how while injecting new technological innovations. The complementary nature of the estate's owners leads to the production of excellent wines.
The winery is a former hospital that was restored by Moravian missionaries who settled in this region in the 19th century.
Bouchard Finlayson is located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, meaning Paradise on Earth, on the Atlantic Ocean and 100 km from Cape Town. It is home to some of the finest wineries in the Ward Walker Bay in the Overberg district of the Western Cape. This coastal area has a maritime climate tempered by the Benguela Current from Antarctica which brings coolness. Walker Bay is one of the coolest areas in the country. This is a good place for vineyards to thrive as the mist of sea spray tempers the warm, sunny summers.
Bouchard Finlayson reigns over 25 hectares of vines that flourish on clay hillsides. The estate was a pioneer in planting Pinot Noir in South Africa. Chardonnay is also present in several vintages. Burgundian know-how and traditions have been passed on and repeated for some 30 years. This Burgundian heritage has shaped the style of the winery's production. However, other grape varieties such as Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc and to a lesser extent Sangiovese, Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Mourvèdre and Barbera are also planted.
The Bouchard Finlayson estate has two emblematic cuvées.
''Tête de Cuvée" is a Pinot Noir wine made only during the finest years. This wine boasts a great ageing potential.
"Missionvale" is a Chardonnay wine that is vinified and aged in barrels and amphorae. This wine reflects the balance between tradition and modernity, values that the estate firmly advocate.
In 2000 the Tollman family acquired the estate and Chris Albrecht became the new oenologist. The cornerstones of Bouchard Finlayson remain unchanged and the estate preserves its high standards by producing wines using age-old and innovative methods.
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