Terroir-driven wines
Bouchard Finlayson was established in 1989, and over more than 30 years the estate has earned a global reputation for crafting wines of character that perfectly express the unique terroir of the Western Cape winelands.
Our founder, Peter Finlayson, is widely regarded as the pioneer of Pinot Noir in South Africa and today under winemaker Chris Albrecht the Tête de Cuvée and Galpin Peak continue to rank amongst the finest examples produced in the Cape.
Alongside this noble Burgundian cultivar, the cellar is known for its award-winning Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, the innovative Franco-Italian red blend Hannibal, and a remarkable straw wine produced from cool-climate Riesling.
Meet the winemaker
After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology, winemaker Chris Albrecht spent three years working six harvests at acclaimed cellars in California, France, South Africa and New Zealand.
Chris joined Bouchard Finlayson as assistant-winemaker in 2010, working alongside founder Peter Finlayson. After honing his passion and talent for capturing the unique terroir of the Hemel-en-Aarde, in 2017 Chris was promoted to the position of winemaker.
Since then he has had the opportunity to travel extensively in Europe, with trips to Burgundy and northern Italy to taste, benchmark and deepen his winemaking knowledge. Chris was instrumental in conceptualising and crafting the Aurum Straw Wine, the latest addition to the Bouchard Finlayson portfolio.
Future-focused winemaking
The philosophy at Bouchard Finlayson is to combine a respect for long-established winemaking traditions with a mindset of constant innovation. While our vineyards emulate the time-honoured high-density plantings of Burgundy, our talented winemaker Chris Albrecht embraces originality in the cellar. From fermentation in amphorae to experimenting with oak regimes, Bouchard Finlayson prides itself on future-focused thinking. Key to that approach is pursuing more sustainable cellar practices, and thanks to the use of modern fining and settling agents the majority of Bouchard Finlayson wines are now 100% vegan-friendly.