Xigera Safari Lodge
Okavango Delta, Botswana
A luxury safari lodge in Botswana's Okavango Delta
The story of Xigera Safari Lodge is one of renewal. Of rebirth and family legacy, and of the pioneering spirit that drives us to seek out Africa’s wild spaces. The same spirit that inspired this remarkable reimagining, perhaps a complete reinvention, of an Okavango Delta safari. This is Xigera (pronounced ‘kee-jera’), named for the Pied Kingfisher that makes its home amid the watery channels of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve. Every aspect is handcrafted to beguile our guests’ senses and stir their souls – from the evocative interiors to one-of-a-kind encounters. But Xigera is equally a line in the sand. A raising of the bar. A bold statement in the realm of luxury safaris in Botswana, and an Okavango Delta safari experience like no other.
Missionvale Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
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.
