Bouchard Finlayson
Hermanus, Western Cape
A vineyard between heaven & earth
Cradled amid the hills of the Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) valley,
Bouchard Finlayson is widely acclaimed as one of South Africa’s leading boutique wine cellars.
With a terroir defined by both ancient soils and a cool maritime climate, the vineyards of Bouchard Finlayson are famous for producing award-winning
Pinot Noir, elegant Chardonnay and terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc, while inspired blends showcase the depth of skill and innovation in our winemaking team.
The Bouchard Finlayson cellar is conveniently located a scenic 90 minutes’ drive from Cape Town, close to the world-famous whale-watching centre of Hermanus.
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.
