You can’t talk about the abundance of the Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley without mentioning Bouchard Finlayson. The boutique winery was one of the first established in the area, when forward-thinking Peter Finlayson and Paul Bouchard bought an untouched 125-hectare piece of land in the Walker Bay wine region in 1989. Together they broke soil and formed Bouchard Finlayson, beginning to produce some truly special wines. Peter Finlayson was the first modern-day winemaker in this valley, with his accumulated wine-making knowledge instrumental in the primary effort of putting the Walker Bay wine region on the map. Over 10 years later, the Tollman family of Red Carnation Hotels bought the estate, which has propelled the estate to new heights with their wines.

Winemaker Chris Albrecht and Peter Finlayson. Photo supplied.

The modern-day Bouchard Finlayson takes on a relatively similar form as the original estate way back in 1989. Peter Finlayson has remained on as the cellar master but handed the wine-making over to Chris Albrecht. Of the 125 hectares, the property has 25 hectares under vine. The rest is mountainous land, covered in the indigenous fynbos of the Western Cape. Walker Bay is one of the coolest wine-growing areas in the Cape. The mountain barrier is formed by Galpin Peak and the Tower of Babel traps the cloud cover and moisture, which the prevailing south-east trade wind brings from the sea to the valley. The result is a semi-Mediterranean climate with warm, rather than hot, summers and mild, frost-free winter conditions. The soil is predominantly shale, a duplex structure. The top layer consists of a mixture of clay and gravel and the lower layer is fine clay shale, which secures a source of moisture.

The picturesque estate. Photo supplied.

What makes Bouchard Finlayson so special is their contribution to putting pinot noir on the map in South Africa. The varietal is notoriously difficult to grow and manage, thanks to its thin skin and the clustered shape it grows in, both of which makes it susceptible to disease. Peter Finlayson’s expertise is such that he’s turned this elusive grape into the flagship cultivar of the estate. The winery is also known for their superb chardonnay and sauvignon blancs. And Bouchard Finlayson is no stranger to accolades for these wines. Most notably, the Galpin Peak won the gold medal and the regional trophy in the International Wine Challenge. The 2015 Missionvale Chardonnay and 2013 Tête de Cuvée have also won gold in the Drinks Business Global Masters and International Wine and Spirits competitions.

The stellar Galpin Peak pinot noir. Photo supplied.The importance of Bouchard Finlayson can never be overlooked. Aside from producing hand-crafted, award-winning wines, the estate has helped to establish an entire wine region, as well as give the fickle pinot noir grape a new lease on life.

More poignant than any of this, perhaps, is that they’ve remained true to the ethos with which they began. Bouchard Finlayson is a family-owned boutique winery and vineyard – one that values quality over quantity – and is operated by a dedicated small team consistently handcrafting their wines to perfection.