Bouchard Finlayson

A must for Pinot Noir-lovers
Those who live within the Hemel-en-Aarde region know its quiet power. The cool ocean air moving through the valley. The ancient Bokkeveld shale beneath the vines. The patience it asks and the elegance it gives in return.
Bouchard Finlayson invites our Hermanus community to an intimate evening exploring ‘The Architecture of Pinot Noir’, the latest in our WITH CARE event series. Hosted by winemaker Chris Albrecht, this refined tasting reveals how our valley creates Pinot Noir of depth, restraint and longevity.
Limited to just 20 guests, this is a moment to slow down, taste with intention and celebrate the place we call home. Book your place online.

A glass of fine red wine elevates an ordinary evening into something memorable, especially when shared with those who matter most. Winter is the perfect time to slow down, open a bottle and savour the complexity of our wines.
Discover your next favourite red wine. Shop our collection online.

Pinot Noir is never rushed. It is built layer by layer with care, patience and precision.
Join us on 24 June for ‘The Architecture of Pinot Noir’, the second event in our WITH CARE series, exploring how Hemel-en-Aarde soils and cool maritime air meet innovation in the cellar to shape greatness in every glass.
This intimate evening will feature personal insights from winemaker Chris Albrecht and farm manager Stefan Hartmann.

Wednesday, 24 June | 6:30 to 8:30 pm
POP UP by Bouchard Finlayson, Ground Floor, Harbour Square Hotel, 5 Harbour Road, Hermanus
R850 per person
Reservations essential. Limited to 20 guests. Book via link below in the comments.

On Youth Day, we recognise the role young voices already play in shaping what our industry becomes. They do not stand apart from tradition but engage with it, bringing new perspective, and an ever-evolving approach to telling the story of wine.

For Celeste Franse, Assistant Tasting Room Manager, that journey is grounded in both curiosity and patience.
“Wine has taught me that the most meaningful things in life cannot be rushed. With care and craft, time transforms something simple into something refined, vibrant and expressive.”

Her words return us to something essential: that our craft cannot be hurried. By acknowledging and giving space to voices like Celeste's, we honour a new generation. They are contributing an essential creative energy to our industry rooted in time, craft and connection.

Today, we recognise the youth of South Africa not only for what they will become, but for what they are already contributing. A future cultivated with intention, shaped by perspective, and carried forward with care.

In the media: A curated vertical tasting of some of the Valley's greatest Pinot Noirs.

Join Bouchard Finlayson Winemaker Chris Albrecht and farm manager Stefan Hartman on 24 June for ‘The Architecture of Pinot Noir: Foundations for Greatness’, an intimate masterclass in Pinot Noir at their POP UP wine bar in Hermanus.

Tickets available online at https://shop.bouchardfinlayson.co.za/product/the-architecture-of-pinot-noir-foundations-for-greatness/?utm_source=wine.co.za

https://diary.wine.co.za/diary.aspx?DIARYID=22486

Bouchard Finlayson’s WITH CARE series: ‘The Architecture of Pinot Noir: Foundations for Greatness’ | wine.co.za Join Bouchard Finlayson Winemaker Chris Albrecht and farm manager Stefan Hartman on 24 June for ‘The Architecture of Pinot Noir: Foundations for Greatness’, an intimate masterclass in Pinot Noir at their POP UP wine bar in Hermanus.

Great wine begins long before grapes. It begins beneath our feet. In living soils rich with unseen life. In indigenous fynbos that belongs to this valley. In pollinators moving quietly between seasons. In water respected as one of our most precious resources. And in every decision that recognises that we are not separate from nature, but part of it.

At Bouchard Finlayson, we believe the future of great wine is not defined solely by what we harvest, but by what we protect, restore and leave behind. This belief sits at the heart of our philosophy: Care Shapes Craft.

The finest wines are not shaped by a single vintage, but by numerous intentional decisions, that honour the land, strengthen its resilience, and allow it to express itself with every passing season.

We are still learning. Still evolving. Still imagining how a vineyard can work ever more harmoniously with the landscape that sustains it. On World Environment Day, we celebrate the remarkable ecosystems that make life, and great wine, possible.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first WITH CARE evening. It was a truly special gathering, featuring an exceptional line up of Chardonnays drawn from the back of the cellar. A high note of the evening was one of the first tastings of the 2025 Missionvale and Kaaimansgat Chardonnays, which will be available to enjoy later in the year. A joyful moment of discovery, and a beautiful way to begin this new chapter of shared conversations, care and craft.

Couldn’t join us this time? We’re holding our next WITH CARE evening on the 24th of June where we’ll be exploring the many facets of Pinot Noir. Tap the link in bio to learn more.

Heading to the Hermanus Fynarts this weekend?
In between the music, the galleries, the conversations and the crowds, join us for a glass of wine and an artisanal platter at our POP UP in the heart of town. Open daily, our wine bar is a place shaped by craftsmanship and care. Discover our cool climate wines in a curated tasting, savour a glass of your favourite or pick up a bottle to take home.

Strauss & Co Hermanus Tourism Bureau Local Life

At the opening of Lucy Robson’s exhibition at Southern Guild on 28 May, we were honoured to pour wines shaped by place, precision and restraint.
Our Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc and Hannibal blended red were shared alongside works that invite slower looking — a conversation between art and wine, where texture, balance and intent carry equal weight.
For those who were unable to join us on the evening, both wines are available to purchase online, with delivery across South Africa. Tap the link below to browse our wine shop.

Autumn in the Hemel en Aarde
As the season turns, now is the time to regenerate our soils. Farm manager Stefan Hartmann and his team are preparing the vineyards for the colder months ahead, laying down a generous layer of mulch beneath the vines. Milled on the estate from alien vegetation, this forms part of our ongoing fynbos preservation programme. It’s a regenerative approach that supports vineyard health while respecting the delicate balance of this remarkable landscape.

Healthier soils result in wines with depth, character and the very essence of the Hemel-en-Aarde.