Archive for the ‘Chardonnay at Bouchard Finlayson’ Category

Join us for the first of the interactive tutored tastings for 2012 at Bouchard Finlayson!

The subject of the first tasting will be ‘older Chardonnays‘ – an opportunity not to be missed,  as knowledge is shared and this cultivar explored as it comes to its own with time in the bottle!  This first tasting will be offered by the winemaker himself, Peter Finlayson.

When: Saturday the 11th February at 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Where: In the barrel cellar at Bouchard Finlayson winery, Hemel-en-Aarde Rd/ R320, Hermanus

Wines: There will be a variety of about eight wines of which some will be Bouchard Finlayson as well as one or two international examples.

There is space for only 20 guests, thus please r.s.v.p. soonest in order to secure your seat in this interactive tasting, which will be free of charge.

Join us this year to taste your favourite cultivar – tastings will be conducted by either Peter Finlayson himself, by our Assistant Winemaker, Chris Albrecht, or by myself.

It has been a relatively cool in the month of December with only two very warm days and low rainfall (28 mm).

The vines are healthy and vegetative growth has halted on time this year, as the energy within the plant is now produced and used to start the ripening process.   Pinot noir is usually our first cultivar to ripen. With this in mind, Peter Finlayson and Chris Albrecht are making progress with harvest preparation and the new vintage year holds great promise so far!

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Galpin Peak Pinot noir  2010 and Kaaimansgat/ Crocodile’s Lair Chardonnay 2010 have just been released!

During recent shows much positive feedback has been given on these two wines. We welcome the sampling of these new vintages at the cellar door!

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Kaaimansgat has become the name that people associate with our Chardonnay, for which the grapes are sourced from the Elandskloof Valley, from a farm called Kaaimansgat, which translates to Crocodile’s Lair (from Afrikaans, one of our national languages).

For many years now, this vineyard has given us supreme quality grapes with very small concentrated fruit and an overall low pH, leading to wines with a lengthy finish, lively acidity and an unforgettable aroma…   So much so, that Peter Finlayson and our new junior winemaker, Chris Albrecht, are so enthusiastic about the fruit quality, that the rest of the cellar team becomes cautious.

A little estranged by the harmonious quiet arriving along with the first load of grapes.. Only once Peter has inspected three or more crates and his eyes become glossy, he lifts his cheeks ever so slightly and the signal is given to proceed, we know that it is yet another great year for quality from Kaaimansgat!

The secret? Read the rest of this entry »

Did you wonder where else to purchase our wines in Hermanus ? Click here to visit

We Sell Wine – the new wine shop in town.

Transport yourself back in time and to a once quaint Valley, today a “winetastic” area with outstanding wines of quality like Pinot noir from what is now known as Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Bouchard Finlayson!

Dutch settlers planted the first vines in South Africa soon after their official landing and colonization of the Cape in 1655.  When Jan van Riebeeck released nine Dutch East India servants to become full-time farmers and a year later the first significant slaves arrived from the coast of Guinea and Angola, vines become a more proliferous crop and in 1658 the first wine was produced in the Cape!

When the French Hugenots arrived from 1688, the production of wine really took hold and consequently the character of the South African wine industry has remained largely French orientated.

Only fairly recently has the wine quality improved and only about thirty years ago, South African winemakers started producing high quality Pinot noir.  Read the rest of this entry »

Biodiversity, Farming with Vines, Wining and Dining and Galpin Peak Pinot noir…!

Yesterday has been one of those typical, Western Cape winter days with lots of rain and gale force winds as well as an icy chill – so much so that the cold air is set in motion and penetrates through the wool of a pullover during the mere walking by of a person in the room.

Although we are very happy about the rain, according to research on global climate change, we will experience increasingly shorter periods of rainfall with higher rainfall intensities.   Read the rest of this entry »

Try not to miss next months most exciting menu at the Grapes Gourmet and Gallery evening at Wincester Mansions!

So if you have not earmarked this date yet, then make sure to get a seat as not only will you be tasting some of the most magical marriages of mouthwatering delights, you will also receive a glass of Bouchard Finalyson to complement the menu!

Our Junior winemaker, Chris Albrecht, will present and always happy to explain and elaborate on any “wining”!

Menu 1st June 2011 at Wincester Mansions

Hi All

this time I decided to share with you one of my own stories.  (Yes, it will include the mention of the wine too – how could I not, when such great wine makes our world go ’round!?) Read the rest of this entry »