Archive for the ‘Wine as a Lifestyle’ Category
Bouchard Finlayson Trade Show 12th March 2012
May 13th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
Our recent Trade show at the Twelve Apostels Hotel and Spa proved to be a great success, with a great reaction from an almost one hundred percent attendance audience!
The trade show was held at the Twelve Apostles marquee, which of course is host to fabulous sea and mountain views. Comment was that the focus was not on the surrouding, but rather on the award-winning wines of Peter Finlayson. Some of these classic wines proved a tremendous privilege to tasters, as the aromas, colours and textures of the aged Pinot noirs humbled the audience. Read the rest of this entry »
Wine and Music, …go together like a horse and carriage!
April 3rd, 2012 | Author: Peter
Recently I was contacted in search of clarity on the subject of wine and music !
I think there is a very strong correlation between wine and music. I have for ten years been promoting music concerts in the barrel cellar of our winery . In fact tonight we will enjoy a twenty voice choir with the Cape Town Welsh Male voice choir singing in our cellar. The demand from the supporter audience is fantastic with all tickets being sold out !
Our cellar always has classical music playing in it.
Personally, as a winemaker, I enjoy singing and have at times resorted to singing purposefully during difficult emotional times. Wine making ability is totally entwined with ones emotions. A winemaker will not manage to be successful in the cellar if his personal happiness is not firmly in place.
It is this link with music which plays an empirical link between winemaking and music. Does wine benefit from music directly? This would always be subjective, but I have my doubts. Reality points to the passionate winemaker using music as an aid or elixir in his drive to remain happy and focussed on the job at hand !
The personalities of winemakers, musicians and other creative perfectionists are closely linked and passion remains integral to their performance .
Music needs to be part of the completing the correct environment within the wine cellar !
Below some images of our most recent music evenings arranged by the Hermanus Music Society.
Bouchard Finlayson Trade Show
March 15th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
For the first time Bouchard Finlayson held an independent trade show for its loyal supporters at The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Campsbay, on Monday night.
An imaculate sunny day followed by a warm wind free night and views providing the perfect backdrop for tasting the delight of older vintages produced by Peter Finlayson.
It was the 1991 Blanc de Mer that ‘stole the show’ - a raging hit – a wine which carries itself beautifully at the juvenile age of 21 years!
10th Anniversary of the monthly Music Evenings held in BF’s barrel cellar!
March 5th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
Celebrating the tenth year anniversary of the monthly Music Evenings in our barrel cellar…
At the end of February the tenth year of the monthly music concerts held in our barrel cellar was celebrated by the organizers, the Hermanus Music Society. An incredible program was put forward by Albie van Schalkwyk, of the UCT College of Music and six musicians turned the barrel cellar into a musical dream on this special occasion, while the cellar team tried to keep the bubbling fermenting Pinot noir tanks quiet during the musicians performance!
Harvest 2012 – a sterling vintage so far!
February 21st, 2012 | Author: Jessica
Harvest arrived about two weeks ago on about the 3rd of February 2012.
It has been a fairly calm start with a perpetuating feeling of happiness for this vintage, which has presented itself royally thus far!
Compared to last year, which was a wet year, it has been smooth sailing all along and with one tank of Pinot noir already pressed and ready for maturation, the harvest is passing like a breeze.
Weather conditions have been superb. Only one spell of rain set us back on ripeness a touch, which meant that we now experience a slightly prolonged vintage. We expect to pick Sauvignon blanc, Riesling and Semillon soon.
Today we are harvesting Weisser Riesling grapes. It is a spectacular day out here today – a wind still, gorgeous sunny day with the cooling sea breeze, which will start blowing at around noon.
We marvel at this vintage year so far and in the cellar the Pinot noir fermentation bouquets tantalize the senses and the Sauvignon aromas boast fruity delights!
We have thus far harvested about 53 tons of Pinot noir, 11 tons of Chardonnay and 10 tons of Weisser Riesling and look forward to harvesting the rest of our cultivars before mid March on this farm.
Sixte Libeau, our harvest intern from France, marvels at the quality of our Riesling grapes
Nigel - Chris's cellar hand at Riesling harvest!
Peter's helping hand.
As always, harvest is a time full of excitement and achievement, physical challenge and stimulation. This year is all of that with “a jump in its step”. How much more encouragement can I offer – come and visit us to take part in the harvest activities and let this fun become ‘our fun’!
Peter and Chris contemplating which variety will be next in line for the pick!
Tutored Tastings at Bouchard Finlayson
February 14th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
Join us for the second of the interactive tutored tastings for 2012 at Bouchard Finlayson!
The first tutored tasting in the BF barrel cellar
The subject of this tasting will be various aged wines sourced from the Hemel-en-Aarde and internationally! We will look at some aged Rieslings, aged Sauvignon blanc and some older Pinot noirs – an opportunity not to be missed, as knowledge is shared and these cultivars explored as they age with appealing composure!
This tasting will be offered by the winemaker himself, Peter Finlayson and will be free of charge. As from the following tasting there will be a small tasting fee involved, which will be credited with purchases from the tasting room exceeding R 1000,-.
When: Saturday the 10th of March 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 a limited amount of guests only, 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 (Jessica Saurwein).
See images below of what was a wonderful event last Saturday: The theme was older Chardonnay
Click here to see the line up of the last tasting and make sure to join us in some harvest activity at the vineyard!
Tasting at the BF Homestead for US Sommeliers
January 19th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
Yesterday, we hosted a group of four US guests for a tasting at the Homestead. Below are their details. We enjoyed their positive reactions to our wines and specifically to the following wines:
The most liked were the Tete de Cuvee 2010 (the next vintage to be released), which was tasted alongside the 2009 vintage and the Galpin Peak 2010 was equally embraced. The Blanc de Mer 2011 and the Kaaimansgat Chardonnay, which was Editor’s Choice and receieved 91/100 points in the Wine Enthusiast last year for the Kaaimansgat Limited Edition Chardonnay 2009, was equaled with the 2010 current vintage of Kaaimansgat/ Crocodile\’s lair as the tasters revealed their contented grimaces after a few sips of this wine.
Below is some information on the guests.
BF in Mauritius
January 19th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
Peter and Geta Finlayson visited Mauritius last year and BF’s wines were well received…
Below an article in Cote du Nord, a Magazine which is about the tourism Industry mentioning hotels/restaurants/pubs, airlines, food and wine and new developments in Mauritius in which Bouchard Finlayson features with its Chardonnay and Pinot noir. Read the rest of this entry »
Embark on a journey: Tutored Tastings at Bouchard Finlayson!
January 11th, 2012 | Author: Jessica
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.
Music Evening at the Bouchard Finlayson Cellar this December!
November 15th, 2011 | Author: Jessica
Join the festivities…!
And sit in on a fabulous performance by a very talented saxophonist, Maxine Matthews accompanied by Christopher Duigan, a highly regarded pianist and very well known to Hermanus audiences.
Click here for more information: Concert 19th and 20th December 2011 at BF
Venue for the Music Concerts at BF: red wine barrel cellar!
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