Where hands, heritage, and heart shape every bottle.
Bouchard Finlayson is not defined by its buildings or barrels, nor even by the vines themselves. It is defined by its people, those whose hands and hearts shape every inch of this land, every bottle we craft, and every moment we share with the world. They are the force behind our wines, the continuity between past and future, and the living expression of the spirit of Hemel-en-Aarde.
Winemaker
Chris brings both global perspective and deep regional knowledge to his craft. From Stellenbosch to California, France and New Zealand, his journey has shaped a winemaker who is equal parts technician and artist.
His work is defined by precision, sensitivity to the land, and a calm understanding of Hemel-en-Aarde’s cool-climate character. Chris carries forward the purity and mastery that define our Legacy wines, while guiding the thoughtful exploration that gives life to our more imaginative creations.
CEO
Roelf leads Bouchard Finlayson with a steady, grounded presence shaped by years of corporate experience and a lifetime of respect for people and place. He brings clarity, discipline and thoughtful stewardship to every aspect of the estate from the vineyards and cellar to the financial backbone that keeps us strong.
Above all, Roelf ensures that BF operates with purpose, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the people who make this farm what it is.
Assistant Winemaker
Barend brings a vibrant creative energy into the cellar, a spirit of curiosity and intuition that pushes our wines gently forward. With deep respect for Chris’s guidance and for the unique voice of our vineyards, he explores nuance, texture and detail with an instinct that comes from both training and feel.
His work adds dimension to our wines, shaping many of the subtle decisions that give each vintage its quiet individuality.
Assistant Tasting Room Manager
Celeste brings a bright, uplifting energy to the tasting room. She is the spark that gives movement and momentum to the guest experience, adding vibrancy and a sense of genuine engagement.
She thrives in dynamic settings, from the excitement of the Pop-Up to the rhythm of the estate, ensuring that the experience is both joyful and refined. Her enthusiasm turns discovery into delight, and that each tasting feels like a shared journey. For Celeste, hospitality is an act of connection, sharing the place she loves through wine, conversation and a genuine welcome.
Cellar Assistant
Nigel is one of the long-standing pillars of the cellar; steady, skilled, and deeply intuitive. Over the years he has developed an instinctive understanding of fermentation, fruit behaviour and the unspoken rhythms of the cellar.
He notices what machines cannot: a subtle change in aroma, a ferment that needs patience, or a barrel that needs space. His precision in sorting fruit and managing details plays a critical role in ensuring that every wine begins with integrity. Nigel works with pride, knowing that his hands help shape each bottle we share with the world.
Farm Manager
Stefan’s relationship with the land began long before his time at BF, shaped by growing up in Tulbagh, and refined through a lifetime outdoors. Farming is in his blood.
He leads our vineyards with a clear respect for soil, water, biodiversity and the long view. His approach is practical, hands-on, and quietly regenerative, shaped by knowledge passed down through generations and a genuine commitment to leaving the land stronger than he found it. Stefan’s leadership ensures that every vine is tended with intention, and that the future of our vineyard rests on healthy, living soil.
Sales Manager
Lizette carries the BF story to markets near and far with dedication, humility and genuine connection. Whether she is engaging with partners in South Africa or coordinating shipments across continents, she does so with precision and care.
Her work is grounded in relationships, built on trust, consistency and a sincere belief in the wines she represents. Lizette ensures that every bottle reaches its destination with the same integrity with which it was crafted.
Stock Controller
Tevin ensures that the flow of wine across our estate from cellar to tasting room to the world beyond runs with a reliability that few ever see, but everyone depends on. He manages stock with accuracy, calm discipline and an awareness that each bottle carries the work, pride and heritage of many hands.
His role may be behind the scenes, but its impact is everywhere. Tevin is one of the essential threads that keeps Bouchard Finlayson moving, safeguarding the integrity of our wines, supporting our teams, and ensuring that every guest experience begins with a bottle placed exactly where it needs to be, at exactly the right time.
Tasting Room Manager
Caroline is the steady, welcoming centre of our tasting room, a presence defined by warmth and a love for people. As the leader of our guest-facing experience, she sets the tone for how visitors encounter our wines and our world.
Her gift lies in her ability to create an atmosphere that feels both considered and effortless. Caroline listens deeply, guides with sincerity and shares her knowledge with a joy that makes guests feel both welcomed and understood. Caroline ensures that every visit carries the same qualities that define our wines: precision, generosity and a sense of place.
COO
Stefan is a local and he oversees the guest-facing life of Bouchard Finlayson with warmth, intention and a deep belief in hospitality done with heart. A proud local with a natural feel for people, he ensures that every experience from tasting room to events reflects the calm, crafted spirit of our estate.
He brings teams together, aligns operations to our values, and ensures that the welcome guests receive is equal to the care we take in crafting our wines.
These ten profiles represent only a glimpse into the broader community that brings Bouchard Finlayson to life. Behind them stand dozens more, the custodians of our soil, the stewards of our cellar, the storytellers of our tasting room, and the guardians of our operations. Together, they form a tapestry of skill, humility, heritage and commitment that stretches across generations.
Many of the men and women who work our vineyards and cellar have been part of this farm for decades. They are family, woven into the fabric of BF as tightly as the roots that anchor our vines. Their contribution is not abstract; it is lived every day:
These acts, repeated, consistent, humble are the foundations upon which every bottle of BF rests. They are the quiet, powerful force that gives our wines their authenticity, their integrity, and their soul.
This is who we are: a team united by purpose, a family rooted in this valley, and a vineyard carried forward by one shared heart.
