BOUCHARD
FINLAYSON WINES TAKE TOP HONOURS AT THE 2013 SAWI AWARDS
Bouchard
Finlayson’s wines took the honours as ‘Top Winery of the Year’ at the 2013 South African Wine Index (SAWi)
Awards,
jointly with Cederberg Cellars. Renowned winemaker Peter Finlayson of Bouchard Finlayson was also
recognised as ‘Wine Legend of the Year’ during the gala event that took place
at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve on 3 December 2013. SAWi stated that
Finlayson received the award as his ‘contribution to the global profile of
South African wines has made him a true pioneer in the South African Wine
industry’.
Bouchard
Finlayson scored nine major accolades in total, the second highest number of
the night, in a performance that is considered a great achievement for a
singular boutique winery. Victoria Tollman of Bouchard Finlayson is delighted with the awards: 'I am so proud of our wines and winemakers
who make it possible for us to successfully sell all our vintages nationally
and internationally every year.'
Galpin Peak Pinot Noir
Bouchard Finlayson won a joint Top Cultivar Award with Hamilton Russell Vineyards for its Pinot noir, underscoring the fact yet again that the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley is the undisputed home of South Africa’s very best Pinot noirs. Platinum Awards - the highest accolade that may be achieved by any wine, were presented for Bouchard Finlayson’s Galpin Peak Pinot Noir; Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir; Hannibal Sangiovese Pinot Noir Blend; as well as the Kaaimansgat Crocodile’s Lair Chardonnay. Only wines with a score of 95+ (out of a possible 100) secure this highly prestigious award. The Bouchard Finlayson Walker Bay Missionvale Chardonnay meanwhile took home a Grand Gold Award (93 -94 points out of a possible 100).
Peter
Finlayson says: ‘Following on from Bouchard Finlayson’s success as singular
overall winner of the top winery SAWi Awards in both 2010 and 2011, we are very
pleased with our performance this year. On a personal note it is a great honour
to have been selected to join the august ranks of previous SAWi Wine Legend of
the Year award winners Jan Boland Coetzee and Hempies du Toit.’
Now in
its fourth year, the SAWi Awards have become known as a showcase of the best of
the best of South African ‘classic wines’, acknowledging South African wine excellence.
The strict SAWi wine judging methodology is based on the combined results a
wine has achieved over a number of years, in any of 54 different multi-national
wine competitions, with the quality adjudication taken over multi-vintages.
Consistency in results, Top 10 mentions and trophies are also taken into
account during these calculations.
ABOUT BOUCHARD FINLAYSON
Established in 1989 in the temperate
Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on 125 hectares (312 acres) of Walker Bay's prime
viticultural land, Bouchard Finlayson Vineyard and Winery is a small cellar
dedicated to the quality production of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon
blanc.
Ever since releasing their first vintages, the name Bouchard Finlayson
has been internationally synonymous with excellence. Today, owned
by the Red Carnation Hotels’ Tollman family and under the leadership of
Victoria Tollman and winemaker Peter Finlayson, 22 hectares (54 acres) of the
estate are currently under vine with 50% devoted to the varietal for which
Peter is most acclaimed – Pinot noir. Other cultivars under production include
Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and Sangiovese, as well as a handful under
exploration. Bouchard Finlayson is an accredited Championship member of the
Biodiversity and Wine initiative (BWI).
Situated on the R320 near Hermanus, Bouchard Finlayson vineyard and winery is open for tastings and sales Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 17h00 and on Saturdays from 10h00 to 13h00. For further information, call +27 28 312 3515; email info@bouchardfinlayson.co.za; or visit www.bouchardfinlayson.co.za.
