In a room filled with budding sommeliers, wine enthusiasts and members of the hospitality industry, The Black Cellar Club (BLACC) had a special showcase of Bouchard Finlayson handcrafted Pinot Noirs by winemaker, and South Africa’s “Father of Wine”, Peter Finlayson.

Bouchard Finlayson, one of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates lies in a scenic valley called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. With panoramic views of the ocean and mountains, the boutique vineyard is just a short hour and a half drive from Cape Town. As one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape, with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes, the promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by the winemaker in slow-ripened, flavour-rich wines.

Globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa, the opportunity to taste Bouchard Finlayson wine in an intimate setting, with commentary from Finlayson was truly something special. The event was held at The Oyster Box Hotel’s Durban July room on Monday, where we tried the Galpin Peak Pinot Noir from several different years, the Tête de Cuvée Pinot Noir and two Hannibal wines.