A new chapter begins for Bouchard Finlayson, as the winery brings its award-winning cool-climate craft to the heart of Hermanus with the launch of the curated POP UP by Bouchard Finlayson at Harbour Square, an imaginative space where mastery meets innovation.
This comes as the Estate in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley temporarily closes to undergo a world-leading transformation.
“This transformation represents a defining moment for Bouchard Finlayson,” says Roelf du Plooy, General Manager of Bouchard Finlayson. “While our doors in the valley temporarily close, we wanted to ensure guests could continue to experience the character, craft, and care that define us. The POP UP allows us to stay connected to our community and to welcome new visitors into the journey ahead.”
Opening 12 December 2025, the POP UP is designed as an intimate encounter with the Estate’s evolving story. Guests can explore a series of curated tastings that reveal the creative direction of the winery’s next chapter, one sip at a time:
- The Legacy Experience: Honouring the wisdom, precision, and mastery that built the Estate’s global reputation.
- The Alchemy Discovery: Exploring bold blends, unexpected varieties, and the imaginative spirit of Hemel-en-Aarde.
- Two Collections, One Journey: A signature tasting bringing Legacy and Alchemy together, celebrating memory and possibility.
To bring a sense of the valley into the space, a bespoke feature wall illustration, created by mixed-media artist Chris Slabber, wraps the POP UP main wall in the textures, light, and quiet artistry of Hemel-en-Aarde.
Enhancing the experience is a Valley menu shaped in partnership with local artisans, reflecting the region’s deep culinary heritage. Visitors can enjoy hand-crafted cheeses from Anysbos, Stonehouse and Klein River; charcuterie from Richard Bosman; Mardouw estate-grown olives; Oskar’s fresh baguettes; Van Blommenstein’s biltong; and other thoughtfully sourced Overberg favourites.
“We are bringing the valley to your table, its coastal light, its deep roots, its geology, and its remarkable people,” says du Plooy.
The POP UP is more than a temporary space; it is a preview of what’s to come.
“Care shapes everything we do,” concludes du Plooy. “How we honour the land, how we innovate with purpose, how we welcome with heart. We cannot wait to meet our neighbours in Hermanus and to share the next chapter of Bouchard Finlayson with visitors old and new.”
POP UP by Bouchard Finlayson will open its doors on 12 December 2025, at Shop 4 and 5 at the Harbour Square, Harbour Road, Hermanus. Opening hours are 11h00 to 20h00, seven days a week.
Click HERE for the menu.
About Bouchard Finlayson
Bouchard Finlayson is an award-winning estate situated in the renowned Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) Valley, just outside the coastal town of Hermanus and only a 90-minute drive from Cape Town. Guided by time-honoured Burgundian winemaking principles, the estate’s 25 hectares of vineyards are meticulously planted to express the elegance, precision, and cool maritime character of this distinctive coastal terroir.
The vineyards are embraced by a 100-hectare private conservancy dedicated to protecting the endemic fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most biodiverse regions on earth. This profound sense of place shapes every wine Bouchard Finlayson creates, from its globally acclaimed Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to its expressive white and red blends. The estate remains committed to crafting wines of exceptional balance, refinement, and longevity, inspired by the land and made with care.
Photos: All photos taken by Nicole du Toit