Bouchard Finlayson excels at SAWi Awards

Four of Bouchard Finlayson's vintages received Platinum Status, the highest honour, with a score of 95+ out of 100, being named part of the SAWi Ambassadors Collection in the process: the Bouchard Finlayson Galpin Peak Pinot Noir [97.5]; Tête de Cuvée Galpin Peak Pinot Noir [97.0]; Hannibal red blend [96.4], and Kaaimansgat Crocodile's Lair Chardonnay [95.4]. Bouchard Finlayson's Walker Bay Missionvale Chardonnay wasn't far behind, achieving Grand Gold Status with a score of 92.9.

Achieving Platinum Status for four wines is no small feat. Of all members' wines rated since 2010, only 58, representing 37 wineries, have managed to score 95+. This year the Hemel-en-Aarde region received a staggering 19 awards overall, the highest number of awards of any wine region.

SAWi methodology

The SAWi methodology compares and condenses results from 84 multinational competitions, reviews and listings - acknowledging the nature of the competition, as well as additional accolades bestowed on a wine - and expresses this as a single number out of 100. Wines that score 93+ using this benchmark are termed the SAWi Grand Wines Collection, with SAWi Award winners being chosen from this collection. Sourced from 585 wineries, the collection currently includes only 197 wines, representing 89 wineries.

Driven by the passion of Peter Finlayson and Victoria Tollman, Bouchard Finlayson produces a total of 18,000 cases of top-quality wine per year, with a focus on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vintages of outstanding quality. Peter Finlayson was previously recognised as Wine Legend of the Year at the 2013 SAWi Awards, for his contribution to the global profile of South African wines. Finlayson said: "The philosophy behind SAWi is unique - it embraces the spirit of 'in vino veritas', which sustains and emboldens the image and perception of South African Wines."