Our Story

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Francis Academy

A Boy from Paarl

Burton Francis grew up in rural Paarl — playing rugby barefoot on cobbled fields, the ground craggy and thorned underfoot.

Out of that ground grew a determination to see the soil beneath his feet change.

Rugby, and Burgundy

That determination carried him into a professional career as a fly-half, with seasons played in France.

When injury ended his playing days, a quieter passion took hold: the wines of Burgundy, and the philosophy of terroir behind them.

He enrolled at the Burgundy School of Business, earning his MBA in Wine & Spirits.

"I was fascinated by the idea that wine is influenced by the natural environment in which it is produced. This experience ignited my dream of creating my own wines that would express my personality, journey and connection to place."

— BURTON FRANCIS, FOUNDER

A New Soil

Burton found his place on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge — a small appellation whose mosaic of soils and cool climate echo Burgundy in remarkable ways.

He found his collaborator in Kevin Grant of Ataraxia Wines, one of South Africa's most respected makers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Together, they began making wine.

"My hope is that those who taste this Chardonnay or Pinot Noir would taste the essence of heaven and earth... a journey from soil to soul."

— BURTON FRANCIS, FOUNDER

OUR PHILOSOPHY

THE SOIL

Soil is the foundation of wine quality — and of life quality. It shapes who we are, and it shapes what we make.
THE CLIMATES

We honour the Burgundian concept of climates — small plots of land, each with its own microclimate and character.
THE WINES

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, made traditionally, shaped by the shale soils of the Bokkeveld Series.