Character over scale: Francis Wines makes every vineyard count
Francis Wines founder Burton Francis and winemaker Kevin Grant are making small-production Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from a single appellation, alongside a youth development programme.
· 2 min read
Francis Wines, a boutique Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge label, is betting that the wine industry’s future lies in desirability rather than volume. Founded by former professional rugby player Burton Francis, the brand focuses on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Babylon Vineyards, working with winemaker Kevin Grant.
“Growth for us is not more bottles, it’s more desire for the same bottles from one appellation: Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. We strive to grow allocation, not just volume.”
Francis, who holds an MBA in Wine and Spirits Business from Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, brings a Burgundian interest in individual vineyard sites. Grant provides the cellar expertise. The wines are made with spontaneous fermentation and older oak, and draw on the Ridge's altitude, Bokkeveld Shale soils, and cool Atlantic influence.
Production remains small: the 2023 vintage yielded 1,929 bottles of Chardonnay and 938 of Pinot Noir, while the 2025 vintage totals 4,900 bottles. Tim Atkin awarded the 2023 wines 93 points for the Chardonnay and 92 for the Pinot Noir.
Francis Wines reserves 60% of production for South Africa, 35% for export and 5% for marketing and tastings. It is stocked in selected restaurants and five-star hotels, and exports to Mauritius, the Maldives, Seychelles and Sweden. The label targets annual growth of 15-20%, without moving beyond its single appellation.
Opening doors in Paarl
Through Francis Academy and a partnership with the Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA), Francis is helping young people from his hometown of Paarl access pathways into sport, wine and tourism. Three new students have joined PYDA, and a planned Francis Foundation aims to provide transport, rugby equipment and other resources.
“Wine and rugby shaped who I am,” says Francis. “Through Francis Academy, I want young people to discover their potential and find their own path.”
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