Francis Wines

Francis Wines is the creation of Burton Francis, a former professional rugby player who discovered his passion for wine during his playing years in France. As a flyhalf for the Bulls and the Stormers, Burton's career took him from the thorny rugby fields of South Africa to the vineyard-lined villages of the French countryside. It was there, amid the winemaking culture that permeates everyday life in France, that the idea for his own wine brand took root.

Launched in 2022, Francis Wines is a small-production operation focused exclusively on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, one of South Africa's most celebrated cool-climate appellations. The vineyards sit on Bokkeveld Shale soils at elevation, where cool ocean breezes from Walker Bay moderate the growing season and produce fruit of precision and restraint. Each wine is single-vineyard, handpicked, and aged in French oak — an approach inspired by the Burgundian tradition that Burton fell in love with during his time in France.

Burton collaborated with Kevin Grant, one of the pioneers of Hemel-en-Aarde winemaking, as lead consultant, alongside Christo Kotze of La Vierge Winery. Together they craft wines that are not meant to be flashy or trend-driven, but rather to express the elegance, balance, and complexity of old-world winemaking through South African terroir.

The name Francis carries personal weight. Through the Francis Academy, five percent of every bottle sold supports young rugby players with equipment, facilities, and educational programmes that guide athletes toward futures within the wine industry. It is a bridge between Burton's two worlds — sport and wine — and a commitment to giving back to the communities that shaped him.

Francis Wines operates from Fabriek Street in Somerset West, where tastings are available by appointment during the week. The production is deliberately small, with limited releases that capture vintage nuance and single-vineyard character. The Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge is one of the most sought-after cool-climate appellations in South Africa, and the decision to source exclusively from this area reflects Burton's commitment to wines of place rather than volume.

The collaboration with Kevin Grant brings decades of Hemel-en-Aarde expertise to the project. Grant was one of the first winemakers to recognise the region's potential for Burgundian varieties, and his influence is felt in the precision and restraint of the Francis wines. Christo Kotze of La Vierge provides the hands-on cellar work, ensuring that the small-batch production meets the exacting standards the team has set.

For visitors, Francis Wines offers an intimate, personal wine experience — the story of a man who traded the rugby pitch for the vineyard, and found in Hemel-en-Aarde the same discipline, patience, and reward that defined his sporting career.