La Boucher Wines

Wine and family is our life

La Boucher Wines is a family-owned Stellenbosch winery run by the Boucher and Els families. Their mantra—"Wine and family is our life"—shows up in everything from Huguenot naming stories to wood-fired pizzas beside the tasting room. Fruit is sourced from Cape View farm on Bottelary Road, where cooler Atlantic breezes and old granite soils face an iconic Table Mountain skyline. The cellar door sits at La Boucher & Slaley Cellars, corner of the R44 and Kromme Rhee Road, Koelenhof, Stellenbosch, 7605—a practical Bottelary / Koelenhof stop with mountain views and a casual food offering.

This is a young wine brand with deep family roots: sixth-generation Boucher farming heritage, first-generation wine label building since the 2010s, partnered with the Els family from 2018.

Huguenot name, sixth-generation return

Boucher evolved as an occupational surname ("butcher") in medieval Champagne; early Huguenot arrivals at the Cape used La Boucher forms of the name. Family history recounts Pierrè (Pierre) Boucher as a sheep farmer who planted a small patch of vines for other winemakers before the line moved north—and the sixth generation returned to wine in 2013. In 2018 the Boucher and Els families joined formally to build the brand. The Els lineage (Cape arrival cited as 1749, Breede River roots) brings tobacco and vegetable farming know-how into a wine partnership framed around shared tables and African soil.

Kwagga and Marica Boucher are the public face of the project. Kwagga fell for the Winelands while playing rugby in Wellington (2010–2011), then worked his way up the industry over roughly eight years into farm ownership; Marica (agricultural schooling, HR background, Phalaborwa roots) anchors hospitality and team culture. Their children PJ and Qumé are part of the "build a future for your children" ethos Kwagga cites from his father and grandfather.

Terroir: Cape View, Bottelary granite

Vines on old granite slopes of the Bottelary Hills, within sight of the Atlantic, define the house style: full-bodied, fruit-forward Stellenbosch wines with maritime freshness. Cultivars highlighted across farm and wine-route listings include Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage, Shiraz and MCC sparklings in tasting flights. The Table Mountain vista from Cape View is more than a photo backdrop—it signals the cooler maritime corridor that keeps Bottelary fruit fresh.

Wines to know

Core bottles from the online shop and marketing copy:

• Elixir Blend — Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon, ~24 months French oak (225 L barrels); dedicated to first-generation Boucher settlers
• Cabernet Sauvignon — powerful, new-oak led; limited production (estate copy has cited ~540 bottles annually for a given release—confirm current volumes)
• Shiraz — ~24 months oak, medium- to full-bodied balance
• Chenin Blanc — old vines, ~nine months second-fill French oak; granite-soil intensity
• Kara Pinotage Rosé — hibiscus colour, strawberry, rose petal, herbaceous lift

Wine-route materials also point to Pierrè and other labelled cuvées in tasting combinations. Vivino-linked scores on the shop pages have clustered in the low-to-mid 4 range for several SKUs—useful as a consumer signal, not a substitute for tasting. Mission language on the site is simple: preserve family history, live the dream, and put fantastic wine on tables shared with friends.

Visiting: tastings, food and events

La Boucher leans into hospitality. Stellenbosch Wine Routes and guides describe:

• Wine tastings and pairings—often listed seven days a week, with multiple flight combinations (white, red, rosé, MCC); some listings say bookings essential / by appointment—confirm before you go
• Casual food—wood-fire pizzas, burgers, platters; breakfast and lunch service appear on route listings; children's menu noted
• Pairing themes in past promotions have included biltong and even macaron flights
• Wedding / event collaboration with neighbouring Slaley facilities

Contact: admin@laboucherwines.co.za · phones cited across sources include 067 407 5684 and 064 900 9243—use the website contact page for the current line. Website: laboucherwines.co.za.

Expect a family-scale cellar door with vineyard and mountain outlooks rather than a formal fine-dining estate restaurant. Indoor/outdoor seating and a kids' play area have been mentioned in visitor promotions—ideal for relaxed Bottelary afternoons.

Bottelary itinerary fit

La Boucher suits travellers who want approachable Stellenbosch reds and Chenin, a story told by working owners, and food on site so you need not drive for lunch. Pair with other Bottelary Road / Koelenhof stops and use Table Mountain sightlines as your photo moment. Collectors should ask about limited Cabernet and the Elixir Blend; families will appreciate pizza-and-play energy uncommon at more austere cellars.

Visit tips

• Book tastings—hours and appointment rules vary by source
• Try Elixir Blend, Chenin and Kara Rosé as a cross-section
• Stay for pizza or a platter with mountain views
• Address: Cor R44 & Kromme Rhee Road, Koelenhof (Slaley Cellars precinct)
• Combine with Bottelary neighbours for a granite-soil red day

FAQ

Who owns La Boucher Wines?

The Boucher and Els families; Kwagga and Marica Boucher are co-owners and the public faces of the brand.

Where do the grapes come from?

Primarily Cape View on Bottelary Road—granite soils, sea breeze, Table Mountain views.

Is food available?

Yes—casual offerings such as wood-fire pizzas, burgers and platters are widely advertised; confirm kitchen hours when booking.