The Glen Carlou farm is situated on the northern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain (the opposite face to Stellenbosch) within the Paarl district and is widely recognised as one of the best producers of wine within the Paarl region. Walter Finlayson bought the land in 1985 renaming the estate ‘Glen Carlou’ as a tribute to his Scottish ancestry. The estate became part of The Hess Group in 1995 and since then the winery has undergone constant remodelling and expansion.
The talented Walter Finlayson, the twice lauded ‘South African Winemaker Of The Year’ stepped down in 2003 handing over the winemaking responsibilities to his son David, who has extensive experience in Australia, California and at Château Margaux in Bordeaux. The small 125-hectare farm is planted 50/50 with red and white, focussing on Chardonnay, Syrah and Bordeaux varieties. The vineyards benefit from a Mediterranean climate of warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters.