2022 Botanica Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa

ABOUT THIS WINE

Single vineyard planted in 1957 in the rugged Citrusdal Mountains. These bush vines sit at 1500ft elevation on decomposed sandstone and clay soils. The Chenin grapes were hand-harvested at optimum ripeness, hand sorted, crushed, and destemmed. The juice was immediately pressed and cold settled for 2 days at 10°C. 1500L were spontaneously fermented in a concrete egg and the rest (3500L) was spontaneously fermented in 4th & 5th fill 400-liter French oak barrels.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Ginny Povall is the heart and soul behind Botanica, and much like Ginny herself, these wines beam with life and a great sense of purpose. Originally from Massachusetts, Ginny eventually made her home at Protea Heights, a farm on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. For several decades, Protea Heights established a reputation as the first farm in South Africa to cultivate their national flower, the Protea. Ginny continues growing flowers and in 2009 expanded the farm when she planted several hectares of vineyard. For over a decade now, she has poured herself into Botanica and quickly become one of the most exciting winegrowers in the region. Since the inaugural vintage in 2009, Botanica has consistently produced some incredibly compelling wines from very special, but often overlooked, regions and vineyards across the Western Cape. All the wines are vinified and bottled at Protea Heights. In addition to the Botanica range, Ginny now produces several wines under the Big Flower label, which utilizes the fruit grown on her property.