Chenin Blanc 2022, Botanica, WO Citrusdal Mountain

Botanica Wines is located at Protea Heights Farm in the Devon Valley, just 10 minutes from Stellenbosch. Ginny Povall makes wine whilst simultaneously running a luxury guest lodge and a flower cultivation business. Back in the late 1940s, it was the first farm in South Africa to cultivate protea flowers; four of the varieties that are grown were hybridized by a former manager and are unique to the farm. In keeping with the botanical theme, the wines now carry the name of the 18th Century British artist, Mary Delany, whose cut-paper collages adorn the label. Ginny arrived in the Cape back in 2008 with some basic knowledge of winemaking through evening and weekend courses at the University of California and plentiful background reading. Winning Platter 5 Stars from the outset and having to adapt to South African winemaking practices, she really has hit the ground running! Notes of creamy lees, understated oak, and pear and apple spice are underpinned by an oyster shell frisson that wouldn’t look out of place in Vouvray.