2021 Botanica Wines "Big Flower" Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa

ABOUT THIS WINE

The grapes come from a young, high-density vineyard on Ginny Povall’s farm. There are four separate plots of Cabernet Sauvignon, all with different soil types and exposure to the sun. The grapes are harvested by hand and taken to the winery in small containers. The bunches are destemmed and then the must is fermented in open-top fermenters with hand punch-downs and no mechanical pumping over. The skins are lightly pressed and the press wine is added back to the cuvee before it is transferred to barrel. The barrels are all old and a mixture of 225 and 300 litres in size. The wine is kept in barrels for nine months before being bottled.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Botanica Wines was founded in 2009 by owner and self-taught winemaker Ginny Povall, an intrepid American who fell in love with the beautiful Cape winelands, purchased Protea Heights farm in Stellenbosch’s Devon Valley and relocated to the southern tip of Africa in 2008. Established in the late 1940s, Protea Heights was the first farm in South Africa to cultivate indigenous protea flowers commercially. Inspired by this horticultural history, it was only natural that Ginny would choose to develop her wine brands and labels with a botanical flair.

Today the estate boasts eight varieties of proteas (four of which are hybridized species unique to the property), largely destined for export to Europe. The 21.6-hectare farm is planted with 10 hectares of indigenous flowers, which bloom throughout the year, and 5 hectares of organically farmed, high-density vineyards. Planted between 2009 and 2010, the estate vines provide the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Albariño used to craft Botanica’s Arboretum, Big Flower, and Flowergirl ranges.

Protea Heights is also home to Sugarbird Manor, a 4-star luxury guesthouse with nine modern guest rooms and suites and four loft-inspired cottages, offering the perfect winelands retreat.