Botanica Wines

12/04/2026

FLOWERGIRL Albariño: In 2018, at her wits end with a tiny parcel (0.3 ha/0.74 acres) of Cabernet vines which simply wouldn’t ripen, Povall top-grafted the vines with Albariño – making her one of just three people growing the variety in South Africa right now. She and her team hand-pick the grapes and the juice undergoes spontaneous fermentation in concrete egg and stainless-steel tank. It spends about three months on its lees without going through malo. I’ve tasted the 2023, 2024 and 2025. They’re all fantastic – Galicia with a South African accent, added ripeness, extra brightness.
Of the 2025 I wrote, ‘Apricot jam and lemon marmalade. Absolutely packed to the rafters with fruit. A happy, glorious wine. A little orchestra and line dance in a glass. Circles and circles. Long, luscious lime. So happy in its own skin.’ It’s just 13%, and honestly, if like many of us in the northern hemisphere you’re longing for the end of winter, for the taste of the promise of sunshine, this wine will go so well with what’s in season right now: try seared or smoked mackerel with a salad of blood orange and celeriac; or a scallop ceviche with blood orange and little crispy fried slices of Jerusalem artichoke sprinkled on top for a spring-is-on-its-way starter. Riverford, the organic veg box company, has a brilliant recipe for a ‘Vitamin C grain bowl’, which you could whip up in 20 minutes, and I can see a glass of Flower Girl Albariño being just the sidekick to prevent wholegrain virtue slipping into wholescale prohibition.
The 2025 vintage is available in Germany, Sweden, the US (FL, NY, WI), where it is imported by Pascal Schildt Selections, and the UK, where it is imported by Dreyfus Ashby and can be found stocked by a number of independent wine merchants. It’s worth noting that The Wine Society is still stocking the 2024, which is in no way going to be past its drink-by date, at a bargain £18. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy an older vintage.

09/04/2026

IN THE AGE OF THE CRISP WHITE WINE, ALBARIÑO IS THE STAR!

By Chadner Navarro

Bright white wines may be timeless, but they’re having a moment. American wine lovers (and elsewhere – Ed) are falling for one zippy, citrusy grape in particular, Albariño.

Albariño, spelled Alvarinho in Portuguese, is believed to have originated in the Rias Baixas region of Spain’s cool, lush Atlantic coast.

Google searches for the grape have surged over the last 12 months, but its stardom has been a long time coming, especially as white wine consumption continues to surpass red globally.

INCREASING DEMAND

Native to the Iberian Peninsula and commonly grown across coastal northwest Spain and northwestern Portugal, Albariño yields wines that are crisp, high-acid and just a bit oceanic.

“The increasing demand for white wines has contributed to Albariño’s popularity, particularly as an alternative to Sauvignon Blanc or Sancerre,” Olé & Obrigado co-founder Patrick Mata says, adding that consumers who are looking for “high-acid, crisp and lower-alcohol white wines are naturally drawn to Albariño.”

A good Albariño has tastes of melon, citrus, a bit of salinity and, in some cases, lees (spent yeast), offering a food-friendliness that’s landed it on wine lists around the country.

A FOOD-FRIENDLY WHITE THAT’S GOING GLOBAL

Amy Racine, who leads the wine program at Tatiana by Kwame Onwuacht in New York City, finds Albariño to be the perfect white wine for the moment. “The palate in the U.S. is leaning towards dry, high acid, mineral-driven wines. And that’s exactly what Albariño is,” she says.

You might expect to see Albariño thriving in the country’s many Iberian restaurants, which it is, but the grape’s reach now extends far wider.

“Albariño is great with all of our starters, which range from the high-acid piri-piri salad to spiced goat patties,” says Racine. She notes that the grape, regardless of where it’s from, plays well with spices and is bright enough to cut through fattier dishes, too. “It almost behaves as an aperitif for us.”

Broader availability has driven interest in Albariño, but tourism could be a factor, too. More … people … are visiting Portugal and walking the Camino de Santiago, increasing exposure to Albariño and reinforcing its appeal elsewhere.

Consumer expectations around Albariño are more likely to be shaped by domestic wines rather than what’s happening in Europe and other parts of the world, one winemaker notes.

SHIFTING PALATES

“I really feel the growth has come from a national rise in lean white wines,” she adds. “Customers are maturing and branching out from the mainstay of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.”

She believes that Albariño’s rising popularity is mostly due to shifting palates rather than travel trends.

“Up until recently people did not know that there was Albariño in Portugal. I am still not sure many do, but people are drinking a lot more white wine in general. And no matter what you drink or what you are eating, great Albariño works. They are relatable, less intense than Sauvignon Blanc and more exciting than Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.”

27/02/2026

Two wines to conjure up spring. Flower Girl Albariño 2025 from €20.95, $25.65, £23.95 and Big Flower Cabernet Franc 2024 from €17.50, $22.45 and £24.99.

https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/botanica-pair-stellenbosch-wines

04/02/2026

Chenin Blanc 2026 for the Mary Delany, from the magical vineyards plated in 1960 up in the Citrusdal Mountain. Let’s see what this vintage has in store! 🌼

16/01/2026

19/11/2025

Hailing from the fabled terroir of South Africa’s Citrusdal Mountain, this iconic Cape Chenin has secured a Platter’s 5 Star award an unprecedented 13 out of 15 vintages. The 2024 release continues this legacy and has been awarded Chenin Blanc of the Year with an exceptional 99 points. Ginny is honored to work with this special site and with a mere 3800 bottle production it is an extremely limited release.

The Mary Delany Collection Chenin Blanc 2024 is available directly at R4740 per case of 6 including delivery in South Africa.

This wine is yet to be released – to secure your allocation now please email: [email protected]

Orders will be dispatched the second week of December

05/11/2025

Big Flower Cabernet Sauvignon - “A move to earlier picking is certainly paying dividends at Ginny Povall’s Devon Valley farm. This stylish Cabernet Sauvignon has fine-grained tannins, bramble, cassis and redcurrant fruit, subtle integrated 10% new oak, lots of zip and focus and the focus and freshness of the vintage. 2023-30’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 93/100 Tim Atkin

🇿🇦Limited stock available! https://www.winecellar.co.za/botanica-big-flower-cabernet-sauvignon-2022.html Wine Cellar

09/09/2025

Spring is in the air and we are ready with Big Flower Rosé 🌸 As the flowers bloom around the farm we can’t help but take in the amazing perfume 💗

05/08/2025

A reminder for tomorrow’s trade open day walk about tasting taking part on the farm here in Stellenbosch 🍷

Make sure to RSVP to .wine.sa

We look forward to showing you Botanica’s new releases!

05/07/2025

A sea of yellow on a sunny winter’s day 🌼 Whilst the vineyards enjoy some down time above the ground, under the soil the roots are hard at work soaking up all the cover crop nutrients 🌱

15/06/2025

Down the road from the farm just out the outskirts of Stellenbosch you will find the lovely Vineyard Commection where the Mary Delany Chenin Blanc is sitting pretty. Plus they can assist with shipping our wines anywhere in the world! 📦

25/05/2025

Whether you’re staying at Sugarbird Manor - our guest house on the farm - or visiting Stellenbosch we are always happy to hear from you should you wish to do a tasting! 🍷

📸 “ Second stop in our wine tasting in Stellenbosch with beautiful labels and delicious wines with distinct character”