At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Producer
- Botanica Wines
- Place
- Protea Heights, Devon Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Established
- 2009, by Ginny Povall
- Main grapes
- Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Albariño
- Range
- Arboretum, Big Flower, Flowergirl and the Mary Delany Collection
- Defining feature
- Cooling afternoon breezes from False Bay
The Producer
Ginny Povall moved from Massachusetts to South Africa and planted the first vines for Botanica Wines at Protea Heights. The house makes Arboretum, Big Flower, Flowergirl and the Mary Delany Collection.
The farm combines regenerative agriculture with no till farming. No till leaves soil undisturbed and supports carbon capture. The portfolio spans a Bordeaux blend and red and white varietal wines.
Place
Protea Heights sits in Devon Valley, in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Cooling afternoon breezes arrive from False Bay and reduce summer temperatures by over 10 degrees. The lower heat gives the vines a cooler part of the day during the warm summer months.
The Mary Delany Collection is sourced from unique vineyard sites throughout the Cape. Protea Heights is the home estate, while the collection extends beyond that property.
Wines
Arboretum 2017 is a red Bordeaux blend from Coastal Region. Big Flower Merlot 2021 is a red Merlot from Coastal Region with 14.5% alcohol. Flowergirl Albariño 2025 is a white wine from Coastal Region.
The Mary Delany Collection includes Chenin Blanc, Semillon and Pinot Noir. The Mary Delany Chenin Blanc 2022 carries Olifants River, while The Mary Delany Semillon 2018 carries Cape South Coast. Big Flower is sourced from estate fruit.
A Bordeaux blend uses more than one Bordeaux grape variety. Arboretum therefore has a different format from bottles that foreground Merlot, Albariño, Chenin Blanc or Semillon on the label. The range places grape names beside geographic names.
Final Word
Botanica Wines combines Ginny Povall's Protea Heights estate with red and white wines under the Arboretum, Big Flower, Flowergirl and Mary Delany names. Regenerative agriculture and no till farming shape the home property, while the range spans both a Bordeaux blend and named grape wines.