Botanica Wines - Spitzen Weingut in Stellenbosch, Südafrika

Owner and oenologist Virginia Povall produces highly endowed and prestigious wines under the Botanica Wines label at her Protea Heights farm in Stellenbosch's Devon Valley. These wines are offered under the two ranges Mary Delany Collection and the Big Flower range.

The Protea Heights farm is located in Devon Valley, South Africa, just 10 minutes from the centre of Stellenbosch. With a total area of approximately 22 hectares, this was South Africa's first farm to specialise in the cultivation of Protea flowers in 1940 and has been growing them for export since 1960. Former New York management consultant Virginia Povall acquired and restored the farm and planted the first vineyards in 2009, which was to mark the beginning and the first stepping stone for her successful boutique winemaking business - with a remarkable result! While Virginia waited for the first harvest of her newly planted vines, the newcomer took introductory and basic courses in winemaking and helped with several grape harvests at local wineries. She proved that she was a natural in her new field with her first vintage, an award-winning Chenin Blanc, which was described by critics as "incomparably magnificent". Today, the 5 hectares of vineyards include grape varieties such as Chenin Blanc and Semillon as well as the red varieties Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.

Protea flowers also grow here today on a total area of 10 hectares on a large scale. But the inspiration for the floral botanical name of the winery and the stunning bottle label came to owner Virginia Povall during a visit to the Yale Center for British Art, where she fell in love with her work at an exhibition by Mary Delany, who offered her a remarkable series of botanical collages. These works were created by the then 72-year-old artist in the late 17th century in a dreamlike handcraft from hundreds of the smallest and finest paper cutouts with great skill. Today these works adorn the labels of the Botanica wines.

Virginia Povall's wines are well known among wine connoisseurs all over the world and have regularly been awarded the highest prizes since her first vintage. Numerous 5-star ratings from the South African Platter wine guide tell of the fabulous success of these wines!