Capitoline Wolf White

A versatile, food-friendly white that pairs perfectly with a rich guanciale carbonara or, for something more playful, a lightly toasted hot cross bun with lashings of butter and a sliver of sharp cheddar. Its acidity and spice also complement mild curries and roasted poultry.

This blend brings together two distinct vineyard sites: Semillon from Bot River and Chenin Blanc from Durbanville. The Bot River Semillon grows on koffieklip soils in a warm, sunny climate tempered by cool nights, preserving freshness and aromatic purity. The Chenin Blanc comes from an organically farmed vineyard rooted in rocky shale soils overlooking Table Bay, where ocean breezes play a significant role in shaping the fruit’s character. Both parcels were hand-harvested, chilled overnight, and pressed the next morning.

Once the wine was dry it was stirred on the gross lees for 9 months without sulphur. Just before bottling it was racked, blended with the Semillon, sulphured up and protein stabilised. The wine was gently filtered before bottling.

Both components were whole-bunch pressed and allowed to settle gently in tank overnight, before being racked into large, neutral French oak barrels. Fermentation was natural, and the wine spent six months on gross lees, with regular stirring and no sulphur added during élevage. Both components underwent full malolactic fermentation in barrel. Before bottling, the wine was racked, sulphured, protein-stabilised, and gently filtered.

McFarlane Wines was born while sharing dreams and desires one evening over dinner, sometime in 2018. A dream to have something family-owned and operated, and a deep desire to honour some of South Africa’s heritage varieties. South Africa’s vinous history is a unique one, and certain varieties have had a significant influence in shaping where the South African wine industry is today. McFarlane Wines aims to produce fine, honest wines from these varieties and share what we love about them with the world.