The Creative Batch was born out of the turbulent times of South Africa’s 2020 pandemic-driven prohibition. It was initially meant to be a once off bottling, not intended to join the continuing rank of Beau Constantia’s wines, but it was so well received that there was no option for it not to.

The Creative Batch allows Megan van der Merwe, Beau Constantia’s brilliantly talented young winemaker, the licence to get creative. It could be said that she went to town on this one.

Megan sourced 5 different varietals (Chenin Blanc, Fernao Pires, Roussanne, Verdelho and Viognier) of grapes from 5 different regions (Overhex, Darling, Breedekloof, Swartland and Constantia) across the Cape. She fermented each component separately, using three types of fermentation medium (stainless steel, concrete and oak) before blending. I forgot to mention – the Chenin Blanc components had different levels of skin contact, pre-or-during fermentation. Bottled under a crown, because, why not?

Expect a pretty full on wine – citrus, orchard fruit, ginger and clove spring out of the glass. The palate is waxy and grippy with a leesy weight and deliciously fine tannins. It all crescendos to a tangy, tropical finish.